Newbie needing welding info....

**benholden2010** · 23rd August 2011, 19:12

To cut a long story short, i need abit of advice regarding Arc welding

My girlfriends car needs the manifold and drivers seat welding and for the price of a Arc welder i though i'd give it a go myself.

Had a look about online but can't really find much info with regards to stick size and amperage recommended for various jobs.

So if anyone wants to give me some advice i'm all ears

**Big Sig** · 23rd August 2011, 19:17

It would peobably be cheaper to pop down to your local engineering firm and pay one of their welders in beer tokens to do it for you. If you have never done it before its not that simple, you could end up setting fire to the seat and burning a massive hole in the manifold (plus if its a cast metal its another story for the welder!)

**wayne10244** · 23rd August 2011, 19:22

Hello could find the arc weld to powerful for what you want to weld as for the manifold is it steel tube or cast your best bet is mig for the seat rail as for the manifold if it cast you could try with the arc but you would need the correct rods

**AndyMaz** · 23rd August 2011, 19:52

Have you ever welded anything before? If you had you wouldn't be considering arc welding on your car lol

It's OK for pipes and ships, but on a car MIG is the way to go.

If you've never welded before it's probably best to pay someone to do it. It's not as easy as it looks.

**PedroMV6** · 23rd August 2011, 20:10

Originally Posted by benholden2010

To cut a long story short, i need abit of advice regarding Arc welding

My girlfriends car needs the manifold and drivers seat welding and for the price of a Arc welder i though i'd give it a go myself.

Had a look about online but can't really find much info with regards to stick size and amperage recommended for various jobs.

So if anyone wants to give me some advice i'm all ears

I take it the manifold is cast steel?
It's hard to weld to be honest. You need to heat it up to something like 400 degrees C, then weld it with proper cast rods that are an exact match to the parent metal. This is still not a guarantee the welding will hold.

If it's cast aluminium, it needs heating up to about 250 degrees (IRC) but thoroughly cleaned first - and I do mean properly clean (aluminium is porous) and a tw**t to weld with a stick. Even more of a t**T to weld if it's cast, although once welded, it usually stays welded.

This is from my experience, anyhow.....the heat values might not be correct.

My advice - replace the manifold!

**BigWilko** · 23rd August 2011, 20:11

My first bit of advice would be get some practice in first. You'll probably be better off with a mig but it will be possible with a stick.

**PedroMV6** · 23rd August 2011, 20:16

Originally Posted by BigWilko

My first bit of advice would be get some practice in first. You'll probably be better off with a mig but it will be possible with a stick.

Can you get MIG wire to weld cast materials?
Been out of the game a few years, so it wouldn't surprise me!

**benholden2010** · 23rd August 2011, 20:27

thanks for the quick response fellas think ill give it a miss

The manifold is going to cost nearly £130 aswell as £50 for the seat, when both can be repaired instead of replaced. Hence the thought of getting it welded.

**Grumpy1954** · 23rd August 2011, 20:49

I had a mate had an arc welder, after seeing him wled a few times, when I fancied having a go when I had the classics, I went for a MiG, better suited to car panels though better prcatising on scrap first.
As has been said, it's not as easy as it looks/sounds, and a manifold could be complicated.

**G4GAV** · 23rd August 2011, 21:11

i weld for my job and to what every one has said on here today, i would go with a new / second hand replacement.

all depends on type of steel-cast, correct heated temp, correct rods and the right machine for amps etc, you could make the job even harder if your unsure, trust me i made a few messes in my time.