RowdyRebel Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 Anyone have any experience with one of the various "under hood" welders? Something along the lines of Mobi-Arc or Premier Power Welder or any others I haven't run across yet? I ran into a situation a couple weeks ago where something like that would have come in handy....blew out a trailer tire and that broke a weld on the bracket supporting the side skirt on the trailer. It also shredded a cable, but I could have used bailing wire to temporarily fix that issue...the broken weld on the bracket, not so easy. I ended up removing that entire side of the skirt and securing it to the catwalk as I waited for the tire guy to show up to replace the tire...then I had to swing by the yard on my way home to get it fixed. Rather than fix it, they handed me a new bracket and cable and sent me home to reinstall the side skirt myself. Would have been MUCH easier to just weld the broken bracket on the side of the road and twist some bailing wire together to "make" a temporary cable rather than wrestle that silly side skirt like I did. Quote When approaching a 4-way stop, the vehicle with the biggest tires has the right of way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slpwlker Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 Got a pic of what your talking about? I did some aluminum welding in school but man that was back in 95. I know it is finiky as hell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyRebel Posted May 12, 2013 Author Share Posted May 12, 2013 The bracket is steel...bolts onto the aluminum subframe of the trailer. These welders would use 6011, 6013, 7018, etc electrodes. I've seen electrodes for aluminum welding, but they are DCEP if I remember right, and I've only got an AC welder right now. These under hood welders seem to be DC, so it'd be a possibility I guess to weld some other stuff... Quote When approaching a 4-way stop, the vehicle with the biggest tires has the right of way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1958 F.W.D. Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 Doesnt anyone carry duct tape anymore, or just guys who drive PACCAR's? Quote TWO STROKES ARE FOR GARDEN TOOLS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyRebel Posted May 13, 2013 Author Share Posted May 13, 2013 I've got 2 partial roles and a full roll in the truck...but why duck it if you can weld it? More power! Argh! Argh! Argh! Quote When approaching a 4-way stop, the vehicle with the biggest tires has the right of way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solution rsb502 Posted May 16, 2013 Solution Share Posted May 16, 2013 Not duck brand anymore I get gorilla tape, it is bad stuff. I have used an underhood welder and all I can say is deal with it when you get to a real welder or get a new bracket. I tried 7018 rods in 3/32, 1/8, and 5/32 the 1/8 Lincoln rods seemed to do best but it was very slow going and not easy to control. Just so ya know I weld at work weekly I have a Lincoln 305D on my truck I use 1/8" 6011 rods for root passes on deep cracks or joints and 5/32 7018 for my cover passes, I use Lincoln Excalibur rods almost exclusively they seem to strike easier than radnor and others. I do like radnor 7018 1/4" for backhoe buckets and large plate stuff they fill fast but I still use a Lincoln for my root pass. Quote "Any Society that would give up a little LIBERTY to gain a little SECURITY will Deserve Neither and LOSE BOTH" -Benjamin Franklin"If your gonna be STUPID, you gotta be TOUGH" "You cant always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you get what you need" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyRebel Posted May 16, 2013 Author Share Posted May 16, 2013 I've found the industrial strength duck brand to be a good balance between strength and price. Gorilla tape is just too darned expensive for this penny-pincher. As for the underhood welders, I've seen them advertised in 4x4 magazines and such & been curious about 'em for a while....sounds like they'd be pretty handy, but I guess it is yet another example of a great concept with poor execution. Quote When approaching a 4-way stop, the vehicle with the biggest tires has the right of way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_martell Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 Back in my jeepin' days, there was always at least one welder and one air compressor in the pack.....mind you, that was jeeps and pickups...not that heavy of steel. Saved our asses more than once.... Oh, can't forget the all important winch truck. Quote Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.