Wildman's TJ is getting a face lift

alright.......i don't try and do this often, i know when i speak it's me me me and i am trying to curb that but me is the only experience i have. anyways, i'm not a trained professional welder i just learned how to control this machine. i do it often enough i don't think about what i'm even doing most of the time. and i'm sure a professional certified welder would pic my crap apart.

but just for the sake of "science" overhead is no different than flat welding, it's all about committed motions and a good arc start. once that arc bites in it will draw itself right up and in for you.
i cleaned up this crap at lunch real quick and i ran 1 weld flat on the table and then i flipped it over clamped it to an angle got down on 1 knee and ran an overhead. i didn't do anything different for either weld.... same settings same pace, same nozzle angles.

if your ever in doubt, stop set yourself up some scraps and find your setting so you can comfortably weld at your pace.

279437714_740713700267515_5151505708138003185_n.jpg
 
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someguysjeep said:
alright.......i don't try and do this often, i know when i speak it's me me me and i am trying to curb that but me is the only experience i have. anyways, i'm not a trained professional welder i just learned how to control this machine. i do it often enough i don't think about what i'm even doing most of the time. and i'm sure a professional certified welder would pic my crap apart.

but just for the sake of "science" overhead is no different than flat welding, it's all about committed motions and a good arc start. once that arc bites in it will draw itself right up and in for you.
i cleaned up this crap at lunch real quick and i ran 1 weld flat on the table and then i flipped it over clamped it to an angle got down on 1 knee and ran an overhead. i didn't do anything different for either weld.... same settings same pace, same nozzle angles.

if your ever in doubt, stop set yourself up some scraps and find your setting so you can comfortably weld at your pace.

View attachment 328104
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I thought for vertical or overhead welds it was recommended to back down the power 15-20%?
 
Wildman said:
Thanks for that. I will be the first to admit part of my issue is I'm lazy. I get under the Jeep and don't want to crawl out and make adjustments.
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i wern't sayin that.
but often see overhead can intimidate some, and most will never do enough for it to become muscle memory but they really are the same, 1 you just have to bend up all funky to do.
 
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Apparition said:
I thought for vertical or overhead welds it was recommended to back down the power 15-20%?
Click to expand...
i change power and wire speed for material thickness, not for the direction i'm welding. welding down i use a tight weave across the seam as i move down, this ensures it penetrates both pieces and the slight motion allows cooling and buildup. overhead is bite and go just like flat it's just an odd position to be comfortable in.

it's all about your pace..... if you can handle the setting you shouldn't need to play with it for directional transitions. everybody has a theory and some choose to turn down the power (but that turns down penetration too). others turn down wire speed, that keeps power up and doesn't give you much to fall out if it goes south (but it also doesn't give you an optimal buildup/deposit).
 
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someguysjeep said:
i wern't sayin that.
but often see overhead can intimidate some, and most will never do enough for it to become muscle memory but they really are the same, 1 you just have to bend up all funky to do.
Click to expand...
I wish some of you were closer. Like Rick, my welds aren't pretty, but they hold together. I could use some schooling there! ;)
 
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Pulled the rear bumper off to do the final welding on it. Also drilled a hole for the 4 prong trailer plug. Had to file some notches for the plug.

20220507_130732.jpg


I've got to order a new plug as this one is a little bit corroded.

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Then I welded on the hitch reinforcement ring. And then repurpposed the old shackle mounts as chain tie down points.

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I angled the mounts to help make getting the hooks 🪝 on easier I hope.

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This trailer is my next project once the Jeep is done. It was my grandfather's and he used to tow it behind his Jeep. It was built in 1947.

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It'll work for hauling camping gear.

20220507_141214.jpg
 
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Wildman said:
Pulled the rear bumper off to do the final welding on it. Also drilled a hole for the 4 prong trailer plug. Had to file some notches for the plug.

View attachment 328818

I've got to order a new plug as this one is a little bit corroded.

View attachment 328819

Then I welded on the hitch reinforcement ring. And then repurpposed the old shackle mounts as chain tie down points.

View attachment 328820

View attachment 328821

I angled the mounts to help make getting the hooks 🪝 on easier I hope.

View attachment 328823

This trailer is my next project once the Jeep is done. It was my grandfather's and he used to tow it behind his Jeep. It was built in 1947.

View attachment 328824

It'll work for hauling camping gear.

View attachment 328822
Click to expand...
That trailer looks like an awesome little jeep trailer. Has great potential
 
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lBasket said:
That trailer looks like an awesome little jeep trailer. Has great potential
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It needs some work as there are a lot of rusted areas but yes I'd like to get it fixed back up. I have the old canvas cover he use to use with it too but will need to get a new one made but they can copy what I have. There's a long story to the thing too but more than anything it has a lot of sentimental value. I can remember him taking me on camping trips as a young boy and him using the trailer. I learned how to drive a clutch driving his old CJ5.
 
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I'd had the front bumper sand blasted this winter, so I'd done some searching on Google about what to do to prep metal after being sand blasted and most of the things I'd found said to wire brush/wheel the metal after being sand blasted. So I spent the rest of the day after working on the rear bumper wire wheeling the front bumper.
It's all done and ready to be wiped down tomorrow and then primer & painted. I'll work on getting the frame wiped down and ready for painting also and should be spraying primer on Monday I hope. Got another VA appointment on Tuesday.

20220507_164911.jpg
 
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OK I know we'd talked about this before but it's getting close now. Is there any special thing I have to do to prep the aluminum for paint?

I've got to watch some of the painting videos I've marked to watch later. Cause it's about to get REAL...
 
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Wildman said:
OK I know we'd talked about this before but it's getting close now. Is there any special thing I have to do to prep the aluminum for paint?

I've got to watch some of the painting videos I've marked to watch later. Cause it's about to get REAL...
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Make you you use a degreaser to clean it. Then sand with 300 ish grit, tack cloth, and spray with a self etching primer. I used SEM. You want to spray it before oxidizes.
 
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Alex01 said:
Make you you use a degreaser to clean it. Then sand with 300 ish grit, tack cloth, and spray with a self etching primer. I used SEM. You want to spray it before oxidizes.
Click to expand...

OK I've got the degreaser and tack cloth and primer.
 
someguysjeep said:
alright.......i don't try and do this often, i know when i speak it's me me me and i am trying to curb that but me is the only experience i have. anyways, i'm not a trained professional welder i just learned how to control this machine. i do it often enough i don't think about what i'm even doing most of the time. and i'm sure a professional certified welder would pic my crap apart.

but just for the sake of "science" overhead is no different than flat welding, it's all about committed motions and a good arc start. once that arc bites in it will draw itself right up and in for you.
i cleaned up this crap at lunch real quick and i ran 1 weld flat on the table and then i flipped it over clamped it to an angle got down on 1 knee and ran an overhead. i didn't do anything different for either weld.... same settings same pace, same nozzle angles.

if your ever in doubt, stop set yourself up some scraps and find your setting so you can comfortably weld at your pace.

View attachment 328104
Click to expand...
This is a really great post. @someguysjeep nailed it. My old instructor said watch the puddle! in fact he hit me in the head and made me pay attention to the puddle! Out of position welding makes this harder to control, get comfortable and practice. You generally can see all that is happening in your weld if you watch the puddle. Really like your build @Wildman , you are doing things I will never do but I can apply to my build. Thanks!
 
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I've gotten the bumpers and left side of the frame sprayed down with degreaser and then wiped down after spraying water on it. Everything is tapped up and stuff covered with plastic. Now I just need to decide if I want to try spraying the primer today or wait for a little warmer weather Saturday. It's 60⁰ in my garage now and I've got Eastwood activator for the primer but it doesn't have any temperature scale on it.

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Going to check Eastwood website and see if there is anything there.
 
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