Roll cage install/welding tips

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

May 19, 2007 | 06:37 PM

v8xploder

Thread Starter

Elder User

Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 598

Likes: 0

From: Harrisburg, SD

Roll cage install/welding tips

I just ordered the San filipe roll cage plus the front extention for my 69, I am going to use the Mig welder at work to install it, I can weld pretty good I just dont do it enough to know roughly whatI should have the settings on the welder at. I suppose I could try to find some scrap metal around and do some practicing first. Any advice or ideas would be great from anyone who has installed one of these and or is a good welder..

May 19, 2007 | 08:40 PM

RCrawler

Postmaster

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 3,594

Likes: 2

From: Southern Oregon USA

I don't mean to be abrupt, but this is for your safety.

Nobody can tell you what to set your welder to without being there to run a few passes and adjust it. If you don't already know how to adjust your welder, then don't do it yourself. Find someone that really knows what they are doing and have it professionally done, especially if you are counting on it to save your life should something ever happen.

Jason

May 20, 2007 | 03:34 AM

v8xploder

Thread Starter

Elder User

Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 598

Likes: 0

From: Harrisburg, SD

I do appreciate the safety concern, I am actually a pretty good welder its just been a few years since I have welded. I was just looking for a good starting point. I have mig, tig/aluminum, and oxy welded back in college, its just been a long time.

May 20, 2007 | 09:41 PM

justshootme84

Posting Guru

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 1,388

Likes: 0

From: SE Texas

Think I used 2 & 20 on the Miller 210 to weld my S&W Racecars cage. One of the hands in the shop likes to whif the gas too much, and had it set on 3/30. That made too large of a bead. But you should be familiar with your welder to get a strong weld. I would tack the sections of tubing together first, then finish the welds after the cage is complete. After a few tacks, you should find the right setting. JSM84

May 20, 2007 | 10:22 PM

fishmanndotcom

Lead Driver

Joined: May 2000

Posts: 9,236

Likes: 12

From: Senoia, GA

get some tube and practice welding tube together. its a whole other animal than straight V-groove welding. gotta keep that gun at 15* or you run the risk of blowing the molten pool out

-cutts-

May 20, 2007 | 11:43 PM

v8xploder

Thread Starter

Elder User

Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 598

Likes: 0

From: Harrisburg, SD

Thanks for the pointers I just bought a mig welder so I am going to try to get some scrap metal and do some practicing. Im think that the roll cage comes with the flat stock pre welded to the down tubes. What type of weld would you guys recomend, a "constant" weld or "roll of dimes" I was always told to only do an inch at a time, to keep from building up excessive heat..

May 21, 2007 | 12:06 AM

justshootme84

Posting Guru

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 1,388

Likes: 0

From: SE Texas

v8, do you have a link to the cage kit? Might help to know the size of tubing, mounting points, etc. It should be possible for you to assemble the rollcage inside the body tub and tack it all together, then remove it to finish the welds. That would give you more access to the top and front, or any places where you can't reach. Might also think of having a pro welder finish it for you if you're not comfortable with the new welder. Also, if you make a mistake, it's much easier to break a tach weld and start again. I split my cage into two pieces, with some angel iron tacked across the open ends to keep it from warping during final weld. The tubing will move quite a bit when you run a good bead on it. And I think one continuous bead is going to be better/stronger than several spot welds. (I save that technique for thinner metal and body panels.) I also believe that any rollcage should be tied into the frame, either directly via holes thru the floor or with outriggers. I made my own outriggers with a bushing mount to the frame at four places. There should be a post or two on my build-up, JSM84

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...84-bronco.html

Last edited by justshootme84; May 21, 2007 at 12:13 AM.