How to weld 1/2"armour plate?

Darrin Wright · #1 29-11-12, 21:38

thanks guys for all your input.
I am picking up a heavy duty mig today from a friend and will look at preparing the steel this weekend and commence welding next week.

I think (and this thread has confirmed) preparation is a very important factor, so will grind a vee on both sections of the hull & panel, and ensure any slag is removed.
Weld in some braces to support the new panel, some minor tacks to get it in the right spot, adjust with a hammer, then weld away alternating from side to side so that heat expansion does not affect the new panel.
When finished grind and tidy up the welds, then run over it with a flapper sanding disc to get the surfaces right. When the hull is blasted get them to concentrate on the welded area to get the surface texture the same.

Thanks again

Ian Mastin · #2 30-11-12, 12:02

G'day Darrin,

One more tip for you mate make sure you have tin of nozzle dip!!! this dip will help keep the head of the mig welder clean when welding.

cheers for now and good luck

warren brown · #3 06-12-12, 05:13

I don't know if it is the same but I had some cracks welded on the scout car. It was a mongrel of a job. A mobile weder bloke did it and after much mucking around successfully welded using rods with a high nickel content - from memory. As Richard mentioned we had to cut a vee in preparation for the weld. I seem to remember heating the rods up in my mum's oven - I don't know if that helped in any way and certainly not for her cooking - but the welds were good.

Mike K · #4 06-12-12, 09:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by warren brown

I seem to remember heating the rods up in my mum's oven - I don't know if that helped in any way and certainly not for her cooking - but the welds were good.

The TAFE I did welding at, kept the welding rods in a warm oven, it keeps the rods dry . The rods are much better to weld with when they are dry . Any moisture in the rods, it somehow detracts from their performance .

Mike

Lynn Eades · #5 06-12-12, 10:57

I thought in a country, where your slice of bread curls up and dries out, in the 3 seconds before you try to butter it, that keeping your welding rods dry and warm, wouldn't count........ or is that only in the bad lands out west?

colin jones · #6 07-12-12, 01:04

Don't forget, darrin is using a mig and not ark. Heating your welding rods is for preheated cast iron and tempered steel of high stress levels and would not be a issue in this case.

Colin.