Arc welding

[mearnsy]

The high top is gonna need some welding and lidl are selling an arc welder for £35, is arc welding easy enough for a beginner to go some bodywork?

[Plasticman]

No no and no
sorry
mike

[fodtommo]

As a general rule Arc welding is not suitable for car body work, the metal is too thin... Arc welders have always been cheap but they are not much good for bodywork, they blow holes and distort the metal. Years ago you could get an attachment that was suppose to make them ok for thinner metal, but I dont know if it worked.

Really you need a MIG or oxy acet kit, for the home user MIG welders are easiest.

Sorry if this is not the info you wanted !

Worth asking if anyone in the club near to you has one they can lend you - Its not a piece of kit you use all that often.

Also you say the high top needs welding??? they are generally made of fibreglass!?

[fodtommo]

Oh and if you havnt done it before, get hold of someone who has to show you, and find something to practice on first - alot!

[mearnsy]

The spec on the welder says it can do 1.5mm and 3mm, is this not good enough for bodywork?

[boatbuilder]

It won't work. A lot of the bodywork is under 1.5mm, especially when you are welding metal weakened by rust.
Another downside of arc welding is that you get flux on the welds, which can sometimes get trapped in the weld and be a pain to remove properly.
Mig is really the only way for a diyer. You can get gasless migs or ones with co2/argon gas. The gas ones are better.
Your best bet would be to look out for a small secondhand mig with gas.
But then again it depends on how much welding is needed. If its only a patch or two, I'd cut out the holes myself, make the patches from sheet metal and then bring it to someone with a mig welder.