Mini Willys CJ2A Part 9: Mig Welding the Sheet Metal together with spot welds and butt welds

[@eragonwjfn]

Yeah!! New video. One of the great highlights of the week. I love the fact that you show your learning curve. Its inspiring, at least to me. And I love how you are honest and dont take thinks too seriously. That car will be the coolest diy for miles!! :)

[@PaulsGarage]

+Jurassics thanks! There's plenty of "learning curve" coming the next couple weeks... this jeep, though, is going quite well. I'm super excited.

[@WoodNMetalWorkshop]

Paul very nice for just learning!! keep it up and you will get the hang of it, all your techniques looked good. Tomorrow I have a video coming out where I do a bunch of sheet metal repair to a mower deck, mostly butt welds and a few crack fixes. When you are burning through on the rosettes try turning up the feed a bit and like you said keep the stick out to a minimum.

[@PaulsGarage]

+Wood-N-Metal Workshop ` thanks for the tip, I'll have to try that out. Some of them it seemed like the instant the wire made connection it would FLASH and there was a hole. Kinda annoying. I'll watch out for that video, I have a lot of thin-ish sheet metal welding in my near future so I'll need all the help I can get.

[@mikelaffosse3233]

That "Gigity" was the highlight of my morning.

[@PaulsGarage]

giggities are always a highlight :D

[@joetuinstra455]

You know for being a beginner you're doing a real good job. You might get bad welds sometimes, but knowing it's bad and fixing it is what makes a welder. Soon you will be looking at welds on everything and wondering how someone left it. Good job Paul.

[@PaulsGarage]

+Joe Tuinstra thanks for the encouragement! I definitely see a lot of mistakes in my welding but I'm happy with the progress shown in this video so far. Hopefully after this and the next few little projects I'll be comfortable tackling a full size vehicle.

[@WarpedLegacy]

This project actually looks like something in this video! I've been there, some projects look like you are just making a bunch of scrap pieces until you start putting those pieces together! Keep it up! Define Your Legacy!

[@PaulsGarage]

I like when projects look like what they are supposed to! piles of scrap are fun and all, but, actually, no, they aren't fun :D

[@shaperandi5158]

Nice new clamps when i have problems with thin metalwelding i use cooper underneath the metal

[@PaulsGarage]

thats a good idea, i'll have to look into those copper things

[@matthewwheelock4319]

DUDE!!! that is looking sweet as hell!!! nice work

[@PaulsGarage]

+Matthew Wheelock thanks!!

[@bradenlumley2700]

You seem like you have a natural talent for welding, and you are not that bad for a beginner.

[@PaulsGarage]

+Braden Lumley thanks! I'm definitely happy with the progress I made from the beginning welds to the final welds in this video.

[@1pcfred]

He might over think it now and go backwards? Welding is one of those things that is so simple it takes a genius to really appreciate it. I was watching a video the other day of a guy running a MIG on a robot and it just spit the bead out. No fuss, no muss. Travel was constant, stick out, angle, it just did it like how do you do. There's a lesson in there for the rest of us.

[@JointerMark]

The Jeep is looking pretty good. I am about the same level of welder as you and found your spot welding technique helpful. I would have just stuck with drilled holes and ugly burn through, thanks for the tip. Mark

[@PaulsGarage]

glad i could help! I've managed to do a few drilled plug welds that looked pretty good, i'm just not consistent. I'm sure a better welder could pull it off no problem.

[@TenaciousLeeTV]

Aaaah! Progress! Its awesome seeing this project all come together!

[@PaulsGarage]

+First Gen Gamer I'm excited too! It actually looks like a thing now!

[@CarsSimplified]

It's looking good!

[@PaulsGarage]

+Cars Simplified thanks! I'm really happy with the progress so far

[@supersupernova74]

Its coming together good! I like it! You can cool the metal down quicker by putting a wet rag on it. Be careful though! There will be hot steam and the rag gets hot. If the metal is wet when u weld You'll have problems until the water evaporates. Thanks for the video!

[@PaulsGarage]

+Nova Man that's an interesting idea. I've heard of people using compressed air to cool it, too, but I was too stupid to remember my compressor was 2' away

[@WoodNMetalWorkshop]

I do not like using the wet rag, it can warp the metal.

[@joetuinstra455]

It is a bad bad idea. It will change the crystal structure in the metal and make them smaller. That means it will make the metal hard but brittle. Also it will warp the heck out of it. Things warp toward moisture, or away from heat. Before I was a certified welder I worked in a cardboard factory. It's as true for cardboard as it is for metal.

[@supersupernova74]

To each their own... I've never had problems with warping while tack welding. I just don't let it get that hot. I would be more worried about the panel getting hot and warping. I quench it after each tack. This is how they taught me in school. If you get the panel really hot and quench it it'll warp, just use comment sense! You are worried about hardening the metal, I agree it does this but I've never had a problem with it getting brittle. It was just a suggestion. Take it or leave it!

[@supersupernova74]

Paul- thanks for the idea! some times I end up in a cramped area where I keep knocking over my water! I prefer not to weld while sitting in.a puddle! I'll try air next time! Cool!

[@Zillustration]

Nice work! I caught the spot welds on Instagram this week and wondered what you were up to. Well done.

[@PaulsGarage]

+zillustration thanks! Lots of spot welds everywhere. It's the perfect thing to practice on. It's way overbuilt so I don't have to worry about bad welds ruining stuff.

[@williamhaddad5393]

I love your vids so much. Your intro is very good too and you're humorous. Keep it up!! :)

[@PaulsGarage]

thanks!

[@2LateIWon]

you can try smaller diameter wire on thin gauge metal

[@scott98390]

My brother (we are much alike you and I), you should have far, far more subscribers.

[@PaulsGarage]

+Scott Baker the number keeps going up, it'll get there :D

[@2LateIWon]

you can also put a copper spoon behind the pre-drilled holes. Harbor freight sells them I think pretty cheap or you can use a copper tube and smash it flat with a hammer or the karate chop method LOL

[@PaulsGarage]

lol if i tried the karate chop method to flatten a copper tube i would end up with a broken hand! maybe i'll try a hammer ;) or better yet i have some copper pucks from metal casting, they are pretty thick. might make a good weld backing thing if i shove it on a stick.

[@2LateIWon]

Paul's Garage. Oh yeah i forgot you made those. It would break my hand too ha ha

[@rljzathras]

Flapper disk FTW. Hard wheel for the gouge.

[@PaulsGarage]

+Ray Jones flapper wheels certainly seem like the way to go. I have a grinding disk but the second I touch anything it gouges 1/8" deep

[@MostlyOldPartsAndRust]

Paul, good videos, use this, Medallion Weld Thru primer. I've used many of the other brands, SEMS is my least favorite and this is by far the best.

[@PaulsGarage]

I'll look that stuff up, thanks!

[@williamhaddad5393]

Can u make more aluminum casting vids. They are my favorite but I like all your videos

[@PaulsGarage]

I'm making more, yeah. I just need more weekends without rain.

[@pnelsonfilms]

This is so awesome man, keep it up :D

[@PaulsGarage]

Thanks!

[@SeanTHirsch]

Looking good.

[@PaulsGarage]

+Sean Hirsch thank you, good sir

[@GoodnightWalter]

Back the weld up with some copper. A flattened piece of copper pipe will work. It supports the weld pool and soaks the heat.

[@PaulsGarage]

+GoodnightWalter good idea. I was thinking about putting a copper ingot on a stick, might work as well

[@elloqq5178]

Where the vids been! You should bring back your smelting. Anyway good job on the Vid

[@PaulsGarage]

+MarzaGamez what do you mean? I make a new video every week :P. The metalcasting is coming back real soon, we have had rain every weekend since the last casting video, but this weekend will be dry.

[@thegreatbanger]

Hey Paul can you do a tutorial on how to make a kast-o-lite foundry with a list of stuff you need that you can get online. Also great video 😄👍

[@PaulsGarage]

+The GreatBanger I might end up doing a kastolite foundry. Still dragging my feet on the details of the new foundry build... I should get on that lol

[@thegreatbanger]

Paul's Garage 👌😄👍

[@jagboy69]

Go to www.alloyavenue.com Tons of build threads using kastolite and mizzou refractory cement. It's not rocket science. You found the right material, that's half the battle. Avoid the BS on the KingOfRandom channel if you want to live to see next week. That guy is an ASSHAT! Paul here knows what he's doing because he knows how to read and learn from those that have experience. ;-)

[@thegreatbanger]

worldtraveler thank you 😄

[@PaulsGarage]

+The GreatBanger yes alloyavenue and also backyardmetalcasting.com, very good places

[@T1G3R009]

Paul. Learn how to arc weld. It will be better in the long run !! Love your videos. Keep it up

[@PaulsGarage]

i thought mig was a form of arc welding, the other name for mig is gmaw (Gas Metal Arc Welding) but i could be wrong

[@T1G3R009]

Paul's Garage sorry Paul I meant general stick welding haha. Didn't mean to confuse. The one without the gas :P

[@taitelennox4514]

yooooo paul me luv sparks

[@1pcfred]

You started to figure it out. Preparation is the key. Weldable primer sounds like a really bad idea to me too. Clean metal is the most weldable material you'll ever find. I know you want to just get on with it but I think you should spend some more time experimenting on scrap. Mess with your wire feed speed, travel speed, torch angle, and stick out. Thin gauge sheet metal is the toughest material to weld. So expect it to be kind of hard to do. You might want to try to find some copper backing plates, or something? Those Horrible Fright pinch clamps looked like they were working pretty good to me. I hate burning up my genuine Vise Grips welding with them.

[@PaulsGarage]

+Paul Frederick best part about those Hazzard Fraught clamps, there was a super coupon so I got all 6 of them for like $20! I've been thinking about using a copper ingot on a stick as a backing plate. Might work. I have some more small projects in mind before I dig into the big project this winter, so I'll be getting more practice soon. I need to make a welding cart, for one.

[@williamhaddad5393]

U deserve more subs

[@powers2440]

another great video Paul. I look forward to you watching my videos where I make you look like the best welder in the world :P

[@PaulsGarage]

+powers2440 from the pictures I saw, you didn't met a bunch of holes in yours!

[@jagboy69]

Paul... this is the first time I've ever seen anyone weld in their BOXERS.... Wtf bro?

[@PaulsGarage]

+worldtraveler it's plaid shorts. I'm crazy, but not THAT crazy!

[@taitelennox4514]

great video though

[@Tach_1le]

The real question is, Did you smell toast while welding?

[@PaulsGarage]

+tacticalAR223 i smelled weld through primer burning.. it made my throat sore

[@mrgreenswelding2853]

More heat or less wire feed speed.

[@PaulsGarage]

+Mr. green thanks for the tip! I'll try that

[@badsantaclaus4522]

Try spot welding not in a line it will get to hot just like welding a seam together spot weld on each end, middle, then jump in between each weld keeps the metal from spreading and warping turn down the amps too only need to drill holes if heavy gauge metal time will make a pro out you

[@jjtman49]

?...Bid yow blond youp canra alco?.....Thanks for the vid (hey i can see again) !!!

[@PaulsGarage]

+Simply Jef the welding lens trick I used on my old camera doesn't work as well on this one... I think I need more duck tape

[@joetuinstra455]

It looks like you are using WAY too big of a hole to plug compared to the metal thickness or the 2 pieces are warping from the heat, causing the blow through in the weld before the metal can fill it. You could go through and tack an edge down all the way down. You could tack an edge around the edge of the hole to be plugged, then fill them after you've tacked everything down. Blow through can be caused by either too big of wire or pushing too much heat and wire through. You can try to keep the same wire and just not running it as long. A pipe tacked at a 45 degree angle with the other side over the lap joint gap, then pushed away from the tack, (which is also toward the lap joint), will pull the gap out. Also, you could try using a backer plate on the underside of the plug weld to keep it from blowing through, just be careful you don't weld it to the metal. I have welded 20 guage conduit with. 045 wire right after welding 3/8 inch thick tubes. Exact same setting on the power source.

[@PaulsGarage]

thanks for the tips!

[@Joe-dw8sh]

It's al about c.l.a.m.s ask me if you want to know what that stands for

[@Joe-dw8sh]

Current Length of arc Angle of travle Menipulation of the tool/electrode depending on what kind of welder u use And speed

[@1pcfred]

Well, with MIGs you have stick out too, which is not really the length of the arc, but rather the length of the electrode past the tip. Which does matter. Wire stick out is actually your fine current control. Thin ferrous wire is pretty resistive compared to the copper torch lead. So the more you stick the wire out the lower current you're welding at. Arc length is more of a stick, and TIG deal. I wouldn't call it travel angle either. It is the angle of the electrode that matters. Manipulation likely means you're compensating for adjustments or fitments that are off. Which happens, but probably shouldn't.

[@PaulsGarage]

+joe garrow interesting, I'll have to write that down. Thanks!

[@Joe-dw8sh]

Paul's Garage at least that's what my welding teacher told me

[@mickholgate3347]

there's too much of a gap between the metal you are welding, clamp very close to hole so that both sheets of metal are touching

[@PaulsGarage]

You're right, since then I got some more clamps to keep things tighy

[@ironhead65]

Get a microwave, turn it into a spot welder for welding. Or braze...That's the only way I have consistent success with such thin material. I tried to weld thinner stuff. Just didn't appeal to me as much as braze or spot welding.

[@PaulsGarage]

brazing would be pretty sweet to try. I had considered buying a legit spot welder, but it's possible to do with a MIG welder so i'm saving my money.

[@ironhead65]

Paul's Garage I guess I can't post pictures on here. Next time I'm on Twitter, I'll send you pictures of a hose cart I built from garbage Tube, wheels from a broken kiddie wagon, and braze...lots of it. And propane with shots of MAPP in there (the original...have 1 bottle left!)

[@taitelennox4514]

plz turn down your voltage

[@whoeveriam0iam14222]

"don't always trust what I say here" at least we get to see the end result of your actions. so if you give advice and it looks crap, it was probably bad advice and don't follow that. if it looks good enough it might just be good advice

[@PaulsGarage]

+whoeveriam0iam14222 that's a good point, my results are a great filter for the trustworthiness of what I say :D

[@JoshHopkinsYT]

2st!

[@JoshHopkinsYT]

Many of life's problems can be solved by clamping.

[@PaulsGarage]

+Joshh that's right. Clamping and tape.

[@taitelennox4514]

hey man might want to keep your face further away from the arc. I'ts not very safe.

[@PaulsGarage]

meh, i'm wearing a helmet :D

[@taitelennox4514]

ehhh

[@badsantaclaus4522]

Try spot welding not in a line it will get to hot just like welding a seam together spot weld on each end, middle, then jump in between each weld keeps the metal from spreading and warping turn down the amps too only need to drill holes if heavy gauge metal time will make a pro out you

[@PaulsGarage]

+andy wilson thanks for the tips! I hadn't thought about the spot welds building too much heat but it makes sense. Some of them were bright red for seconds after the gas shut off, and that keeps going for 2 seconds after I released the trigger