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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Wasilla, Alaska
Posts: 38
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Body work for a newb?
I now have replacement body panels for my 71. Inner and Outer Rockers, Cab Corners, front and rear Cab Floor Supports. I have a friend who is experienced in body work and will do the work/welding for me at a rate of $65/hr. I have no experience at all with body work, don't own a welder but do have a grinder and typical hand tools and am fairly mechanically inclined.
Here's my question. Should I buy a mig welder and do the work myself or would it make more sense to pay my friend to do the work? I am willing to put in the time to do it and could get some advice from other friends as needed. Which makes the most sense financially and practically? Thanks. |
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#2 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: May 2009
Location: Pemberton, BC
Posts: 1,075
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Re: Body work for a newb?
Don't know if it makes more sense but, I suggest giving it a go yourself. Start Googlin' and searching this site for help as well as your friends' advice.
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My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog already thinks I am - Unknown |
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#3 |
Lemme show you something!!
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: St.Helens, OR.
Posts: 876
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Re: Body work for a newb?
That's a tough question and one I'm sure many people have differing opinions about. I, personally, enjoy the process of wrenching and modding my truck and am in no particular "hurry" to be done with it. Therefore, I've invested in the tools and taught myself how to use them- so I could do the work myself. Others are more focused on the finished product and want to get there as quickly as possible or simply don't have the space or time to have a project tore down for months or years. In which case paying an experienced person to do the work is both time and money ahead.
If you're somewhere in between- have your friend do the rough fitting and welding of the patches and you can come in and do all the finishing and paint prep. This could save you some scratch on the total bill and still allow you "to get your hands dirty" so to speak. Regardless of your decision- post up some pics....we'd love to see it!!
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'67 CST-10 LWB ("Crusty") SOLD '67 GMC SWB ("Murdock") 2000 K1500 Suburban ("Betty") '95 BMW 325i ("Joy") |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Lebanon, MO
Posts: 48
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Re: Body work for a newb?
Here's my 2 cents, welding body parts and panels takes skill! And unless your going to do alot of it, it won't pay to buy a welder to do it with? Anyway I think I would go with letting someone else weld it for you and then do the rest yourself.
Last edited by arkie726; 02-06-2010 at 11:23 PM. Reason: posted before finishing thought :( |
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#5 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: DFW
Posts: 1,427
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Re: Body work for a newb?
Before you let anyone do the work, educate yourself on the processes involved and the various ways the metal work can be done. By that I mean lap versus butt welding for example. Then you can decide which way you want the work done.
Finally have a look at some of your friend's work to see if they do it as you feel it should be done. Different people have different ideas on the way to do this stuff. |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Wasilla, Alaska
Posts: 38
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Re: Body work for a newb?
Thanks, guys, for all of your opinions.
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 56
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Friend???? $65 bucks an hour? Nice friend............ What the hell does he charge someone he doesn't know?
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 56
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Oh, by the way..... Is Sarah Palin as hot in person? Can you say Cougar???
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Russellville, Arkansas
Posts: 1,699
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Re: Body work for a newb?
Might get the ebfabman videos as well. I'm going to order them on Monday seeing as I've never done body work before, other than slathering on the bondo or knocking out minor dents with hammer and dolly. They're oriented direct at our trucks, so better than learning from my own mistakes how not to do it. I have my own tig and can weld, but have never welded sheet metal like this, but going to give it a shot. Good luck with yours. PS, if you don't have all the tools already or the shop space, friend might be a better choice.
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Russellville, Arkansas
Posts: 1,699
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Re: Body work for a newb?
And yes, SP is hot!!!
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: South Florida
Posts: 11,375
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Re: Body work for a newb?
There are somethings that are better left to the experienced people body work and paint are two on my list that I HATE..
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Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please!!!!!. Sylvester's build thread >>>http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ht=big+rebuild |
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#12 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: May 2007
Location: dallas ga
Posts: 1,505
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Re: Body work for a newb?
Too bad you are not closer...... Ebfabman charged me less per hour than ur friend and he does awesome work. check out project cod fish in the build section
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Tempe, AZ
Posts: 181
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Re: Body work for a newb?
I only had minimal experience welding (but did have experience doing sheet metal repair on helicopters) and did my floorboards, rockers, cab corners, and cab support channels. Just read about it and practice before you do it. Start with all the stuff that you won’t see and by the time you get to the cab corners you will be looking good. I am sure a professional would do a better job than me but i only make $17 dollars and hour so there is no way in hell i am going to pay someone $65 an hour to do something that I can learn.
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1970 GMC- 454 DONT GIVE ME NO JIBBA JABBA!!! |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Loudon,TN
Posts: 101
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Re: Body work for a newb?
Not a very good friend to charge you $65 an hr. for welding.If you was closer I'd charge you $25 an hr.and I don't even know you.Plus, I would show you how to do it so next time you could do it yourself.Glad I don't have friends like him.
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Tempe, AZ
Posts: 181
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Re: Body work for a newb?
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1970 GMC- 454 DONT GIVE ME NO JIBBA JABBA!!! |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Wasilla, Alaska
Posts: 38
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Re: Body work for a newb?
Labor cost's in Alaska are substantially higher than anywhere else in the country. Granted, that is the same rate he charges everyone so I'm not getting a "friend" discount.
I have another friend I work with that already owns a mig welder but doesn't have any body work experience but he said we could try it together and use his welder. Maybe I should give that a shot. This isn't going to be a show truck, I just want to get rid of the rust and drive it. Opinions? |
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#17 | |
NEWBIE!!
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Prineville OR
Posts: 114
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Re: Body work for a newb?
Quote:
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Water is for the weak I don't like cocaine.. I just like the smell of it "Well there might be a dime up a goats ass too, but I ain't looken" - Grandpa VolksRods |
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Tempe, AZ
Posts: 181
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Re: Body work for a newb?
give it a shot man! check out my profile album, i have a bunch of pics of my welds and stuff i did. I use my truck as a truck also so i wasnt going to cry if it didnt come out perfect and ended up being really happy with the results.
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1970 GMC- 454 DONT GIVE ME NO JIBBA JABBA!!! |
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Sherwood, Arkansas
Posts: 28
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Re: Body work for a newb?
i am in the exact same spot you are in now. I just ordered my parts today and i have been looking for a cheap welder online. From the looks of it mig is the way to go for the money. now the question is cheap new or cheap used.
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