First Purchase...

[BORNXenon]

...other than the bible obviously! :)

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk240/BORNXenon/8624e0a9.jpg

Its a Clarke 151EN Turbo, capable of welding between 30 and 150amps, was a little bit over what I wanted to pay for a welder, but to be honest couldn't grumble at the price.

Now all I need to do is save up for the chassis kit, oh, and learn to weld! :rolleyes:
Where would one find scrap steel?

[will_08]

your off and running now!!!

everyone on here seems to stumble into troves of scrap steel/aluminium. I on the other hand ended up buying some to practice on. If your in manchester this isnt a million miles away, i collected a box from there

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bargain-Bundles-Mild-Steel-Box-Section-/320741235001?pt=UK_BOI_Metalworking_Milling_Weldin g_Metalworking_Supplies_ET&hash=item4aadaad939

Cheers Will

[BORNXenon]

Nice link to the steel, cheers Will!

Couple of months before I'm off and running I'm afraid!!
Still need to buy all the bits and bobs to convert it to gas, get a decent welding helmet, overalls, gloves etc, but I feel like I have now committed to building the roadster! :D

Cheers

Chris

[brainbug007]

It's definately worth phoning round a few steel stockholders near you. I found one that was 1/2 the price of ebay and online places like metal4u and parkers. I got all of my box section and a big 8x4ft sheet of 3mm plate for £110 :)

[BORNXenon]

It's definately worth phoning round a few steel stockholders near you. I found one that was 1/2 the price of ebay and online places like metal4u and parkers. I got all of my box section and a big 8x4ft sheet of 3mm plate for £110 :)

Well I'll be getting my Chassis kit from Saturn (MX-5 baby yeah!!) so I only need a few pieces of scrap to practise on.

Just having a look at wood for my build table on B&Q's website and pondering whether I'll manage to fit the required sheet size in my little punto, methinks not somehow! :confused:

[HandyAndy]

nice one Chris:)

I have the same mig :)

If you can , get yourself enrolled on a welding course, most technical colleges offer these courses, great for learning the basics and helping you become confident with the welding equipment etc.

if you were closer I have loads of scrap off cuts you could have, in fact i,d be chuffed if someone would take it away :eek: :D

Best wishes for your upcoming build.

cheersAndy

[BORNXenon]

Cheers Andy! :)

I've had a look for welding courses and there doesn't appear to be anything local to me unfortunately, the closest was a good hour away which is not really ideal after a hard days work.
I do however have the Haynes 'Welding' book which has been read several times cover to cover and have also been scouring the mig-welders.co.uk forum for useful advice of which there is loads.

I guess I'm just going to have to put in plenty of practise till I get the hang of it.

[HandyAndy]

Our very own Ash G did an article in the complete kit car mag a while ago giving a great intro to welding , very helpful as it focuses on the type of welding you,ll be doing ...thickness of steel etc / making the same car etc .

I,m sure there,s a link on this forum somewhere ;) to the article...if not, I,m sure Ash won,t mind me saying " send Ash a PM " ...he,ll point you in the right direction.

If you are up this way at anytime ( visiting saturn maybe ) I,ll give you as much scrap tubing as you can carry :D

I,m sure all would agree...practise practise and do some more practise & you,ll soon get the "feel" ( & sound ) of when your welding is getting good :)

cheers
andy

[BORNXenon]

Nice one Andy, I'll try and find it.
As a suppliment to the bible I also bought the 'How to build a Haynes Roadster' book which is I believe written by AshG, very informative and gives an insight into the kinds of problems you may come across that aren't covered by the book, (although I'm not planning on building a lean-to!).

If the welding guide is written half as well it should be very helpful. :D

[poshguy]

Good luck xenon im the same as yourself and just starting out.

what is the other book you have bought as i cant seem to see anything if you could point m in the right direction lol.

[BORNXenon]

Good luck xenon im the same as yourself and just starting out.

what is the other book you have bought as i cant seem to see anything if you could point m in the right direction lol.

Here you go mate, very informative, and very well written.

http://www.completekitcar.co.uk/haynesroadsterbu.html

Cheers

Chris

[will_08]

http://www.draftsperson.net/images/e/e6/Chinese_paper_welding_mask.JPG

PPE is for wimps! :D

[robo]

Dont forget the boots

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR74iktpVlloJQbHJRcqMzvif9PpOjL5 e_3rlXfVk79NAzBKzPVgQ

Bob

[skov]

Just having a look at wood for my build table on B&Q's website and pondering whether I'll manage to fit the required sheet size in my little punto, methinks not somehow! :confused:

Not a chance :)
If it helps I just stuck the sheet on the roof of my car and held it down with a couple of ratchet straps going over the top of it then through the windows.
It was a bit unnerving having it flapping about, but I took it steady and got home without incident :D

[poshguy]

Cheers for the link to the book mate ive ordered it as it can only help my progress thanks.

as for the wood i agree with skov mate just stick it on the roof and tie it down but dont forget dont drive to fast or you may lose it lol

[BORNXenon]

Yeah, I think that needs to be the plan. I've got a couple of ratchet straps somewhere, I'll have to dig them out.

[PorkChop]

IME it costs literally a couple of quid to get a 8x4 sheet delivered from a local builder's merchant.