Rain Gutter and Top Restoration (2 Viewers)

[Pierps]

Hammering out your welds with a dolly as they cool is key. Compressed air to keep the panel cool. Skipping around and not laying down one big bead in one spot. This is the way.

 

[igotta40]

make a trip to Austin and I'll get you welding in no time flat on my setup.
You'd be surprised how not hard it is to make serviceable beads. Once you've become a proficient enough grinder, you'll really focus on becoming a better welder. Grinding sucks. Prep sucks less. Welding is fun.

Wow thanks, that’s a great offer. I’ll let you know but it won’t be right away.

 

[h82crash]

I've been using my Lincoln MIG 135 for 20 years. Never a hiccup. Mostly run flux core, as it's super easy and it does decent welds. I can TIG and stick as, well. I got an AHP 201x ac/dc TIG machine for aluminum and stainless. I think I should have gone with PrimeWeld, mine is fine but, they seem to have more failures than PrimeWeld. I have a PrimeWeld 60 amp plasma cutter and it's a nice machine. I haven't needed them, but other users rave about their customer service.

I did all of my sheetmetal work with flux core.

 

[derail]

@MYSHERPA Still have the rivet tool? I'm coming up to this part of the project and would like to keep the ball rolling if available. I might have missed it, but what washers did you use and any problem with them sticking up above the seam sealer with the finished product? Same rivets as zerotreedelta used or the ones from ccot? Appreciate it.

 

[RevISK]

@MYSHERPA Still have the rivet tool? I'm coming up to this part of the project and would like to keep the ball rolling if available. I might have missed it, but what washers did you use and any problem with them sticking up above the seam sealer with the finished product? Same rivets as zerotreedelta used or the ones from ccot? Appreciate it.

Use solid aluminum buck rivets. But from an aviation supplier like Aircraft Spruce or whatever.

A pneumatic buck rivet gun is pretty cheap and well worth the price or I can loan mine to you for a wee fee.

 

[clrussell]

I just read this entire thread. Such great info for my Future hard top rebuild.

Now I just need to find about $1000 of cruiser fun money and get Started.

 

[MYSHERPA]

@MYSHERPA Still have the rivet tool? I'm coming up to this part of the project and would like to keep the ball rolling if available. I might have missed it, but what washers did you use and any problem with them sticking up above the seam sealer with the finished product? Same rivets as zerotreedelta used or the ones from ccot? Appreciate it.

I have the rivet tool still and happy to send it along!

I used these rivets: Amazon.com - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Z4Q2JRK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

And these washers: Amazon.com - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09MLNZ3BJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And this seam sealer: Amazon.com - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JIM8B2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And this gun: Amazon.com - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CSN29CC9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Worked really well, put it in thick and it covered all the rivets completely.

 

[MYSHERPA]

Here's a picture of how it turned out.

 

[clrussell]

I have the rivet tool still and happy to send it along!

I used these rivets: Amazon.com - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Z4Q2JRK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

And these washers: Amazon.com - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09MLNZ3BJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And this seam sealer: Amazon.com - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JIM8B2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And this gun: Amazon.com - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CSN29CC9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Worked really well, put it in thick and it covered all the rivets completely.

How many tubes of sealer?

 

[MYSHERPA]

How many tubes of sealer?

2 and some change. I bought three really hoping I wouldn't have to open the third one and could return it, and it was close, but just decided to go ahead and add a little more since I don't want to ever do this over again.

 

[clrussell]

2 and some change. I bought three really hoping I wouldn't have to open the third one and could return it, and it was close, but just decided to go ahead and add a little more since I don't want to ever do this over again.

Thank you

 

[zerotreedelta]

Interesting - I used about one and a half of the 3M flavor, which says it's about the same 6-7oz per cartridge. Definitely need more than one, and it's definitely good to not run out midway.

 

[jvincig01]

Interesting - I used about one and a half of the 3M flavor, which says it's about the same 6-7oz per cartridge. Definitely need more than one, and it's definitely good to not run out midway.

Same here.

 

[derail]

Just wanted to say that I have the rivet tool that @zerotreedelta made and can pass it along to whoever needs it in the future. I went a different route because I had to add material to the fiberglass lip, but it worked as intended. I ended up having to get the next longer sized rivets from mcmaster carr. I also used the aluminum washers because I felt the rivets didn't quite have enough "bite".
rivets
washers

 

[zerotreedelta]

Put another tally-notch in the handle...and who's next?