1959 Wagon on 79 Wagoneer build

As for learning to weld, I am getting better. My truck is a major rust bucket. Sadly there will be even more rust repair detailed in this build. The reality is with sheet metal, you can't just plop a bead down. It will warp and distort. You complete the joint with a bunch of tack welds while jumping around and stopping to cool a lot.

My dream is to attend Moab 2018 after a few shakedown runs to Anza Borrego desert here in Southern Ca.

Hopefully I get better and more importantly faster, at welding thin stuff.

For me the thick stuff is easy.

Just don't expect to be able to do them pretty stacked nickle looking welds right away.

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Broken wagon - have you tried putting a box fan behind your work while welding the sheet metal - basically cooling one side while welding the other. Practice a little - its almost like welding in Kansas where the wind only stops to change direction.
 
Actually I do use a fan. I bought a Harbor Freight ventilation fan when I was finishing floors. It works quite nice. I sometimes make like a shroud to direct the breeze.

Saw it suggested on a youtube video. It really helps.

It's been in the mid 40's in my shop nights by the time dinner and chores get done. Best time for welding IMHO.

Duane

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Gotcha, I was in HF today to buy some large clamping vise grips to turn into a flanging tool for sheet metal patching.

The cool temps are nice while doing the hot work.
 
Broken Wagon said:
Actually I do use a fan. I bought a Harbor Freight ventilation fan when I was finishing floors. It works quite nice. I sometimes make like a shroud to direct the breeze.

Saw it suggested on a youtube video. It really helps.

It's been in the mid 40's in my shop nights by the time dinner and chores get done. Best time for welding IMHO.

Duane

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Its been hovering around zero here for a month or more. I'll trade you?
 
I have a daughter in Havre Montana, right near the Canadian border. Been watching the weather up north hoping she runs home to mom and I for warmer weather.

I talk about living somewhere with seasons and the wife says, "You let me know how that works out."

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Weekend of welding, grinding, hammer and dolly, tacking inner fenders to outer fenders. Feeling like this phase is within reach of being done. Both sides looking about the same.

Dog walking through to swipe the blocks of wood I wedge and use as shims between panels while fine tuning the shapes.

Not the typical 15 minutes with a sawsall fender well enlargement solution.

Duane

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I love Cody. I bet it was a mess. I should be up there with my wagon this summer.

Sorry to thread jack - back to our regularly scheduled willys wagon tomfoolery.
 
Inner fenders tacked to outer fenders, burned them together, cut off extra material and rounded in with a grinder.

Having the extra sheetmetal on the inner made tweaking for a tight seal to be welded easier. Channel locks, C-clamps, light hammer. Weld, weld, weld


Factory had spot welds so this is surely going to stay together another 60 years.

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Finding that happy balance between what I am capable off, and what I will settle for as quality.

Duane

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When I purchased my welder a few years ago it came with flux core .030 wire which I used in the beginning of my Model A build. I went to the welding shop and asked why I was having so much trouble and they said that I should be using .023 wire with gas. Once I tried that, I couldn't believe that they even sold me the welder with the flux core wire since I told them what I was doing and that I didn't know how to use a MIG. It works so much better with the gas and the smaller wire. You might give it a try and see if it helps you as much as did me.


Randy
 
RandyP said:
When I purchased my welder a few years ago it came with flux core .030 wire which I used in the beginning of my Model A build. I went to the welding shop and asked why I was having so much trouble and they said that I should be using .023 wire with gas. Once I tried that, I couldn't believe that they even sold me the welder with the flux core wire since I told them what I was doing and that I didn't know how to use a MIG. It works so much better with the gas and the smaller wire. You might give it a try and see if it helps you as much as did me.


Randy
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Yep the only way to go.
 
RandyP said:
When I purchased my welder a few years ago it came with flux core .030 wire which I used in the beginning of my Model A build. I went to the welding shop and asked why I was having so much trouble and they said that I should be using .023 wire with gas. Once I tried that, I couldn't believe that they even sold me the welder with the flux core wire since I told them what I was doing and that I didn't know how to use a MIG. It works so much better with the gas and the smaller wire. You might give it a try and see if it helps you as much as did me. Randy
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Hi Randy. I'm at the same Crossroad concerning getting a welder for the "Sheet Metal and Fender" type Welding. What welder did you end up buying? There will be one in my very near future! Thanks in advance for the Info. Pivnic
 
At some point I will get a mixed gas bottle for my welder. Reality is not before this wagon is done.

I have 2 kids in the University of California system and one starting grad school. My wife an I earn too much to get any of our tax dollars back in the form of financial aid for tuition. Approximately $75,000 of my annual budget is spoken for. The Willys is a toy much like my wife's cable box and TV. Haha

I almost bought a gas bottle last summer, but ended up using that pocket cash on a rebuild kit for my youngest son's transmission.

Four kids come before dad's toys.

I have my oldest son's TIG machine but can only get good results sitting at a bench all set up comfy. Not something I can do sitting on the garage floor.


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