Anyone recommend a good MIG welder in the Ldn area?
Discussion
I need a T45 hoop adding to my roll cage and need a neat MIG weld to attach this. Does anyone have any recommendations for anyone who can do this? It literally needs 2 welds only, but I don't want some muppet to put a hole in the current cage tubing, and clearly need to achieve good weld penetration.
I'm based around the foot of the M1 and don't want to travel too far.
I'm based around the foot of the M1 and don't want to travel too far.
Murph7355 said:
Where are you putting the hoop Fergus?
To be honest, I wouldn't be messing the cage. Perhaps I'm to scaredy, but I wouldn't want anyone other than the manufacturer making mods to it that could even remotely harm its structural integrity.
Andy, the hoop is to go over the top of the rear of the cage to give me an additional 8cms in the event of a roll. With a stock SLR cage, the top of my lid is nearly level with the upperside of the tubes in the 'roof' of the cage.To be honest, I wouldn't be messing the cage. Perhaps I'm to scaredy, but I wouldn't want anyone other than the manufacturer making mods to it that could even remotely harm its structural integrity.
The welding will be done onto the rear horizontal section of the roof part of the cage. This isn't near any existing welds. Phil @ Caged has just made me the hoop! He says MIG'ing it on will be fine, but get someone who's competant to do it in case they burn through the current 14/16g T45 in the rear section....
Do you have a lowered floor, or are you using a tillet?
Personally I like my head as far away from the cage as possible, to the point where I sit virtually on the lowered floor of my car with a bag seat. If your head is level, you're going to biff the cage in a roll, or even a side/frontal, and the ground will be the least of your worries!
Personally I like my head as far away from the cage as possible, to the point where I sit virtually on the lowered floor of my car with a bag seat. If your head is level, you're going to biff the cage in a roll, or even a side/frontal, and the ground will be the least of your worries!
The Wookie said:
Do you have a lowered floor, or are you using a tillet?
Personally I like my head as far away from the cage as possible, to the point where I sit virtually on the lowered floor of my car with a bag seat. If your head is level, you're going to biff the cage in a roll, or even a side/frontal, and the ground will be the least of your worries!
Lowered floor, bag seat. Agree with you re the head:cage distance, but I'm 6'5" and the car is a little 'un! There's a lot of padding in there, and even if I write a lid off, it will act as a horizontal brace a la some of the wrap around 'arms' that can be seen on touring cars/WRC cars, etc!Personally I like my head as far away from the cage as possible, to the point where I sit virtually on the lowered floor of my car with a bag seat. If your head is level, you're going to biff the cage in a roll, or even a side/frontal, and the ground will be the least of your worries!
I know a very competent mobile welder based near Hemel Hempstead (Junction 8 M1) if that's any use? He did some fantastic TIG welding on my 106 Rallye and i'm pretty sure he does MIG too. There are some pics of the welding in my blog if you want to see, last couple of pages, engine mount + strut reinforcement plates.
Ponk said:
I know a very competent mobile welder based near Hemel Hempstead (Junction 8 M1) if that's any use? He did some fantastic TIG welding on my 106 Rallye and i'm pretty sure he does MIG too. There are some pics of the welding in my blog if you want to see, last couple of pages, engine mount + strut reinforcement plates.
A mobile solution may be a good option here. Can you PM me his details? I'll give him a call. Many thanksfergus said:
Lowered floor, bag seat. Agree with you re the head:cage distance, but I'm 6'5" and the car is a little 'un! There's a lot of padding in there, and even if I write a lid off, it will act as a horizontal brace a la some of the wrap around 'arms' that can be seen on touring cars/WRC cars, etc!
Ah same height as me! (part of the reason the name Wookie has stuck). I used to compromise by slouching a bit and having my knees slightly more bent, logic being I'd rather break my legs than my head. Probably stupid question, but have you got the pedals in the lowest position? Makes a difference, although size 13 feet meant it took a bit of getting used to for me.Perhaps you've got different proportions to me, but I always used to just about manage a decent clearance, and felt nice and low in the car
At least it's nice and easy to play with a Caterham. Believe it or not, in my current racing car the boys had to cut some of the top floor layer out to weld in some bosses so we could remove the sliding seat runners and bolt it straight to the floor. I kept biffing my head on the cage every time they dropped the air jacks!
The Wookie said:
fergus said:
Lowered floor, bag seat. Agree with you re the head:cage distance, but I'm 6'5" and the car is a little 'un! There's a lot of padding in there, and even if I write a lid off, it will act as a horizontal brace a la some of the wrap around 'arms' that can be seen on touring cars/WRC cars, etc!
Ah same height as me! (part of the reason the name Wookie has stuck). I used to compromise by slouching a bit and having my knees slightly more bent, logic being I'd rather break my legs than my head. Probably stupid question, but have you got the pedals in the lowest position? Makes a difference, although size 13 feet meant it took a bit of getting used to for me.Perhaps you've got different proportions to me, but I always used to just about manage a decent clearance, and felt nice and low in the car
At least it's nice and easy to play with a Caterham. Believe it or not, in my current racing car the boys had to cut some of the top floor layer out to weld in some bosses so we could remove the sliding seat runners and bolt it straight to the floor. I kept biffing my head on the cage every time they dropped the air jacks!
I had similar issues in my old 964RS. Andy Fearns helped make some special side mount plates, which meant the ECU had to be moved as the seat was on the floorpan of the car!
On my bike, however, the sky's the limit!
I do make it look like a mini moto though!Well worth giving it a try, I know making the foam seats are a pain (my one's 2 or 3 years past its sell by date) but if you're worried enough to be fitting additional hoops then it'll always be in the back of your mind, which is never good if you're on track!
If you're East Surrey way you're welcome to have a sit/play in my 400 with pedals on the furthest setting (once i've got it back) to see if you can cope with it or not. Might save you the horror of messing about with pedals and making another bag seat!
ETA - The 2nd reason I haven't gone for bikes. Vanity closely follows self preservation for me!
If you're East Surrey way you're welcome to have a sit/play in my 400 with pedals on the furthest setting (once i've got it back) to see if you can cope with it or not. Might save you the horror of messing about with pedals and making another bag seat!
ETA - The 2nd reason I haven't gone for bikes. Vanity closely follows self preservation for me!
Edited by The Wookie on Tuesday 8th December 15:29
Am a mere 6'4" myself but longer of inside leg.
Bag seat, lowered floor and std cage.
Can you not get a taller cage and sell your current one?
Hoop stuck on the top of a standard cage just "feels" wrong to me. And would look a bit "knocked up"?
On the pedals, I didn't notice much difference between the middle and farthest pedal settings. They just alter the way you sit in the car rather than necessarily providing lashings of extra space IME.
Bag seat, lowered floor and std cage.
Can you not get a taller cage and sell your current one?
Hoop stuck on the top of a standard cage just "feels" wrong to me. And would look a bit "knocked up"?
On the pedals, I didn't notice much difference between the middle and farthest pedal settings. They just alter the way you sit in the car rather than necessarily providing lashings of extra space IME.
Murph7355 said:
Am a mere 6'4" myself but longer of inside leg.
Bag seat, lowered floor and std cage.
Can you not get a taller cage and sell your current one?
Hoop stuck on the top of a standard cage just "feels" wrong to me. And would look a bit "knocked up"?
On the pedals, I didn't notice much difference between the middle and farthest pedal settings. They just alter the way you sit in the car rather than necessarily providing lashings of extra space IME.
I had a tall cage, but flogged it and got this one, as it was too tall! A lot of the historics guys (VSCC) use the 'hoop on top of the main cage' method to create extra head room, and several of them have FIA race papers! If the car were to roll and hit a kerb, the hoop will just deform, rather than snap off (assuming I don't get a muppet doing the welding, and they get good penetration (ooh-er) on the weld....Bag seat, lowered floor and std cage.
Can you not get a taller cage and sell your current one?
Hoop stuck on the top of a standard cage just "feels" wrong to me. And would look a bit "knocked up"?
On the pedals, I didn't notice much difference between the middle and farthest pedal settings. They just alter the way you sit in the car rather than necessarily providing lashings of extra space IME.
I'll try the pedals on their furthest settings and see how I get on.
"knocked up" = A man, some T45, a tube bender, and a MIG!!!
PS, shorty...
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