Sunday, February 04, 2007

Weld a go go.......and stop stop

Look folks progress..............i think
The view shows the rotten windscreen surround in the corner. The corner is a polite way ( a British Leyland polite way) of understating the rust problem and location . Its several panels, all nicely curved and spot welded in strict order rendering them virtually un-restorable.
However, not to be put off ( well I had actually for the last six months at least ) I tackled it with the usual how the hell do i do that and where do I start ?
Well after about 3 hours looking and generally doing lots of butch posturing and tidying up I made a start. It is tough. I spent all day welding in tiny bits and grinding them down.
The last job of the day was to fill in a tiny pinhole left in the outer frame where I inserted a tiny patch. So thus the stop-stop. The welding just blew holes bigger and bigger till I had to insert another patch the size of a dinner plate ( exaggeration alert.....50p size really)
Still wazzed me off though last job of the day, getting dark and cold. Cut many pieces and welded/ground down/re-welded/ground/ last little weld to fill pinhole/re-patch, mark out,cut,grind,fit/weld grind.
So in the real world the twins continue to hate each other with a vengeance. Wifey's still head down into three art assignments each weekend and day light hour midweek.
I'm confused as ever with the political and financial manoeuvring at head office in Paris and Slough. Hee Hee......how I think its funny to mention these two cities in the same sentence.
Can I remind any one who reads this who is a sales man/woman who uses the motorway frequently,don't buy or hire/lease a ford Ka
Since my Toyota Avensis is in for re-shaping the courtesy car is absolutely PANTS.
Roll on mid Feb when work things get back to almost normal.
ADDENDUM..Wifey did not buy or get a new cable for the family camera. I used my company Agfa ( which is again PANTS) but at least its USB cable works, hence the rubbish photo.
Next job is to finish off repair with yet more tiny pieces welded in and yes.......................sin of all sins I'm going to use body filler to make it all smooth.
Then move to rear of car to tackle the outer of the inner wing, then the outer wing itself.
Then believe it or not the whole of one side is complete ( Body work wise that is) except for the door and front wing which need new skin and replacement lower patch respectively.
More soon.