Zaky31

Active Member

• Oct 11, 2014

• #1

My MOT is run out and to pass I have to replace boot floor and patch up inner front wheel arches.
Sony disco is off the road

Problem is. I really can't afford to spend £250 on a MIG welder to fix it. If I want to MIG weld I'll have to wait a few months to get one by then I'd have been snowed in and pointless. I want my disco on the road before the snow hits.

So my question is this?? Can I use an ARC welder on the disco. People go on about MIG but If I could get away with ARC I CAN afford to buy a cheap £50 ARC welder and get it done in a week or two?

So is there any reason why I couldn't ARC weld a new boot floor in and patch the arches???? Just need it back on the road.

 

Zaky31

Active Member

• Oct 11, 2014

• #2

*so my disco is off the road

 

haigy

Well-Known Member

• Oct 11, 2014

• #3

Try ebay youl pick up a decent mig on there for 50 to 80. Mine is a 100 am which is spot on for welding the chassis on my disco for mot and the footwells and the arches.its also made some sills up of 3mm box so is capable little thing

 

brian47

Well-Known Member

• Oct 11, 2014

• #4

You can use whatever type of welding to maake repairs, Mig, Arc, Gas, a weld is a weld.
However Arc welding does tend to be a bit too fierce for vehicle repairs, you can end up with more holes in the metal than you started with. Arc welding on thin material takes a lot of practice and a fair bit of luck.
Gas can be used (Oxy-Acetylene) Propane is OK for cutting but the flame tends to be a bit too dirty for successful welding.
Mig is probably the best way to go for vehicle repairs.

 

S

Sheffield

Well-Known Member

• Oct 11, 2014

• #5

I seem to recall the boot floor is not structural, so can be bolted in place. Might save a bit of welding.

 

C

camaroneil

Member

• Oct 11, 2014

• #6

you don't say where you are, but i have my old mig for sale,
£75 would take it,
hasn't been used a great deal,
think its a migmate 105e

 

Zaky31

Active Member

• Oct 11, 2014

• #7

I'm colchester. North Essex. But work in East London so if your anywhere around there I'd happily buy off you

 

C

camaroneil

Member

• Oct 11, 2014

• #8

nope, other end of country,
oh well, good luck in getting it sorted,

 

R

rollin danny

Well-Known Member

• Oct 11, 2014

• #9

How bad is the boot floor? All I did with my old disco was cut out the bad rot on the floor .paint it and the place the new floor on top of the old.I cut the seat belt mounting round the new floor and pulled the belts through. Pop rivets and sealer and job done. I had that disco 7 years and past the mot everytime until it failed on other things.

 

Zaky31

Active Member

• Oct 11, 2014

• #10

Some people have said you can rivet the boot floor but other day it MUST be welded? I did mention rivet to the garage and he said no way. It MUST be welded.

 

Zaky31

Active Member

• Oct 11, 2014

• #11

*others say

 

Zaky31

Active Member

• Oct 11, 2014

• #12

 

Turboman

Mab An Gov

• Oct 11, 2014

• #13

Zaky31 said:

Some people have said you can rivet the boot floor but other day it MUST be welded? I did mention rivet to the garage and he said no way. It MUST be welded.

Click to expand...

No idea about the legalities of it, but if you riveted it, put the carpet back down, and slathered plenty of underseal on the underneath I very much doubt if anyone would ever notice!

 

brian47

Well-Known Member

• Oct 11, 2014

• #14

Zaky31 said:

Some people have said you can rivet the boot floor but other day it MUST be welded? I did mention rivet to the garage and he said no way. It MUST be welded.

Click to expand...

The garage is erring on the side of caution; probably being uncertain as to exactly what is and isn't structural or load bearing on your particular vehicle, they will always advise welding.
Personally, I would go for the welding option, just to be on the safe side.