If u want summat doing....

…do it yourself!  Well after nearly 3 years of being messed around by what feels like every body shop for 50 miles: I'm gonna do it myself!
 Just looking for people?s advice really. My plan is to weld in a new small light rear panel, new N/S sill, and fix a few holes in the rear chassis legs. I've got genuine new wings and a bonnet as well. The car has been resprayed twice so I?m gonna get it chemically stripped and then coated with some sort of fancy stuff to stop it rusting. Then I guess I?ll have a go @ spraying it!

 Can anyone recommend the best kinda welder I?m gonna need and does anyone know where I could get some more info about fitting a new rear panel? Think that?s the scariest bit!

There was a post started vt ChrisB that covered welders quite a while ago - here:

http://www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=441&highlight=welder

I agree - DIY.  Chances are you'll do as good if not better a job than a garage since they are forced to rush things like metal prep and finishing.  My 79 gti has had some horrific repairs by certified garages in the past - all documented.  

My advice to you would be:

Buy a hobby welder (you don't need a hefty welder for sheet metal!).  Clarke and SIP come to mind.

Be patient with your welding; anyone can weld but good welding comes with experience!. Buy a book on the subject - haynes do a good one.  

Buy a decent mask with a low rated lens 9-10 so that seeing the weld is easier.  When I started out welding I was usign a 12 rated and had great difficulty seeing my welding, the higher rated lenses are designed for people using industrial welders and who are doing it all the time.  Lenses are available in different colours - mine has a green tint which i find best.  My fathers is orange - each to their own.

Practice. lap and butt welds are the norm.

Panels on the mk1 are relatively simple to remove.  If its never been welded before you'll probably find the repair easier.  Removing repair work is often a difficult task - especially if bodged!  

Remove as little metal as possible. Prep and finish with quality products.  I use a weldable primer then a galvanising paint to finish.  POR 15 also works a treat for rust proofing welds.  

Fitting a new rear panel: read haynes restoration manual for the mk1 golf - it's the mutts nuts.

fantastic, cheers troops! I take it i'm gonna need a mig welder? What sort of rating will be the best? Last time i did any welding was whilst i was still at school!    

 Geting very stressed about doing it all my self but i'm really looking forward to getting into it. Just gotta wait till me backs a bit better then its all systems go! Tore a tendon lifting a bottom end into the estate a few weeks ago   :cry:

I've been looking for a mig welder too. Followed the link to worldofpower in the thread suggested by crazy and thought the 'SIP 06504 Migmate 105 Turbo Portable MIG Welder' looked quite good at ?183.15.

Just out of curiosity had a look on ebay for it and found soome reconditioned ones for ?100 delivered… Sounds like quite a bargain to me. Still need to get mask and wire…

Here's the link anyway

http://search.ebay.co.…tle=SIP+06504+Migmate+105

HTH

cheers for the link, seems almost to good to be true! Will be keeping an eye on it tho! Just wanna get stuck in now!

Good welder - same at the one I have - I fitted casters to the bottom  

or here with everything… ?25 cheaper than worldofpower

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/…ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Have you got the dual purpose one crazy or the one that only runs on gas? Don't know much about welding, yet… but I remember reading that using gas generally gives you a better weld?

Only gas

so whats the deal with using gas then??? i'm also totally new to welding and on a steep learning curve!

In MIG welding the gas is used to sheild the arc and molten metal from Oxygen.  Otherwise the metal will just burn  8O

and i think different gases produse slightly different results,

mines got co2 iirc.

cheers troops, so can mig welders work with and with out gas????

no

i think the weld has to be done in an inert atmosphere, hence the gas

ah i see, think i'd got the wrong end of the stick! It's all good fun!

You can get gasless welders but it is easier to get a decent weld using gas. Have a look here for plenty of info on the subject…

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/

Good reading for novices like you and me!

nice one woZa, thanks again!