TheSamba.com :: View topic - Autocraft vs. Klassicfab vs. Wolfsburg West vs. BBT

Tue May 14, 2024 12:00 pm

Hey folks…. So I have not been able to spot weld through both layers of “weld through “ primer on the long panel. My water cooled machine was set to coatings but struggled to get through the primer. Some would and some wouldn’t. So to speed up the process I just ended up removing the not so weld through primer on one side. Has anyone else here had issues spot welding through the SWP ?

Tue May 14, 2024 12:40 pm

It is NOT a good weld-through primer for resistance welding. I clean it off and use something better like the Spraymax. Always bare metal where the electrodes touch, with primer only inside the joint.

I find the “e-coat” on autocraft panels is the only factory primer that yields welds I find satisfactory, but you have to have a machine that can do this type of weld correctly. (Most folks don’t)

Tue May 14, 2024 3:20 pm

⬆️⬆️⬆️ Spaymax is my best friend… I use it constantly. This SWT is no good! When I spoke with the salesman that filled my container order I let him know it was my opinion that the SWT would basically need to be removed because it is not a sealer , I suggested they don’t use it at all. 🤪

I have to admit my question in this post was more of a statement than a question 😊✌️

Tue May 14, 2024 8:22 pm

Mig plug welding at the cargo floor through the SWT was no problem.
Spot welding through the SWT even with “coatings” settings on will not be a consistent enough option for us.

When everything was said and done the long panel fit well and is very tight. I would use it again. ☑️

Wed May 15, 2024 6:30 am

Off topic, but where did you get the long arm for the Pro-Spot. Are they available new?

Wed May 15, 2024 6:58 am

⬆️⬆️⬆️ Hello there, so this arm was with the machine when I bought it used.

I have been asked often about it from folks that have the PR 10 , I wonder if it was an option to add? Brian from Washburn was asking me the same thing. I reached out to a rep and they said you just have to search one out. Brian and I looked for one for him and he eventually found one. I did not ask him where he ended finding it. Maybe reach out to him and see if he has any leads for ya. The only new arm upgrade I have been able to find for the PR 10 is the “ X Adapter “ I will have a rep out at my shop here in a bit and I will pick his brain about locating a long arm. One rep I had did say that they do hear of things popping up for the PR 10 from time to time.

Wed May 15, 2024 7:26 am

⬆️⬆️⬆️ Here is the X Adapter ⬆️⬆️⬆️

It’s very handy and available at Pro Spot.
The tongs I made from Miller aircooled stock

Thu May 16, 2024 7:47 am

Thanks for the reply. I actually have the X adapter you showed. Funny that I never even thought about making longer arms for it. I'm sure they would flex if you turned the air pressure up, but if it's a tight joint you're welding, I don't think it would care.

Have you ever tried the 'push the tungsten back up in the cup' TIG technique? Kind of like fuse weld tacks where you crank up the amps and just dab the pedal for a second or two?

After working with a ProSpot, I've become spoiled and don't want to plug weld anything I don't have to. It's changed how I work in terms of speed and quality.

Thu May 16, 2024 9:56 am

⬆️⬆️⬆️ That’s so cool man…. Bet it is much more enjoyable and rewarding, keep going.

I absolutely dig the fusion spot weld with the Tig… that’s how I melt in the bus headlight buckets. Works like a charm and is quick to handle it. 😎👊

As for the flex on the tongs … ya know , it is very slight if any…. One thing I always do is stress/tear test every time I change the set up. When I made up these long tongs I set everything based on the quality of the weld. I will say that they heat up pretty good so I pause and allow them to air cool for a sec then get back at it. I was able to reach pretty darn far with them. I would definitely recommend it. I jumped on the Miller website and ordered the longs aircooled tongs they offered.

Keep at it my friend, Enjoy 🤍☑️⚒🕊

Thu May 16, 2024 7:42 pm

It seems appropriate to note BBT parts that went smoothly as well.

The nose skin , front floor and cross members all went on without a fuss

Fri May 17, 2024 2:45 pm

BBT headlight buckets fit very nicely, so tight a Tig fusion weld worked very well

Mon May 20, 2024 4:32 am

WrennMetallWerks wrote: ⬆️⬆️⬆️ From my experience you can always assume a KF part is wrong⬆️⬆️⬆️

Am I correct in saying this will soon no longer to an ongoing issue because KF is no longer manufacturing VW panels ?

Thanks for the information. I'll cut that part off and weld the Autocraft part on. I ordered the KF part directly from VW Classic Parts in Germany. They still have some parts from KF in stock

Mon May 20, 2024 8:03 pm

So, i need to buy the drivers side long side panel for my 67 Deluxe 13 window and was trying to determine who makes the best side panel in fit and quality of the distributors. Autocraft Klassic Fab or Classic Steel? I'm assuming WW sales Autocraft.
What about cargo floors?

I just couldn't determine the verdict from this thread.

Thanks in Advance!

Mon May 20, 2024 8:42 pm

⬆️⬆️⬆️ Hey there. For the long panel I would go with WW which is an Autocraft product. I really like Autocraft stuff. When I get their long panel I increase the radius to and tighten up the angle of the mounting flange where it attaches to the belt line. It’s my opinion that WW and Autocraft make good parts. I use WW cargo floors often , however I will say they are a tad thin and do dent downward overtime in the high traffic areas. They also tend to be fussy to attach at the long panel, but with that said they are pretty good over all and easy to order with fast shipping which is nice. ⚒🤍☑️🕊

Tue May 21, 2024 8:53 am

⬆️⬆️⬆️ Your welcome Daniel ⬆️⬆️⬆️ Others around here really like KF stuff, this is just based off of my experience with them. ⚒☑️

Tue May 21, 2024 12:42 pm

Wren,
thanks for sharing your experience with WW/AutoCraft and your techniques to get that right fit.

Tue May 21, 2024 2:59 pm

WrennMetallWerks wrote: Over all … a nice fitting panel ☑️

So shrinking both end flanges is all that's required to put more crown in the whole panel?

Tue May 21, 2024 4:04 pm

⬆️⬆️⬆️YeSir… once the flanges are tuned they really promote the change , out in the field it’s one large sheet that is easily manipulated once it is properly clamped to the framing and rocker. The sheet takes on the shape of the framing nicely. You can really see the effect when you clamp the lower part of the panel to the inner rocker. 😊✌️

(Thinking about it now , I probably should have said contour, arc , profile or radius really, )

Tue May 21, 2024 10:48 pm

WrennMetallWerks wrote: BBT headlight buckets fit very nicely, so tight a Tig fusion weld worked very well

can i ask what size hole you drilled for that? trough one panel or both? countersunk?
How many Amps?

-Christian

Tue May 21, 2024 11:57 pm

WrennMetallWerks wrote: ⬆️⬆️⬆️YeSir… once the flanges are tuned they really promote the change , out in the field it’s one large sheet that is easily manipulated once it is properly clamped to the framing and rocker. The sheet takes on the shape of the framing nicely. You can really see the effect when you clamp the lower part of the panel to the inner rocker. 😊✌️

(Thinking about it now , I probably should have said contour, arc , profile or radius really, )

Thanks man it's very good of you to share your methods freely.