I think i want a spot welder

[thinfourth]

After watching this video i think i might want a spot welder

i know basically sod all about them

So is there something similar out there which isn't overly expensive?

And are they as useful as they look for sheet metal?

 

[eddie49]

are they as useful as they look for sheet metal?

Yes,as long as you can get to both sides, and the sheets are no thicker than 1mm
This is the sort of thing that is available to run off a single-phase supply:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clarke-Portable-Spot-Welder-Model-CW-11-T/353073378828

 

[Munkul]

spot welding as a process is very cheap and very fast, also minimal distortion.

There's nothing a spot welder can do that can't be achieved by other methods, though. MIG plug welds, for example. Just takes more time and skill.

They aren't often bought for the fun of it, because their actual use outside of sheet metal work is very limited.

 

[mr haynes]

Steel has to be clean or it won't work.
Very simple in operation.
Definitely more satisfying to use if replacing complete panels on bodywork to replicate factory.

Arms tend to be very expensive and you need a fair few different ones for bodywork

 

[Wallace]

I have two and they do not get used much but with them available I can plan fabrications around them. My Clarke CSW13T needs a 32A supply to work properly and the PW needs 16A to do their maximums.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I paid £20 for a perfect older TI Crypton spot welder with extra arms.

 

[tom2207]

I paid £20 for a perfect older TI Crypton spot welder with extra arms.

some folk have all the luck ,,,

 

[eddie49]

 

[CompoSimmonite]

some folk have all the luck ,,,

Bought many years ago for doing work on a Mini. Yes I was very lucky

 

[Wallace]

some folk have all the luck ,,,

I put off buying one for years then found one at a reasonable price with extra arms. I was given another the next day!

 

[Cobbler]

I put off buying one for years then found one at a reasonable price with extra arms. I was given another the next day!

Bit like buses then, don’t see one for hours then 2 turn up together

Bus company were interviewing for drivers, no-one turned up for an hour & 6 turned up at the same time

 

[Screwdriver]

I recently offered to help a chap with his extractor unit and he recently bought some clips to hold the plastic bags in place around the 500mm diameter outlets.

Spot the problem? They only go up to 475mm! I made a new one out of some 2mm flat bar which was sort of ok but the more massive hoop while better in practice makes the pressed tin fasteners look a bit of a joke. We digress. I now had a spare thin stainless steel strap and four non fitting clamps. So I cut the spare up and extended one by 14.5mm to the measured circumference which came out to 1660mm (the outlets are therefore more like 528mm diameter).

So quick and easy with the spot welder, I'm doing it as a freebie.

To be honest, I can't think of any other process that would do the job as well as a spot welder. Yes you could TiG it but that's 0.5mm at most. I'd struggle to weld something that thin reliably. With the spot weld you literally flick the switch for the briefest moment and bang it's done.

I need to fit these bands before I commit to doing them all the same size and a test fit should show me whether or not the weld is strong enough. I did do a quick test piece and they seem pretty well stuck to me. So yes, if you can find one at a reasonable price, definitely get one. They can do jobs so quickly and easily, when a job like that turns up, you're gonna need one.

 

[willie.macleod]

To be honest, I can't think of any other process that would do the job as well as a spot welder. Yes you could TiG it but that's 0.5mm at most. I'd struggle to weld something that thin reliably. With the spot weld you literally flick the switch for the briefest moment and bang it's done.

While it would take a bit longer than the spot welding brazing would be my preferred method for that if I didn't have access to a spot welder.

 

[Parm]

Ive always wanted a spot welder, but don’t realy need one

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Ive always wanted a spot welder, but don’t realy need one

You can never have enough toys even if they aren't used

 

[Fraserb]

Ive always wanted a spot welder, but don’t realy need one

Similar to me wanting a tig welder, currently have zero use for one but fancy one anyway, the money I'm saving during this lock down might end up with one soon.

 

[daedalusminos]

I wouldn't be without mine, made some long reach electrodes to gain enough access to fully weld floorpan, cross-member and inner sill on my GT6

 

[Sean]

how did you make the arms...asking for a friend who is always moaning about the cost of the long arms. Curently he gor square copper bars on!

 

[Parm]

You can never have enough toys even if they aren't used

The biggest thing I need right now is more space

Then im sure it will be filled with more toys

 

[daedalusminos]

how did you make the arms

Those are made from copper zirconium alloy which is the correct stuff for welding electrodes. You buy the rod stock, cut to length and drill and shape electrodes. On my welder the stock for the arms needs to be turned down on a lathe where the welder clamps it but it's a simple job so so shouldn't be too expensive. All materials available from JayMig welding supplies.