Frame Weld Question ???
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Fishers IN
Frame Weld Question ???
I'm getting ready to weld/repair a couple of rust holes in the frame by the driver side kick-up (body is off the frame). As it's been a while since I've done any good welding, I thought I'd get in a little practice by closing up the stitch welds along the frame (see pic) instead of burning up good steel.
Anyone see a problem with doing this?
I figure it can only make the frame stronger. And if looks bad, I can grind it down and start over. The whole frame is going to get blasted and painted anyway.
Just didn't want to overlook some obvious reason (drainage, flex, etc.) I shouldn't do this! Thanks!
Dave
Anyone see a problem with doing this?
I figure it can only make the frame stronger. And if looks bad, I can grind it down and start over. The whole frame is going to get blasted and painted anyway.
Just didn't want to overlook some obvious reason (drainage, flex, etc.) I shouldn't do this! Thanks!
Dave
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 233
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From: Fishers IN
Yeah, I had planned on blasting, or at least wire brushing, the joints before I welded.
It's hard to tell from the pic, but most of that crap on the frame is some time of undercoating sprayed on years ago. If you scrape off the top dirt layer, it is black underneath...kind of like tar. It melts off in the solvent tank though as I have had to remove it from lots of suspension parts.
It's hard to tell from the pic, but most of that crap on the frame is some time of undercoating sprayed on years ago. If you scrape off the top dirt layer, it is black underneath...kind of like tar. It melts off in the solvent tank though as I have had to remove it from lots of suspension parts.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
If it has undercoating on and the pic looks like it does, I would definiately sandblast it before welding, telling the blaster to pay special attention to the existing seems and definitely not use any solvent on it before welding. The solvent will melt the undercoating into the seam and cause hell when the welder heats it up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Welding up the seams is not a problem. Just be sure its nice and clean and don't run any long beads, use the same stitch welds the factory used so you don't build up any stresses in the frame. Go in between the existing welds first, then come back and do the gaps, but skip around.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,246
Likes: 1
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Yeah, I had planned on blasting, or at least wire brushing, the joints before I welded.
It's hard to tell from the pic, but most of that crap on the frame is some time of undercoating sprayed on years ago. If you scrape off the top dirt layer, it is black underneath...kind of like tar. It melts off in the solvent tank though as I have had to remove it from lots of suspension parts.
It's hard to tell from the pic, but most of that crap on the frame is some time of undercoating sprayed on years ago. If you scrape off the top dirt layer, it is black underneath...kind of like tar. It melts off in the solvent tank though as I have had to remove it from lots of suspension parts.
Rick B.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
I found that even sandblasting the seams didn't get all the oils and dirt out from underneath. Go get yourself a good angle grinder and a wire cup brush attachment. Burn any oils from underneath the seams with a torch. No matter what you do, you are going to get some spatter from contaminants unless you acid dip the frame.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Union Ontario
I found that even sandblasting the seams didn't get all the oils and dirt out from underneath. Go get yourself a good angle grinder and a wire cup brush attachment. Burn any oils from underneath the seams with a torch. No matter what you do, you are going to get some spatter from contaminants unless you acid dip the frame.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
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From: Calgary Alberta
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 233
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From: Fishers IN
Wow! Thanks for the tips. I knew I was probably making this too easy. Nothing else has been so far!
I've got most of the undercoating off by scraping, applying solvent or degreaser, then scraping some more. I still plan on wirebrushing off the remaining big pieces before I blast the frame myself.
Still have to build my blasting tent. That's next after the welding.
Thanks again!
I've got most of the undercoating off by scraping, applying solvent or degreaser, then scraping some more. I still plan on wirebrushing off the remaining big pieces before I blast the frame myself.
Still have to build my blasting tent. That's next after the welding.
Thanks again!
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
Wow! Thanks for the tips. I knew I was probably making this too easy. Nothing else has been so far!
I've got most of the undercoating off by scraping, applying solvent or degreaser, then scraping some more. I still plan on wirebrushing off the remaining big pieces before I blast the frame myself.
Still have to build my blasting tent. That's next after the welding.
Thanks again!
I've got most of the undercoating off by scraping, applying solvent or degreaser, then scraping some more. I still plan on wirebrushing off the remaining big pieces before I blast the frame myself.
Still have to build my blasting tent. That's next after the welding.
Thanks again!
They already hated me, but now they hate me even more
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Fishers IN
Already did that! I signed a 25 year lease with the phone company to put an 18 story cell tower on my property.
Deal never went through, but there's people around here that I don't even know that are still pissed off at me!
Deal never went through, but there's people around here that I don't even know that are still pissed off at me!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,187
Likes: 1
From: Superior WI
If you simply use a propane torch to run a preheat on the seam before welding, the solvent or acid will be burned out(good ventilation is a must!), then a quality weld bead will be possible on the first try, and be sure to back step the weld to eliminate distortion.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
Most of the welds I was able to get down nice and smooth the first time, but other welds were almost impossible to lay smooth - and yes, I tried the propane torch trick as well, and it really didn't help that much. If you plan on welding up the frame, add some gussets to the front end to strengthen it up. Here is a thread I started; you can see all the welds I did and where I added gussets to strengthen everything up. I think its on the first page.
Last edited by stinger12; Feb 25, 2008 at 04:09 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
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From: Calgary Alberta
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 337
Likes: 1
From: Clyde Ohio
I've seen the car your working on, looks good. A good welder can lay a perfect bead on anything the first time. Keep practicing ! IMHO I would practice your welding on something other that your frame, like a piece of scrap metal. You don't want to stress something that you really rely on in a crash.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
I've seen the car your working on, looks good. A good welder can lay a perfect bead on anything the first time. Keep practicing ! IMHO I would practice your welding on something other that your frame, like a piece of scrap metal. You don't want to stress something that you really rely on in a crash.
