welding critique please

[kamaroman68]

Hey guys thanks to a lot of people on this forum I started welding on my 68 camaro this weekend. I am going to try and post some pictures so you folks can hopefully tell me what I am doing right what needs to be improved and what I am doing just dead wrong. I am having a lot of trouble on the bottom edge where you will see multiple tack welds. If anyone sees a better way of doing this please let me know. Thanks Chris

[kamaroman68]

Sorry guys I can't get the pictures on this site don't know why. I'll keep trying. Chris

[CAMAROBOY69]

Try using http://www.imageshack.us/
Its free.

[kamaroman68]

Can someone put these pictures up in the fabrication forum for me. I can send them in an e-mail. I tried image shack and I tried "manage attachments" at the bottom of starting a new thread. Thanks Chris

[CAMAROBOY69]

[email protected] I will post them for you.

[CAMAROBOY69]

Since you already made this thread I will put them in here. As you can see the pics are 1600x1200. I could have resized them but I think they will be fine. Just click the pic twice to see the large image.

[kamaroman68]

Is it that bad nobody wants to reply? Are you all rolling on the ground laughing? Thanks Chris

[derekf]

Have some patience. Your followup was posted only two hours after the pics were put up, lots of folks haven't even logged on yet much less had a chance to reply.

Don't worry, you'll likely get plenty of feedback.

[roverhybrids]

from what I can see it looks OK. What part of the car is that rocker panel?
Looks like the area where you have lots of spot welds that the surface you are welding to underneath is dirty causing the contamination.

[kamaroman68]

I was thinking the contamination was coming from the weld thru primer. Everytime I hit some of that stuff with the wire from the mig gun it would cause enormous amounts of spatter. It was almost like it wasn't making contact with a ground. Thanks for the input. Chris

[Gordz32]

We just finished our lesson on welding up at wyotech, last month, and what they stress the most is that you have a clean metal surface for welding and that you need to set your welder up properly, the best way to do that is to make some test welds on metal the same size as your project. Also, the perfect weld will sound like bacon frying. It looks as if your surface should be cleaned. Good Luck!

[Jim Nilsen]

Most of the welds look ok to me and others just needed to be cleaned better before you started. Get a stainless steel wire brush for for a drill and clean the surface with it. They make brushes that are like a cup and flat circular ones,get both because you will need both. Sanding with a flap wheel will work nice too, they make zirconion flap wheels that work great also that will not build up too much heat. Sometimes when doing patch pieces you just have to go back and grind off the welds since it is always impossible to get all of the contamination that will come from the other side which is where the brushes and flap whells of different shapes come in handy.

Jim Nilsen

[David Pozzi]

You might be able to weld thru primer using stick arc, but not a Mig. It has to be clean anywhere near where you are welding.

[kamaroman68]

Thanks guys for the reply's. Everyone seems to concur that it is contamination. What is the purpose of 3M weld thru primer? The metal was prepared perfectly.(Bare steel) I then coated it with 3M weld thru primer as the can states. Am I not supposed to weld where the primer is? I thought the purpose of the stuff was to prevent corrosion between panels. I did weld over this stuff so is it possible this is where my contamination is coming from?Again thanks for the reply's. Chris

[redss86]

3m's weld through primer is specifically disigned for mig welding. it is used on areas like pinch welds, and lap welds. you are correct in the fact that it is a corrosion resistant coating. when using it you will get extra spatter to start w/ but if you do a good hot weld then it will clean up. i wouldn't do ne wire brushing over the primer, as this will remove the coating. also, after you are done welding and dressing the welds, make sure you remove ne primer that will have filler put over it or will be primed over. i would strongly recommend using the primer between panels but you don't need it on the outside as it will get primed when painted. basically just follow the instructions on the primer, and have a good hot weld.

Yesterday 07:57 PM
Gordz32 We just finished our lesson on welding up at wyotech, last month, and what they stress the most is that you have a clean metal surface for welding and that you need to set your welder up properly, the best way to do that is to make some test welds on metal the same size as your project. Also, the perfect weld will sound like bacon frying. It looks as if your surface should be cleaned. Good Luck!

did you just finish the classroom lesson, or are you in the shop yet. i don't remember when they talk about weld through primer, but i know you will have to build a fake rocker panel out of sheet metal and you will be required to use the primer on it. don't remember if that is first or second phase, but i had to do sometime. that is unless they have changed things since i attended 4 yrs ago. good luck in school, and make the best out of it. from what i learned, you are only going to learn as much as the effort you put into it. what other classes are you taking/ have taken?
good luck,
joe

[David Pozzi]

Sorry, I didn't realize they say the primer is OK for mig.
I don't see any purpose to putting on a primer then welding a full seam over it, maybe spot welds would be OK, but isn't the primer going to be damaged to the point that it's worthless? It sure isn't helping the weld quality.

[Gordz32]

Yea, I'm in the second phase of collision now, We went over weld through primer and were told not to use it where we were welding to to the fact that is prevents from having a nice weld do to spatter, only on the joints that you r covering up and won't be able to get to after your finished. Like someone else said, your gonna primer any visible surface after you dress your welds so there is no reason to prime it. Right now I'm signed up for chassis fab and hipo engines, trim, and street rod, but I think I'm gonna drop streetrod seeing as though its pretty much a more ellaborat collision class, as far as metal finishing, and they teach you tig welding, but I'd rather buy a $2k tig welder and teach myself then pay $9500 for the class. Hope I helped out with the welds. Always remember (Make it sizzle like bacon)!!

Chris

[mikey]

The weld thru primer actually helps to prevent rust. It turns ito a galvanized coating. The best way to use it is by applying a light coat that barely covers and allow it to dry at least 30 min. pror to welding. A thick heavy coat will definately make it pop and splatter considerably more. Norton and Kent also make nice primers. I use it every time I weld a customers wrecked car back together.