Welding flares- how easy?

[twin plugged targa]

Just curious,
how easy is it to learn to weld Porsches or cars in general.
Have seen pics of peoples project adding flares- RS /RSR and more recently the trend for backdateing front fenders to add long hoods to look pre '74.
Is welding easy/quick to learn or would someone be better off paying someone else to do it?.
- Seems home mods and repairs would be much cheaper done 'in house?'
Anyone any practical experience/advice?
rgds Ben

[coloradoporsche]

Hello,

While I have never done any bodywork on my Porsche, I did a lot on an old Jeep. I bought a $300 MIG from Sears and taught myself to do basic welding to replace old body panels.

Welding sheet metal is not easy, IMO, but I believe an amateur can learn to do it if you have patience. Having clean, rust-free metal of equal guages really helps.

Expect to do a lot of grinding afterwards to get the bumps out, and then expect to weld some more when you find imperfections. Weld, grind, weld, grind, etc. Then Bondo, sand, Bondo, sand, sand, sand, primer, sand, etc.

I say, go for it! After learning how to weld on the Jeep, I have repaired and created countless things that I never would have thought possible before. Having a welder is kind of like having a cell phone in that you can't imagine your life without one once you have it.

Regards,
Martin

[Scott R]

It's all about practice, I also have a $300 or so MIG welder that I picked up a few years back used. I did not know thing one about welding, and now I can run an almost perfect bead.

Sheet metal is the hardest thing to weld, just to echo the above post. If the metal gets too hot it warps, then the endless grinding and bondo/sanding afterwards. But in the end you will be happy with the results.

At any rate buy a welder, get one with a gas option. I use mine all of the time.

[Mike O'Meara]

How easy or difficult depends a lot on your handiness in general. I've found it very rewarding and satisfying to learn to do my own welding, but like anything, it takes time and money. Time to learn through reading, researching, watching, asking, practicing and more practicing, doing and redoing; and money to buy a decent MIG welder, supplies and gas.
I started after a friend came over to weld up "just a few small holes underneath" After watching him work and having the chance to try it myself, I decided it was impractical to keep calling him over to fix the inevitable "few more holes" I was finding. I bought a welder and learned to do it myself. I started on scrap pieces, then unseen underbody repairs and eventually graduated to outer body repairs and flares. I figure I'm just good enough to get the job done, but I would love to watch and learn from a master welder/artist. I'd say go for it. The more enthusiasm and effort you put into it, the more rewarding it will be. Good luck, I gotta get back to work on my car.

[Zeke]

The above comments are very wise. If you are serious, go to a site called Williams LoBuck Tools and find the videos by Ron Covell. Also there are videos by a guy named Fournier. They can range from 40 to 60 bucks each, but as I say, if you are serious. Try to pick the titles that apply to welding and metal bumping, or forming, as that is what you are really doing when adding flares.

For any additional help, there are many threads in the archives here about this. This is an art and you need lots of patience.

[jhelgesen]

I thought of bonding on flares, then decided to bite the bullet and weld them on, glad I did, turned out great. Now if I had time and place to paint I'd be in great shape.

Soon to be flared 912-6

912-6 is now flared

[twin plugged targa]

Thanks for the info.
I am not ready to put any of this to practice just yet, just thinking ahead.
The idea of cutting and welding metal panels etc. just seems more solid than just opting for GRP sections.

Thanks Guys
Ben