RUST in the deck

Underneath should be fine to do with the MIG as you wont get much more sheltered than there
I like WIA 12 P rods, flux just about falls off and they seem give a good strong weld that doesn't fatigue the metal much around them

I have welded all my own ringfeder hitches etc on over the years and as far as I know they are still attached and working and all done with a stick welder

I remember re - drawbaring laser scoops and my mate was on his MIG at one end and I was on the stick welder at the other, he was definitely quicker

Paul

Sarge, I will leave it to the professionals for advice on the correct way to go about welding down sheet/floor plate. When I did my semi with 2.5mm plate I started off by drilling holes through the plate to do a kind of spot weld to the runners, working outwards, then doing some stitching around the perimeter - enough to secure alignment. And as I am useless at overhead I tipped the semi on it's side and and stitch welded the plate to the runners, then back on it's feet to run round joining the edges up. Only a couple of small patches where it drums as you walk over it.

Mammoth, I think I might have been close to what you did, does it need to be a neat/tight fit for best result or a couple of mm gap along one or more sides.
I have surprised myself welding other stuff even though clamped then tacked only to find it twisted, but I have only repaired broken welds on the ACCO tray It is a bit sad from misuse and abuse.

You guys are trying to scare me aren't you?

Well I will show you how not to do it!

cobbadog wrote:

You guys are trying to scare me aren't you?

Well I will show you how not to do it!

That Bigger Toolbox & some Tek Screws are beginning to Look Attractive ,are they Cobba...???

The tool box got a coat of flat black epoxy paint today ready to go back in place. Will wait until I get back from having Dees operation done before having a go at the job. I'm not really scared, just terrified, not.

Got back from town today too late to start playing with the welder so I attacked the deck and marked and cut it along the chalk lines before the rain washed it off. I have yet to cut through to the edge of the sheet that goes under the coaming rail and I was too lazy to get under Lorry to see if this section is tack welded to the beams anywhere. Tool box is now painted in Satin Black Epoxy paint and is nice and dry.
As expected when trying to marry up patterns I think there is a difference between imperial and metric patterns on the sheets so no pattern match. Dee will give me heaps over this as she pattern matches all the time making curtains.

Kids crayons stay on a lot longer in rain etc tban chalk

Paul

Paul, I pulled me finger out and got it cut. Next will be bring out the plasma cutter to get under the coaming. Didn't use the plasma to do the cuts because I did not want to cut the cross beams that run underneath. Plus I wanted some nice clean edge to butt against.

Got back to the floor today and started with the el cheapo plasma cutter, which is a beauty. I have been having trouble uploading pics so they will have to wait until I get sorted out. There are a lot of funny little cut out which is where I cut the fillet welds from below the floor then got back up top to finish them off.