A bit of panel beating advice needed

[krashbandikoot]

OK so this is a bike issue but what the hell, it's still metal work ;D

My old GPZ tank is well and truly knackered! Pin holes all over the place, brazing, TIG'ing, MIG'ing simply hasn't worked since as soon as I seal one set of pin holes another set pops up!

Given this, I've decided to get some mild steel sheets:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-2mm-Zintec-Mild-Steel-Sheet-Metal-500-x-300mm-Welding-Car-Repairs-MIG-/261106620363?pt=UK_BOI_Metalworking_Milling_Welding_Metalworking_Supplies_ET&hash=item3ccb2ad7cb

Stick a bid in on this: (so please don't bid against me),

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251203168839?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

And buy this MIG as mine is on its way out. The wire feed keeps sticking

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281031953743?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Now the questions are:

Is the MIG I'm looking at any good?

What's the best way to shape the mild steel sheets to give the existing tank a new skin?

Here's a pic of the bike as it should look:



So as you can see there are lots of contours so what are my options for beating those contours in? Would a blow torch and panel beating kit do the trick?

I don't intent to renew the tank filler hole but take the new steel up to it and do a bead weld around the outside neck then smooth it off?

Any advice is appreciated.

Just to add, before anyone suggests :-

New tank : Not an option, they're a grand
Reconed tank : Not an option, they're like rocking horse shit
Tank lining: Not an option, it was professionally done with Kream 4 years ago and lasted about 2 years.

This is why I think a new skin is the way to go. I know it'll add a bit of weight but I'm not too bothered about that, an extra 3 to 5 lb of mild steel won't hurt the performance that much and if it does I can compensate by raising the BHP by another 12 to 18 hp.

[Rhubarb]

Dec 23, 2012 19:11:05 GMT 1 krashbandikoot said:

OK so this is a bike issue but what the hell, it's still metal work ;D

My old GPZ tank is well and truly knackered! Pin holes all over the place, brazing, TIG'ing, MIG'ing simply hasn't worked since as soon as I seal one set of pin holes another set pops up!

Given this, I've decided to get some mild steel sheets:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-2mm-Zintec-Mild-Steel-Sheet-Metal-500-x-300mm-Welding-Car-Repairs-MIG-/261106620363?pt=UK_BOI_Metalworking_Milling_Welding_Metalworking_Supplies_ET&hash=item3ccb2ad7cb

Stick a bid in on this: (so please don't bid against me),

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251203168839?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

And buy this MIG as mine is on its way out. The wire feed keeps sticking

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281031953743?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Now the questions are:

Is the MIG I'm looking at any good?

What's the best way to shape the mild steel sheets to give the existing tank a new skin?

Here's a pic of the bike as it should look:



So as you can see there are lots of contours so what are my options for beating those contours in? Would a blow torch and panel beating kit do the trick?

I don't intent to renew the tank filler hole but take the new steel up to it and do a bead weld around the outside neck then smooth it off?

Any advice is appreciated.

Just to add, before anyone suggests :-

New tank : Not an option, they're a grand
Reconed tank : Not an option, they're like rocking horse shit
Tank lining: Not an option, it was professionally done with Kream 4 years ago and lasted about 2 years.

This is why I think a new skin is the way to go. I know it'll add a bit of weight but I'm not too bothered about that, an extra 3 to 5 lb of mild steel won't hurt the performance that much and if it does I can compensate by raising the BHP by another 12 to 18 hp.

I think the mild sheet is a tad too thick, 0.9mm, 20 gauge for bending and forming.

Hammer and dollies, sandbag is useful..Going to be a patience game getting those curves replicated.

That Wolf welder, forget it, cheap and nasty..Wolf as far as aware went bust, so getting spares will be fun.

You could try a new tip and a liner in your welder..What make and model is it?

About a year ago I bought one of these

www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/151te-turbo-mig-welder?da=1&TC=SRC-mig+welder

Brilliant bit of kit...Run it on CO2 and the bottles last a fair while.

It was £250 on a vat free day, so if you sign up with them, they'll email and post a vat free voucher to you for they next vat free day.

[Deleted]

Could you cut the tank in half and build a tank that fits inside,

[krashbandikoot]

My current MIG is a Clarke MIG130 which is a 35?? (or is it 30??? ... I can't remember), to 130 amp MIG. I've replaced the drive wheels, tip and the whole liner but it's on its way out mate. It is now 12 years old I think, maybe a bit older so it's done well to last this long.

I can't say I'm keen on the gas welders which is why I went for the gas/no gas welder when I bought mine. I'll have to keep an eye out on Ebay for a decent 2bd hand welder I think if the Wolf one is naff. I would TIG the tank but it's so expensive to run electrically and I just know skinning the tank will be time consuming.

I am signed up with machine mart but I didn't check the "offers by email" thing and can't figure out how to change this setting :/

[Rhubarb]

Dec 23, 2012 21:46:12 GMT 1 krashbandikoot said:

My current MIG is a Clarke MIG130 which is a 35?? (or is it 30??? ... I can't remember), to 130 amp MIG. I've replaced the drive wheels, tip and the whole liner but it's on its way out mate. It is now 12 years old I think, maybe a bit older so it's done well to last this long.

I can't say I'm keen on the gas welders which is why I went for the gas/no gas welder when I bought mine. I'll have to keep an eye out on Ebay for a decent 2bd hand welder I think if the Wolf one is naff. I would TIG the tank but it's so expensive to run electrically and I just know skinning the tank will be time consuming.

I am signed up with machine mart but I didn't check the "offers by email" thing and can't figure out how to change this setting :/

Do they send you catalogues through the post? Cos if they do they normally send the vat free things too.

Give them a ring and sort it

I went to the Clarke from a pure Gasless Sealey which funnily enough I had for 12 years until its feed went eratic..

But for bodywork you really need gas for good results

[krashbandikoot]

Sounds like 12 years is about the limit for MIG's, just watch someone come along and say "I've had mine since 1852 and it's still going ;D ;D

I may have to start looking at using gas if that's a better way for bodywork

I've emailed Machine Mart and asked them how to change the settings so I get the email alerts in future ;D

[Rhubarb]

Dec 23, 2012 22:16:28 GMT 1 krashbandikoot said:

Sounds like 12 years is about the limit for MIG's, just watch someone come along and say "I've had mine since 1852 and it's still going ;D ;D

I may have to start looking at using gas if that's a better way for bodywork

I've emailed Machine Mart and asked them how to change the settings so I get the email alerts in future ;D

1852 ;D ;D ;D ;D

Have you come across this site before? Some good projects on there too

www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/index.php

[krashbandikoot]

No the 1852 wasn't a typo

No I haven't seen that site, but I'll have a look at it when I've had less Bacardi & coke ;D ;D ;D