welding boot floor

I finally plucked up the courage to take my sound deadening and carpet out yesterday and check out boot floor rust. Could have been worse; corroded from top due to leaky alpine windows (now fixed). Annoying thing is the return lip on the main boot panel and side sections are well on their way but everything else is rock solid due to good undersealing. Will post a pic on weekend.

Im going to have to weld it with possibly new main and side panels. Question is how much mig gas do people get through on a whole boot floor job? Anyone got any advice on whether to use disposables, hobbyweld or go boc? I also need to do the sills and rear x member but they arent basket cases. I weld little else apart from my car it seems

Regards gas. I've got an account with air liquide works out a hell of a lot cheaper than the small bottles.

Then again I do get through a bottle every 3 months on average.

Can't really comment on boot floor as I haven't done one.

Sills are easy to replace though. Even easier if you fit box section sills.

I have been using fire extinguishers turned upside down for a year now, as I had a free supply. That's now dried up but I have been informed that anywhere that deal with these will refill for a very small charge, and also remove the dip tube do they can be used right-way-up. I've just used one full bottle to do a 110 bulkhead and one door bottom, but previously used three disposables to do my disco boot floor and one patch on the chassis. Disposable gas bottles are a great example of false economy.

Discokids said:

I have been using fire extinguishers turned upside down for a year now, as I had a free supply. That's now dried up but I have been informed that anywhere that deal with these will refill for a very small charge, and also remove the dip tube do they can be used right-way-up. I've just used one full bottle to do a 110 bulkhead and one door bottom, but previously used three disposables to do my disco boot floor and one patch on the chassis. Disposable gas bottles are a great example of false economy.

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I also use a CO2 fire extinguisher, why do they need to be turned over ?
Not had any problems so far, but it's still quite full.

Have a look around for industrial gas suppliers. I get mine from Tanasio in N. Wales but I don't think they deliver as far south as Swansea. Definitely cheaper than disposables.

They have a dip tube inside so it comes out all fluffy, turn it upside down, comes out clear after 3/4 seconds. Don't know if the 'fluffiness' affects the reg, just always turned it to be sure. Pub gas cylinders are also a cheaper alternative to a proper cylinder if you can get one.

I like the idea of using a fire extinguisher!
I just found a thread on the welding forum about a boc volkszone offer? Sounds like its about £35 rent a yr and £25 fill. Sounds ok and the bottle is huge. Anyone used that offer?

ronsealdeath said:

I like the idea of using a fire extinguisher!
I just found a thread on the welding forum about a boc volkszone offer? Sounds like its about £35 rent a yr and £25 fill. Sounds ok and the bottle is huge. Anyone used that offer?

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Not used that offer but it isn't far off what I'm paying with air liquide atm.

Big bottles is definitely the way to go.

Allways handy to have two fire extinguishers, one for the mig and one for just in case.

Yes, I have a few dotted about, setting **** on fire unintentionally in a cluttered garage is easier than you think!

May do me a favour if the disco goes up

My cousin has his own pub so I use pub size co2 bottles
I pay about £12 for refills maybe twice a year.

Thanks all, im going to see if I can get some co2 from somewhere or if not just go with boc. Disposables seem a waste of time

If yer in Swansea check out yer GMF branch. They supply Adams gas no contract.
Just pay deposit and yer first gas, and yer away.

I use the 20L bottle ..... Nearly 4x as much gas as 9L bottle due to higher bar.

If you look at my first build thread i probably used up a full bottle doing the whole of the rear end mate. Definitely had the gas turned up a bit to high as they seem to last for ages now though. i rent a 'midi' Argonsheild bottle (20L filled to 200bar same as a BOC 'Y') from Energas, costs about 4 quid a month and 27 to swap out.

Do you guys see any noticeable difference when using CO2 compared to normal gas?

I use Hobbyweld 5 gas, but it is expensive, and the bottles seem to leak.

I have a few 5kg CO2 fire extinguishers in the garage, as I use it in my aquarium.

Chrisw8 said:

If yer in Swansea check out yer GMF branch. They supply Adams gas no contract.
Just pay deposit and yer first gas, and yer away.

I use the 20L bottle ..... Nearly 4x as much gas as 9L bottle due to higher bar.

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Will do mate sounds good

Had a proper look at the boot floor today











Not horrendous but annoyingly the return lip is shot both sides for floor and side panels so need a whole new floor and side panels. I was going to get the pre formed side panels but reading Discodads thread and seeing the warnings about flimsy metal on them, I went for the 1.2mm YRM side panels and boot floor. I'm going to cut them using the sound deadening as a template as its perfectly shaped for the whole floor. Ordered some new sill ends and a crossmember boot, £150 all in.... Still not as bad as what I would pay in a garage. Welding gas next then I'm set to have a go in Feb after moving house

Got some more supplies this weekend ready; sikaflex, some contact tips for the mig, cutting discs, spot weld cutting bit, 8mm joiner to bypass the sedimenter while I've got access and I'm going to try using TEK screws to fix the boot floor panel to the side panels which will be seem welded. Will check this approach with MOT man first!



Have gone for SGS gas; 10 litre bottle. Based on the amount of welding I will do, the BOC volkszone offer was a bit overkill. The SGS 10 litre bottle should give 2000 litres of gas which should last over 2 hrs of welding time. More than enough for the boot, sills, rear x member and a tiny patch on front inners.

Spot weld drill was one of the best things I've ever bought! Perfect for landy work.