Bush Welding

I did some welding on an ARB 2nd battery tray at Durba Springs. Used 2 x N70
landcruiser batteries. Did not limit the current (I cannot think how to do this
without specialist equipment).

Any tips??

1. This was my first time welding - I wish I had practised this before with some expert instruction. The result was OK in the end!

2. Make sure no sparks can fly off the welding work and reach the batteries. (BOOM)

3. I used some jump leads for the connections. Next time I will make some jump leads out of old welding cable - good current capacity.

4. Keep a welding glass somewhere safe and then make a facemask out of cardboard when you need it. I used 2 pairs of sunglasses! Not really the best situation.

Happy welding,

Rob

Do a search there has been a few discussions on this subject before.
I usually carry a glass from the goggles, several different sorts of rods, GP, hydrogen for springs etc.
To make a bush helmet use half a slab carton, fits well and pivots on your ears with the lens taped into a cutout on one end, leaves hands free to work with.
For those that have seen the fella welding aluminium cans at the shows with his alloy rods and the porta gas they work really well for emergency repairs.
I've welded alternator brackets, alloy power steering lines, thermostat housing and repaired (blocked anyway) holes in alloy radiators with them.

This might help .

Jack

Need to get some more of those 'Show" rods !! anyone got the blokes number, (Sydney?)

2 batteries is Ok most of the time, but we've had to go 3 batteries once when welding an trailer axle flange.

Used 2.5 mm rods.

You'll get heaps of welding time out of N70 batteries - no probs there.

I take the welding mask, handpiece and rods from home - takes up very little space, and works better than putting a beer carton on your head (but not as funny :-)) and made up some simple leads using battery terminals.

Cheers
Phil

what a laugh???????? i'm a boilermaker .s^*t i have read so far
doing repairs is s easy if you take time to look at the problem... First ascess the problem and then look at it and see how u should repair it .... First off in the bush try and heat thr rods ... rods should be 2.5 or 2.8 or 3mm any big and well????????? your own problem???? cheers chris

On our 1989 Cape York adventure, a rig broke a front spring hanger from chassis.Scotty our leader of Guides To Adventure,welded it back(Permanent) with 3 x 12v batts (on ground) and CIG Weld All rods.WIA Unicord are also a Universal rod.(Unknown metals.s/s to mild steel.Hard to weld steels) Suggest carry rods in plastic conduit with large rubber chair tips ea.end..Force some sponge rubber in to keep them from moving/rubbing)..Batteries actually give a more stable weld arc than a main powered stick welder.Has little effect on good batteries.

Steve the bl;okes number is 0248402017 lavere products taralga nsw hope this helps.

Hullo Lanceo1

Try this link for a brief description of successful welding in the bush. Tancred Mueller (left in pics) used his inverter to weld on two jobs in CGGs 35th Anniversary French Line crossing in '98. Don't ask me what the specs of his gear is but I can put you in touch with him. He is in the business.

Kevin M