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Rookie Welder Advice

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by sheddiggs, Feb 26, 2013.

  1. Feb 26, 2013
    sheddiggs

    sheddiggs Member

    Park City, Utah
    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2008
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    72
    In the past fifteen years, I've concentrated my efforts in resto-modding ol' LindaLou. I've got her just about where I want her, but to proceed I'm forced to repair/replace sheet metal.
    Where the hat channel meets the front body mounts, are all cracked and broken, and this past weekend, I broke the drivers side rear mount. I figured now before mud season is the perfect time to get on with it. Metal is sourced, welder on the way...
    What makes me nervous in the service, is welding near the tank, which I'll have to do. I'll also need to weld near the gas line on the passenger side front mount. So do I pump 1/2 tank into my other vehicle, and weld with empty tank in place, drop the tank and proceed, or fill her up and hope she's sealed well?
     
  2. Feb 26, 2013
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    I'd remove the tank and fuel lines. Not hard once the tank is empty...
     
  3. Feb 26, 2013
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Oct 29, 2012
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    :)I would agree with Tim..........I do a lot of welding Arc, Mig, Tig, Gas/Oxy...........and I will distance myself from any welding near gas or diesel....just not worth it. I mean I will weld on one end of a vehicle when the tank is at the other end. But near it even empty is asking for trouble.........all it takes is a one hot piece of slag coming in contact with the fumes. Take the tank off,.............. the lines are no big deal just blow them out so there is nothing left.
    It sounds like your new to welding , learn the right way and be Safe!
     
  4. Feb 26, 2013
    sheddiggs

    sheddiggs Member

    Park City, Utah
    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2008
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    Thanks for the heads up! A little more work dropping the tank, but at least I can finally check the ground and see if the gauge will work again.
     
  5. Feb 26, 2013
    supertrooper

    supertrooper Member

    moreno valley, ca
    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2007
    Messages:
    742
    take the tank out. its not worth the chance of burning down your jeep or getting hurt to save a few minutes removing the tank.
     
  6. Feb 27, 2013
    sheddiggs

    sheddiggs Member

    Park City, Utah
    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2008
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    I still have a few days before the welder is delivered. I'll start pumping the tank empty, then remove it along with my front fenders. i'm working out of a one car garage, not much room, so the plan is to chop the body off the frame and place 4x4 blocks inbetween. Wish me luck, it'll be fun learning to weld upside down.:(
     
  7. Feb 27, 2013
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Aug 10, 2003
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    Practice before you start to repair your Jeep. Practice a lot. Then practice some more.

    You can post your practice welds here or someplace like WeldingWeb.com http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=9294 - for constructive criticism.
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2013
  8. Feb 27, 2013
    OleBlue

    OleBlue Sponsor

    Tennessee
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    Feb 14, 2010
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    1,001
    Hat channel seems notorious for rot. I'd like to see you document your endeavors like Boyink, maybe even with more detail and how you're welding upside down http://boyink.com/cj6/body-mount-repair/
     
  9. Feb 27, 2013
    the1208

    the1208 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2010
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    Just a little more advice that ive seen many rookies and even professionals make be very very carefully with brake clean it will puddle and ignite almost as fast as gas . But when welding its a neasary evil all grease and oil needs to be removed . Make sure its all dry before strikin a arc
     
    Shad Rogers likes this.
  10. Feb 27, 2013
    Old Doug

    Old Doug Member

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    Aug 3, 2011
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    If you have the body loose why not turn it over? If you dont have a lot of experience welding you will hate yourself and your jeep trying to weld over head. A good weld is 90% perparation.It well not be fun learning to weld up side down it will be pure hell. I have over 30 years of learning to weld and i would turn it over.
     
  11. Feb 27, 2013
    F Bill

    F Bill Member

    Abilene, TX area
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    Jul 3, 2006
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    274
    One thing even the pros forget every so often is that arc splatter will stick to any glass and pit windows. COVER ANY glass near welding with a layer of duct taped on cardboard. This includes the windshield and all the gages. and the mirrors, too. Even better, remove it to a different room. Nothing like wiping off your windows and leaving little bits of paper towels stuck to the welding splatter. Not that i have done that lately. (And hardtop windows can shatter if hit in just the right way with splatter.)
     
  12. Feb 27, 2013
    earlswrench

    earlswrench Member

    Atlanta, GA
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    Apr 14, 2009
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    135
    To clean grease, use carb cleaner, not brake cleaner. Even then, be careful.

    But heated brake cleaner CAN KILL YOU even in small amounts.
    This has been going around many auto sites for a while now http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm Very scary stuff.
     
  13. Feb 27, 2013
    Mike C

    Mike C Member

    Austin, TX
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    Feb 19, 2007
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    743
    Google welding with Brake Cleaner. Then don't do it. Use Acetone and a rag or slosh it on. And as mentioned previously: practice, practice, practice, and then practice some more!
     
  14. Feb 27, 2013
    chuck123wapati

    chuck123wapati Member

    wyoming
    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2008
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    761
    welding near an empty tank is just as dangerous as a full one maybe more. take it out of the garage, i ve seen guys take one out and set it down not five feet from where they are working
     
    Shad Rogers likes this.
  15. Feb 28, 2013
    sheddiggs

    sheddiggs Member

    Park City, Utah
    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2008
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    72
    Thanks to everyone, I appreciate all the advice! I wish I could chop the body off and flip her over, but that would be too easy. Just kidding, the reason I'm forced to weld on my back, is condo living. I have a detached one car garage and could not get away with rolling the chassis out along with the topper to repair at my leisure. Damn, I miss having a house...
     
  16. Feb 28, 2013
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    You could use the chassis like a dolly. Unbolt body from chassis, roll out in the drive, lift off body, lay a piece of plywood on the frame, put the body back on the frame upside down, and roll it back into the garage.
     
    Shad Rogers likes this.
  17. Feb 28, 2013
    mikec4193

    mikec4193 1947 CJ2A

    Mechanicville ny
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    May 31, 2009
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    My smelly ole 2 cents...

    Been stickin metal together for years now...first thing...gasoline and welding dont mix at all...if you have never been in a garage fire...you dont wanna be...they move super quick and are extremely dangerous too....take the time and lose the tank...I have plugged fuel lines but if you can take them out....thats even better...to get stuff clean I dont use anything but elbow grease....grinders and wire brushes work wonders...On the thicker metal I actually fill the pitted metal rather than cutting and patching...takes some time and you gotta get the settings right but looks like new when done....dont be afraid to experiement...the angle of the approach on the wire feed nozzle sometime makes a huge difference too...

    MikeC
     
  18. Feb 28, 2013
    aallison

    aallison 74 cj6, 76 cj5. Has anyone seen my screwdriver?

    Green Cove...
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    x2 on what Tim said. If you try to weld on your back, and you don't know how to weld at all, you will not be successful. You will melt you tub, your channels, and drop molten metal down on top of things...such as you. Do anything to avoid dropping red hot liquid on you. That would suck.

    Oh, and get a good flame proof something to wear over your clothes. You can set your shirt on fire. Been there, done that. and that sucks too.
     
  19. Mar 1, 2013
    Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    Minden, Nevada
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2003
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    4,538
    Here's what happened when one little slag BB got past the collar of my welding jacket while I was welding overhead.

    [​IMG]

    Overhead welding is the most challenging way to weld, but something you should learn how to do. However, I wouldn't recommend learning on your first project. If you already have the tub loose enough to prop it up off the frame get a couple of people to help you flip it over. If you need to build some kind of wooden spacers off the frame or whatever you have to do. It is not easy welding sheetmetal, it's worse overhead.
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2013
  20. Mar 1, 2013
    69Willys

    69Willys Las Vegas, NV

    Las Vegas, NV
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    Nov 11, 2011
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    902
    I love this statement! It's when you think you've learned it all that you're in trouble. Posi, I bet you invented a few new dance steps and maybe even a few new cuss words that day. Ouch!
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2013
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