Rust, How bad is this?

[xychix]

Its stamped in to the metal on the other footwell too

Ok so that's a part not to replace in order to avoid MOT issues. (or being accused of stealing / renaming a van)

[Keef]

I believe the VIN number only has to appear once anywhere on the van to be ok for an MOT.

[xychix]

One more stupid question, since I've only did a welding course and not have long term experience with welding.

How long will one weld with 3.2 kg (4*0,8kg) 0.6 wire and 10 Liters of Argon/CO2 gass?
Should that be enough for such repairs? and some small practice runs?

[xychix]

After brushing it down, which actually set my grider on fire! (atleast is was smoking after being unplugged for more than 5 minutes, i disassembled it and let it cool down for 30 minutes)


and after cutting:


I'm hoping the cut is wide enough.

The cutout pieces seem quite ok near the cut on the inside.



any remarks? I'm planning to weld it with 1mm steelplate that overlaps current hole, with 6mm holes every 2 cm as dutch MOT requires.


Before welding I'll spray zinc spray in and around the area. afterwards I'll spray owatrol (or mixure of owatrol and paint) in there and finish that of with some 'tectiel' product thats ment for insides of cars.

[BigEgg]

Before welding I'll spray zinc spray in and around the area. afterwards I'll spray owatrol (or mixure of owatrol and paint) in there and finish that of with some 'tectiel' product thats ment for insides of cars.

I couldn't see your images.

Don't spray zinc where you're going to weld - at best, you're wasting tyour time and money as is will burn off when you weld.
At middling, it will interfere with the welding (weld on clean bright steel *ONLY* - no paint, rust or zinc)
At worst, you're setting yourself up for a dose of "Zinc fume fever" - which is unpleasantly like flu (or worse)

[Motley]

small bottles are useless. get a co2 fire extinguisher of ebay ,.better still a pub bottle then go to a fire extinguisher company, get mine filled for a fiver everytime.
no need for argon.

Pub gas bottles are no good, the people who fill them realised that amature welders were nicking them to use with Migs so just to be total shy-ts they added oxygen to the gas bottles which makes it impossible to weld with

[awdriver96]

The pub co2 is indeed different as it has to be food grade, but also straight co2 is for thicker steel and higher currents and you usually need a heater to stop the reg etc freezing up. The best is argoshield light which has 94% co2 1% oxygen and 5% argon, it was developed for clean spatter free welding of thinner steel up to 2mm as in body work it also lowers the temperature of welding slightly to prevent burning holes in the work, which co2 does on thin stuff. There are plenty of no bottle rental gas firms out there who can supply at a good price. This one is not too far from me and they will deliver too if needed, http://gascylindersuk.co.uk/ there will be one not too far from you.
mt

[limitedblack]

They've started doing small refillables at my local auto factors, no rental. Have my bottle back to BOC as the rental was ridiculous.

[xychix]

I've bought a 10 liter bottle for the supergas system (around 140 Euro's with a first free fill) next 10 liter at 200 bar will be 30 euro's.
Next to that I'm welding with 0.6mm wire.

[xychix]

Pictures that should work (why can't I edit my older post anymore!?)

[xychix]

First patch is on, actually second. first inoxsprayed the patch and van as adviced by the guy that sold me the welding gas.
Didn't work. I could rip the patch off by hand only 1 good weld.

made 2 mistakes
1. inoxspray before welding, dont!
2. start welding at the edge of the hole and fill the hole by circling. I've pu to litle heat in the material. Just weld in the middle of the hole (or a bit higher as molten iron wil flow down due to gravity) and have the hole fill itself.




And yes it's taking long. As I'm doing al the work outside on a honda generator and learning as I go it takes a long long time.



I'll get there I hope, and next time might be faster.

[ake]

Why are you spot welding it?

I would just seam weld it! It's easier

[xychix]

Why are you spot welding it?

I would just seam weld it! It's easier

Seamwelding is closed all the way around? For dutch MOT it has to be OR spotwelded every 2 cm's or 100% closed on the edges.

I'd doubt if thats easier, especially with my messed up ferm MIG welder with its constant changes in wire speed.... (the wire seems to come in waves)

[xychix]

I've rebuild my setup to continue working. I've tried it on the grass field a bit closer to my tools but welding there would set the dry grass on fire. Not very comfy if you've under a van.

So back to my half build garage.



And the result (before grinding)




And the final situation before inox spraying the whole lot.


All together it took me around 3 days to get to this point. I'm sure the next time it should be possible in 1 long day.
I'm happy for a first time, now hope te Dutch MOT guy also is.

I'll put a lot of weldingsealer and underbody spray on.

[stalwart]

Did this van fail the MOT on needing welding?