How to weld with integrity
Raised weld pro les can spoil the authentic appearance of a repaired panel or chassis. Alisdair Cusick explains how to achieve a factory appearance while retaining weld integrity
IT doesn’t matter what Land Rover you own, at some point in the vehicle’s life it will likely need a weld repair. Welding is the process of using heat to join two materials together, using a filler material to create a joint. In all the welding processes used, be it gas, arc, tungsten – and even with plastic welding – the filler material ultimately stands proud on the joint. Some people are happy with that visual appearance and accept it, but there are areas on a vehicle where obvious joints are cosmetically unacceptable, like bodywork, or on restorations, where a flawless or original appearance is a primary focus.
We’ve demonstrated the discreet weld technique here on a chassis, partly because, if you want to strive for an invisible finish, the thicker material can be an aid. Body panels, like inner wings on Range Rovers or Discoverys (commonly 1.2 mm steel) need a little more care as they are more easy to blow into holes when welding, and to distort through the heat built up. Invisible joints on bodywork are not impossible by any means, but do need a little more care and experience. Whilst the principal concern of any welded joint has to be its integral strength, it isn’t that hard to make a strong weld joint invisible with a little practice. You just need the right process, done correctly – and plenty of patience.
I’ve rated this job as a five for difficulty, partly because it leans towards someone who not just knows how to weld, but has enough experience to consistently get a good joint. Equally, although you may not have a desire to weld yourself, we can hopefully show you enough to appreciate a quality repair you’ve had on your vehicle – or, heaven forbid, spot workmanship of poor quality. Here, James Holmes shows us how to produce a strong weld repair that won’t be visible, or will appear original, when the work is completed.