A few things that may help you out. First of all, kudos for showing what a complete novice will experience the first time out. There's nothing wrong with learning. Second, slow down. Getting a proper weld requires letting a pool develop, which takes some time. Sheet metal is not the easiest thing to start learning on. Lastly, don't start your weld with the welding rod in contact with the surface. 1/8" away from the surface is enough and will allow you to control the pool. Practice, practice, practice. Don't be afraid to play around with your angles, how you hold the gun, tip angle, feed rate, etc. It's a skill that takes time to develop. I took a course at my local community college, and it's something worth exploring if for no other reason than having someone who knows what they are doing help you to get the basics down.
I'm a welder. But never done any welding for auto body work. I never thought that you could use flux core on auto body work. But with time and patience, you did a great job. Keep up the great work!
Good for you for always embracing new challenges and advancing your skills. Most repair shops will never take as good care of your vehicle as you will. Anything you can learn to do yourself is a win 👍🏽
Looks like a profesional work. A win win, you fix the car and now got a welder for other projects for a less cost than the body shop ask. Last week I bought a yeswelder flux-135 (more cheap than titanium) to do a similar work, but first I practice on a new piece of sheet metal to find the proper machine settings. It's not a profesional grade welder but it do the job.
Thanks for posting your learning journey. I know it’s not easy as there are so many anon trolls ready to criticize everything on the interwebs rather than help and encourage. Watching you work through things and gain experience is much more relatable to us beginners and helps us learn from your own “teachable moments” and successes both. 🙂
I TIG weld at work but that setup has to stay at work because its too big. I just picked up the flux core 125 to hopefully use on automotive panels as well. Ive never Flux-core/MIG before so my first welds with the machine were REAL similar to yours. Awesome Video!
Great job. Brought back memories of doing the rockers on my moms 2002 Cavalier. I went through the same exact learning curve as you. Once i was done the garage that inspected it complimented me on how great a shape the car was in. Plus the guy who bought it was a professional body man for 30 plus years and complimented me on the job. If you take your time to learn you can do a great job with flux core.
Fitzee uses Mig with CO2 gas, as he has demonstrated on one of his video's: flux core is a completely different beast. It may be worth looking for video's by people who use flux core regularly.
Not bad. As someone who dabbles in bodywork and welding you picked about the hardest thing to start with on both. GOOD JOB though and I really like what you did reinforcing the jack point area.
Just a Tip, next time extend your rod out more from the tip to Dissipate heat, Don't Touch the stock, slow down and "Stich" like you did the last piece and Pop, Pop, Pop My Brother.
well done for even attempting this repair, learning to weld is a hard task to master but the fact you done it on such a big repair for a first attempt you should feel proud, great result keep going at this new skill you have learnt.
So glad you fix your rust spot instead of letting it eat holes in your bed like a lot of other trucks. For first time welding end results looks great. Hope that ridgeline last you for a long time, like mine is.
I’m seriously impressed, nice job, I’m going to be doing the same soon with new lower quarter panels for my S10, I will definitely be practicing with the welder until I feel comfortable as I’m completely new at this myself but I honestly feel like I can do it, once again, nice job and excellent video showing us step by step, thanks
Sorry to say but if this is just a quick fix not a permanent fix. With only tacking your replacement piece in you left large gaps that were not welded. You must take the time to weld the joints completely closed. When the moisture comes back from the inside (and it will) it will start to rust everywhere you did not close the joints. Bondo is not going to help for long. Maybe that's what you were looking for so take this as constructive criticism.
It would be fine if it was glassed first …. Unless it’s driven in northern winters it will out last the car …. If it is in winter conditions it’s gonna rust somewhere else before it comes through the repair anyway
With the machine from what I hear from the factory a lot of the flux core welders are setup incorrectly and you have to swap the polarity around for it to work right.
great video! im looking to buy the same welder for the same problem and couldnt figure out how to fix the rotted pinch weld. Thanks for showing your process!
I've also tried flux core on thin steel and I found I need minimum heat and then play with the wire feed until you get the sizzle. At least then you don't burn through and seem to have reasonable penetration. If there is no penetration, then bit by bit try a little more heat. It is very tricky but when its right its great.
Thanks for sharing. I'm in the market for a starter welder and I think I will go with the same one you used. I've welded with flux-core in the past, but it's been a good 10 years since. I will be working on new 1/4 panels on a 90 Honda Accord.
Trying to teach myself to weld with a flux core machine. Sheet metal is really difficult for me. My results were just like yours but are getting better. A decent helmet made a big difference as I can see my puddle more clearly. Before that, with my original mask, it was like welding blind. 😅
Exactly the type of repair, but on a 97 Jeep and on parts that where integral to holding the rear end in place and the body mounts from collapsing that put me in intensive care for a month, any vehicle made after 1979 is disposable, trying to make it look good will just get you and possibly someone else killed, once rust has gone that far that thing should go to the crusher and get turned into pop cans
The HF Titanium 125, the little green machine, is is DCEN Gun negative? A couple people have had their own volt meter and said that the gun is positive. I thought for flux core it needed to be negative.
Thanks for the video. I'll try not to repeat your mistakes and will repeat your successes. You might want to get some ear protection for the angle grinder work. You'll appreciate it in 20 years.
Glad I stopped here. The do it yourself and "Oh what?" of first time. LOL! Bought a mig welder to work on vehicles in a DIY fashion. Wondered how the Harbor Freight welder would handle thicker metal. Wow that's me and Murphy! LOL! Have looked at a lot of How Too welding of autobody and different welds. Thanks for showing your efforts, and "Oh Dah?" moments!
The sheet metal your practicing on is too thin of a gauge and will burn through , to get a good weld you need to hold in one spot til you get a puddle and sorda drag the puddle as you go with a nice steady pace , good job though definitely learning !!
Those welds you call spot welds are to refered to as plug welds. Spot welds are performed with a spot welder. A spot weld is actually fusing/melting two metals together by use of intense pin point heat.
You critically messed up on one thing. When you were underneath and tapping the underside support. you completely failed to say "That's not going anywhere". lol
rite on brother! go for it and grind and weld and figure this shit out ...A wise man learns from his mistakes an even wiser man learns from others mistakes ...so get to mistaking .oh thats what happens when you get all worked up ! just like prom night over penetration .cut all that rust out till you see great metal and bang your head.no more like that 80s movie ."she blinded me with science ! weird science .who sang that? thomas dolby oingo boingo ? naw that was not Elfman shit irefuse to look it up im old school and force paths of the past to connect
I understand you wanting to fix that yourself and everything but unfortunately Rust is cancer it’s never going away no matter what you do with it. You would literally have to cut everything apart and re-weld all new inner rockers floors, reinforcements outer rockers take it from a 30 year frame and body technician, it’s too far gone to do anything with but at least you’re learning something. Good luck.
Chrysler vehicles are made with cheap body parts friendly to rusts. See how Mercedes Benz vans have rusts all over which give zero inviting chance of buying any used vehicle.
That is not a jack point. That is a rocker panel. Part of the cab. The body. You are supposed to jack from the frame. That you touched in the begining. You are only supposed to jack small cars from the" jack point". And it has a specific jack point in front and rear. Them are not ment to be jacked on even when they are brand new it would dent right in under the weight of the truck. Just thought I'd point that out for the future.
Right off the bat, that's the wrong wire. You will struggle. Bodywork requires 0.6mm wire not 0.8mm. 0.8mm will do your head in - blown holes galore. 0.6mm is harder to source but worth the hunt. Next you need to see will your machine run 0.6.. if it does, Happy Days. You are now free from the expense of buying gas... Congratulations. But not so fast! - Does your machine go Looow on the settings? If you went bought a machine for vehicle bodywork with "Max Power!" in mind - you kinda done goofed. You want Looow power - less is more. 80% of welders, setting 1 is about 2 settings too high,, hence they are garbage right out of the box. Seek out a welder that specialises in "Low". Those are harder to find. You also want to pay heed to Mr Decibels - if your welder whines like a Jumbo on the apron, it will start doing in your head after a few hours - more quieter is more better. Switch it on & it whines, chances are you will go "I can live with this!"..and then discover that actually you can't.. Pick a quiet one. I own a €200 welder that is the best welder I have ever found at running flux core wire - but it is so noisy, I never willingly use it. The drone does my head in after a bit. Instead I run wire through a comparatively silent machine that absolutely sucks at flux-core & cost 10 times as much as well - but it's quiet, I can live with the "Runs flux core badly" - I can't live with the whining drone. You might discover you are the same - so pay heed to how noisy it is.
Man, I'm all for DIY and always learning, but what you did here is dangerous and demonstrating it for the public is borderline irresponsible. That patch is not properly engineered for a support point. Seriously, you need to take this down before someone gets hurt.
I know nothing about anything, but... I understand that you started the video by declaring that you are a complete novice, but...but....but? You are posting on to RUclips...have you not considered looking on RUclips for welding how to's?? Have you ever seen welded metal? Have you ever seen new metal welded on to rust? Have you ever seen any one try to weld a line of weld at that speed? Have you ever used any kind of hand held tool before...in your life? Have you figured out if you are left or right handed? Have you ever been allowed near power tools before? Have you ever been allowed outside on your own before? Please...unplug everything, put every thing down...go back inside and watch some tv...for the rest of your life.
A few things that may help you out. First of all, kudos for showing what a complete novice will experience the first time out. There's nothing wrong with learning. Second, slow down. Getting a proper weld requires letting a pool develop, which takes some time. Sheet metal is not the easiest thing to start learning on. Lastly, don't start your weld with the welding rod in contact with the surface. 1/8" away from the surface is enough and will allow you to control the pool.
Practice, practice, practice. Don't be afraid to play around with your angles, how you hold the gun, tip angle, feed rate, etc. It's a skill that takes time to develop.
I took a course at my local community college, and it's something worth exploring if for no other reason than having someone who knows what they are doing help you to get the basics down.
I'm a welder. But never done any welding for auto body work. I never thought that you could use flux core on auto body work. But with time and patience, you did a great job. Keep up the great work!
Awesome!!! Thank you for sharing…one of the most realistic DIY videos I have ever seen that is from someone who has limited welding experience
My welds were turning out like yours to begin with. Awesome progress and turning out a really great looking finished result!
Good for you for always embracing new challenges and advancing your skills. Most repair shops will never take as good care of your vehicle as you will. Anything you can learn to do yourself is a win 👍🏽
Looks like a profesional work. A win win, you fix the car and now got a welder for other projects for a less cost than the body shop ask. Last week I bought a yeswelder flux-135 (more cheap than titanium) to do a similar work, but first I practice on a new piece of sheet metal to find the proper machine settings. It's not a profesional grade welder but it do the job.
Thanks for posting your learning journey. I know it’s not easy as there are so many anon trolls ready to criticize everything on the interwebs rather than help and encourage.
Watching you work through things and gain experience is much more relatable to us beginners and helps us learn from your own “teachable moments” and successes both. 🙂
I TIG weld at work but that setup has to stay at work because its too big. I just picked up the flux core 125 to hopefully use on automotive panels as well. Ive never Flux-core/MIG before so my first welds with the machine were REAL similar to yours. Awesome Video!
Looks great, I have a similar project using the same welder.
Flux core wire will weld on dirty applications, should you clean it, yes, but it's been used in autobody repair for a while now, great video!!
Great job. Brought back memories of doing the rockers on my moms 2002 Cavalier. I went through the same exact learning curve as you. Once i was done the garage that inspected it complimented me on how great a shape the car was in. Plus the guy who bought it was a professional body man for 30 plus years and complimented me on the job.
If you take your time to learn you can do a great job with flux core.
I love watching you start from complete beginning because im about to do the same thing and i dont feel alone.
If you want to learn how to do this sort of thing, I would suggest watching Fitzzies Fabrication, he knows his stuff and I learned a lot from him
FITZEE knows his stuff for sure
Do the cut and butt!
Fitzee uses Mig with CO2 gas, as he has demonstrated on one of his video's: flux core is a completely different beast. It may be worth looking for video's by people who use flux core regularly.
Not bad. As someone who dabbles in bodywork and welding you picked about the hardest thing to start with on both. GOOD JOB though and I really like what you did reinforcing the jack point area.
Thank you, that means a lot!
My first time brother I too did the same thing And I had to go through 1/2 my wire and it’s pretty fun once you get the hang of it ,,,
Absolutely a great job!
I'm inspired to do the same thing
Great video. Really nice job.
Just a Tip, next time extend your rod out more from the tip to Dissipate heat, Don't Touch the stock, slow down and "Stich" like you did the last piece and Pop, Pop, Pop My Brother.
well done for even attempting this repair, learning to weld is a hard task to master but the fact you done it on such a big repair for a first attempt you should feel proud, great result keep going at this new skill you have learnt.
So glad you fix your rust spot instead of letting it eat holes in your bed like a lot of other trucks. For first time welding end results looks great. Hope that ridgeline last you for a long time, like mine is.
Thank you! Good luck with your truck!
I’m seriously impressed, nice job, I’m going to be doing the same soon with new lower quarter panels for my S10, I will definitely be practicing with the welder until I feel comfortable as I’m completely new at this myself but I honestly feel like I can do it, once again, nice job and excellent video showing us step by step, thanks
Sorry to say but if this is just a quick fix not a permanent fix. With only tacking your replacement piece in you left large gaps that were not welded. You must take the time to weld the joints completely closed. When the moisture comes back from the inside (and it will) it will start to rust everywhere you did not close the joints. Bondo is not going to help for long. Maybe that's what you were looking for so take this as constructive criticism.
It would be fine if it was glassed first …. Unless it’s driven in northern winters it will out last the car …. If it is in winter conditions it’s gonna rust somewhere else before it comes through the repair anyway
Good job.
Welding isn't easy, but you can only improve once you start.
You even started with one of the hardest things to weld.
Keep it up.
With the machine from what I hear from the factory a lot of the flux core welders are setup incorrectly and you have to swap the polarity around for it to work right.
Nice bro I like it you just saved your 1,700 bucks and good job as just trying it out seems like it worked out good
great video! im looking to buy the same welder for the same problem and couldnt figure out how to fix the rotted pinch weld. Thanks for showing your process!
Well done for having a go yourself everyone has start somewhere, there’s a lot good comments on here for advice 👍👍
I've also tried flux core on thin steel and I found I need minimum heat and then play with the wire feed until you get the sizzle. At least then you don't burn through and seem to have reasonable penetration. If there is no penetration, then bit by bit try a little more heat. It is very tricky but when its right its great.
Thanks for sharing. I'm in the market for a starter welder and I think I will go with the same one you used. I've welded with flux-core in the past, but it's been a good 10 years since. I will be working on new 1/4 panels on a 90 Honda Accord.
Thanks for the video. I have the same problem on my truck and was curious if it would work and you've answered that question, Thanks again
Looks awesome
Did a great job for a beginner
Trying to teach myself to weld with a flux core machine. Sheet metal is really difficult for me. My results were just like yours but are getting better. A decent helmet made a big difference as I can see my puddle more clearly. Before that, with my original mask, it was like welding blind. 😅
Exactly the type of repair, but on a 97 Jeep and on parts that where integral to holding the rear end in place and the body mounts from collapsing that put me in intensive care for a month, any vehicle made after 1979 is disposable, trying to make it look good will just get you and possibly someone else killed, once rust has gone that far that thing should go to the crusher and get turned into pop cans
This was very helpful…thanks.
The HF Titanium 125, the little green machine, is is DCEN Gun negative? A couple people have had their own volt meter and said that the gun is positive. I thought for flux core it needed to be negative.
What was your settings for it? I keep blowing through on stuff even turned down.
I was keeping it around B and just under 2.
Any issues with the helmet. Also would recommend a welding jacket or sleeves.
The helmet worked great.
Thank you
Thanks for the video. I'll try not to repeat your mistakes and will repeat your successes. You might want to get some ear protection for the angle grinder work. You'll appreciate it in 20 years.
Glad I stopped here. The do it yourself and "Oh what?" of first time. LOL! Bought a mig welder to work on vehicles in a DIY fashion. Wondered how the Harbor Freight welder would handle thicker metal. Wow that's me and Murphy! LOL! Have looked at a lot of How Too welding of autobody and different welds. Thanks for showing your efforts, and "Oh Dah?" moments!
The sheet metal your practicing on is too thin of a gauge and will burn through , to get a good weld you need to hold in one spot til you get a puddle and sorda drag the puddle as you go with a nice steady pace , good job though definitely learning !!
Those welds you call spot welds are to refered to as plug welds. Spot welds are performed with a spot welder. A spot weld is actually fusing/melting two metals together by use of intense pin point heat.
The guy told me one time that you don't weld too hot or too cold but you weld too fast or too slow. And you definitely weld fast.
Good job
You critically messed up on one thing. When you were underneath and tapping the underside support. you completely failed to say "That's not going anywhere". lol
Harbor freight wires sucks
Try Blue Demon
Damn man that was pretty good
rite on brother! go for it and grind and weld and figure this shit out ...A wise man learns from his mistakes an even wiser man learns from others mistakes ...so get to mistaking .oh thats what happens when you get all worked up ! just like prom night over penetration .cut all that rust out till you see great metal and bang your head.no more like that 80s movie ."she blinded me with science ! weird science .who sang that? thomas dolby oingo boingo ? naw that was not Elfman shit irefuse to look it up im old school and force paths of the past to connect
My girl if it survives the recall is going to need some fluxin lmao awesome video
At 9:14 it looks almost as your finger is so freaken close to the cutting wheel. Yikessss.
I understand you wanting to fix that yourself and everything but unfortunately Rust is cancer it’s never going away no matter what you do with it. You would literally have to cut everything apart and re-weld all new inner rockers floors, reinforcements outer rockers take it from a 30 year frame and body technician, it’s too far gone to do anything with but at least you’re learning something. Good luck.
Chrysler vehicles are made with cheap body parts friendly to rusts. See how Mercedes Benz vans have rusts all over which give zero inviting chance of buying any used vehicle.
Look like your doing some resale work... I have to do this some times to the cars I sell..
Good job bud
You should wear a mask though!
That is not a jack point. That is a rocker panel. Part of the cab. The body. You are supposed to jack from the frame. That you touched in the begining. You are only supposed to jack small cars from the" jack point". And it has a specific jack point in front and rear. Them are not ment to be jacked on even when they are brand new it would dent right in under the weight of the truck. Just thought I'd point that out for the future.
going to fast with it
A mig welder works way better for welding
Just follow the chart that comes with the machine and you'll be fine
Right off the bat, that's the wrong wire. You will struggle. Bodywork requires 0.6mm wire not 0.8mm. 0.8mm will do your head in - blown holes galore. 0.6mm is harder to source but worth the hunt. Next you need to see will your machine run 0.6.. if it does, Happy Days. You are now free from the expense of buying gas... Congratulations.
But not so fast! - Does your machine go Looow on the settings? If you went bought a machine for vehicle bodywork with "Max Power!" in mind - you kinda done goofed. You want Looow power - less is more. 80% of welders, setting 1 is about 2 settings too high,, hence they are garbage right out of the box. Seek out a welder that specialises in "Low". Those are harder to find. You also want to pay heed to Mr Decibels - if your welder whines like a Jumbo on the apron, it will start doing in your head after a few hours - more quieter is more better. Switch it on & it whines, chances are you will go "I can live with this!"..and then discover that actually you can't.. Pick a quiet one. I own a €200 welder that is the best welder I have ever found at running flux core wire - but it is so noisy, I never willingly use it. The drone does my head in after a bit. Instead I run wire through a comparatively silent machine that absolutely sucks at flux-core & cost 10 times as much as well - but it's quiet, I can live with the "Runs flux core badly" - I can't live with the whining drone. You might discover you are the same - so pay heed to how noisy it is.
That was painful to watch 🫣
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🙋♂️🙋♂️🙋♂️🙋♂️🙋♂️
Lol it looks like you spattered that piece of metal in I to am learning how to weld great video
The first weld was terrible you need penetration im a welder
Man, I'm all for DIY and always learning, but what you did here is dangerous and demonstrating it for the public is borderline irresponsible. That patch is not properly engineered for a support point. Seriously, you need to take this down before someone gets hurt.
I know nothing about anything, but...
I understand that you started the video by declaring that you are a complete novice, but...but....but?
You are posting on to RUclips...have you not considered looking on RUclips for welding how to's??
Have you ever seen welded metal?
Have you ever seen new metal welded on to rust?
Have you ever seen any one try to weld a line of weld at that speed?
Have you ever used any kind of hand held tool before...in your life?
Have you figured out if you are left or right handed?
Have you ever been allowed near power tools before?
Have you ever been allowed outside on your own before?
Please...unplug everything, put every thing down...go back inside and watch some tv...for the rest of your life.
😂😅😂😅
too close and too fast.relax man
Great work. It gave me some confidence on doing my rockers on my ford f-150 crew cab.🤌🏿
Looks amazing