oddfire's '59 cj6 build

when would you like to come and get it? this tub with work could be somewhat decent just beyond my capabilities

 

didn't do too much on the jeep today except to paint on some weld through primer for the top straps. i ordered a mig welder earlier this week. tired of asking buddies to borrow theirs or have them weld it up for me. should be here by monday.

 

yesterday i received my new welder!!! i took it out and looked it all over to make sure all parts are there. it's not a 220v but a 110v and NOT a HF model. the price was right and think it will do what i need it to do for many years. it reads that it will do 1/4" with flux core wire so it that should suffice for now.

 

Testing fockers pb app trick

 

My welder and plasma cutter are from Eastwood, and I have been completely happy with both of them. I think this was a good choice for an inexpensive tool that will do the job.

 

i was going to get that combo as well but decided on just the welder. hoping on friday to start burning in those straps and fix that one crack. then off to the blaster hopefully soon so i can get a spot open in my barn to finish another project.

 

I understand Eastwood makes some fairly good tools. Have fun with it. Careful with splatter using flux core. It can set your shirt on fire. And when you are wearing the helmet, you don't notice the flames right away.

 

Or the (dead lawn to save a little water) that's around you... DAMHIK... sort of like a bugs bunny cartoon - in my best Pete Puma voice - I smell something familiar, my feet are hot... (weld, weld, weld,weld) ... man,something is mighty familiar (weld, weld, weld)... all done ... 20ft patch of dead grass all burned... better have some tea. ... one lump or two??

 

today i played around with my new welder. some welds are better than others as the thickness was a bit different between the two. all in all they are ok. not bad for the first time mig welding. this is with flux core wire.




i didn't want to turn it up too much more as i was burning up the strap and barely penetrating the frame because of the thickness difference. then i started to focus more at starting at the frame and moving the puddle to the strap. how do these welds look tou you all?

 

before i welded the straps down, last week i applied some weld through primer on the frame and the pieces i was welding to help with rust. after i get the frame blasted i'll seam seal where the strap meets the frame and seal it before it gets painted.

 

i wouldnt seal the seam, you will never get a water tight seal and any water /crud that makes it in wont get out. paint the frame and fluid film the whole bottom of the jeep after its all together.

 

They look cold...........where the new metal is meeting the Chassis where there is some Rust / pitting or Oxidation that should be sanded or ground clean..........Best to take some scrap of similar thicknesses and practice on the bench. Clamp your practice pieces to a larger hunk of steel to act similar to the heat sinking effect you'll get when welding to the chassis.

 

thanks tarry, i will practice more with some scrap pieces to try and dial it in more. this is the first time welding with that machine and only the second time i've welded with a mig. when i first started, the machine was set at the recommended settings for the thicker material i was welding to. the top of the frame was ground down to bare metal and coated with a weld through primer days before welding it up. didn't want to grind too much and make the frame too thin, but this is all a learning process and welcome all input. i would rather someone tell me i'm doing it wrong and fix it now instead of later.

 

if you don't have already... get some flap disks and really take that frame down to bare metal..

 

Clean like in the last photo you posted above........and more heat. Try it on the bench first as settings on machines sometimes graduate more than you think.

 

i think the eastwood welders and plasma cutters are rebranded import machines but the seem to be good machines for the price. the weld in the second pic looks good but the others do look cold. when welding with flux core the metal doesn't have to be really clean like when using tig but a 110v welder needs all the help it can get. i would use a wirewheel on an angle grinder to clean that joint. i flap disk wouldnt get into the root as good and the wire wheel wont thin the frame material.

 

Again on the clean metal. Grind down to bear metal. Also, I seem to do better when I do two different thicknesses of metal to start on the ticker metal and make a puddle and then work the pool up onto the thinner stuff.

 

Your right the flux core will do OK on dirty metal , but clean metal welds and fuses together much better..........Keep in mind the chassis and it's exposed size to the air is a BIG heat sink..........Compared to welding say two 6" pieces of steel on the bench........whereby the heat / Amps required to weld either is much different............If you have a torch you could add a few hundred degrees of pre-heat to the area's your welding which will help.

 

not much was done since last post. been busy building a workshop in my barn and taking care of family matters. keep looking though.