Are these spot welder gizzmo's any good?

[Flapdisk]

Apparently it attaches to your arc welder
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Spot-Weld...386?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item20b5603c02

 

[BrokenBiker]

i had a spot welder attachment for my old mans buzz box. didn't look like that though, was pretty much just 2 copper rods sticking out of a box, with removable tips in it. it was ok if you had good access but because of its size was limited and i salvaged the copper for a turning project. think i made some bushes and a few decorative rods from it

 

[Parm]

This looks interesting, I could have done with this capability over the weekend

 

[Wallace]

Apparently it attaches to your arc welder
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Spot-Weld...386?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item20b5603c02

You could send me £30 instead and be just as disappointed!

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Years ago I had a carbon arc brazing kit that worked OK if a bit clumsy and fragile. I do remember trying to spot weld with it, it was very hit and miss, it only generates the heat from one side and there is no pressure applied as you would get from a traditional spot welder. You tended to get the look of a spotweld but no fusion!
If you really want to try it just buy a carbon rod and hold it in a spare earth clamp.

 

[Flapdisk]

I think that's the point of this thing, it welds from one side so you don't need rear access, and the carbon rod is up inside the gun thing so you push hard to press the two bits together and then operate it to move the carbon in and complete the weld.

 

[Flapdisk]

Years ago I had a carbon arc brazing kit that worked OK if a bit clumsy and fragile. I do remember trying to spot weld with it, it was very hit and miss, it only generates the heat from one side and there is no pressure applied as you would get from a traditional spot welder. You tended to get the look of a spotweld but no fusion!
If you really want to try it just buy a carbon rod and hold it in a spare earth clamp.

I've still got one, you mean the one with the one sliding carbon rod and you slide it down with the handle until the tips are almost together and the arc starts with a frightening loud hum. I used mine to do a lot of brazing, got a nice tan

 

[ibrooks]

I've got one of those (cost me a fraction of that though). Some day I might even try it.

Iain

 

[Bill Edwards]

I wouldn't say they are much use. Perhaps when using really clean metal , where both pieces are the same (ideal) thickness they may do, but if conditions aren't perfect they aren't any good.
I'd rather drill holes in the metal and fill with a MIG, knowing the results will be good.

 

[Wallace]

I had a Google to see if there were any photos or videos of spotwelds done with one of these guns and found this Australian site with a couple of photos so I copied them and the description......

Top side. (Copied from http://performanceforums.com/)

Bottom side. (Copied from http://performanceforums.com/)

Top of bottom piece after separating. (Copied from http://performanceforums.com/)

Bottom of top piece. (Copied from http://performanceforums.com/)

 

[Flapdisk]

Yup! looks like crap to me Wall. I agree let's stick to drilling holes and pooling with the Mig.

 

[brightspark]

if they were any good everyone would have one as the post implies-- gizmo

 

[Flapdisk]

Hi Sparky mate, Yes that's right, I hadn't seen one before but knew the forum would advise me if indeed everyone should have one, thattle be a no then