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Spot Welder Attachment For Arc Welder?


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#1 jonlad

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Posted 15 February 2018 - 12:56 PM

Hi folks

Am looking to buy a spot welder but due to the high price was considering the following...

 

...does anyone have any experience of these?  Apparently turn your arc welder into a spot welder?

 

https://www.ebay.co....bkAAOSwxYxUvNxM

 

 

thanks  :highfive:

Jon



#2 pete l

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Posted 15 February 2018 - 03:53 PM

Don't do it, i bought one, it is pants, all it does is burn a big hole in thin metal.



#3 Homersimpson

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Posted 15 February 2018 - 03:54 PM

Never seen one before but if its being sold by Frost I would expect that it would work.



#4 carcrazy

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Posted 15 February 2018 - 06:53 PM

I have got one
Only paid around 15 quid though of eBay
I have found it works very well I even
Managed to spot rear valance and floor
Straight through the 3 layers
Handy because it is single sided as well, so useful for sills ect
But as with everything practice makes perfect

#5 jonlad

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Posted 16 February 2018 - 07:33 PM

Thanks for the responses, I might keep looking for a decent second hand proper one as I don't even have an arc welder yet, only mig.

 

Mixed responses tell me it might not be the easy win I was hoping for!



#6 pete l

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Posted 16 February 2018 - 08:01 PM

Stop, stop, stop, if you have a mig why are you even thinking about this piece of sh!t, do your spot welds with the mig. Believe me, they will be 500% better.

#7 jonlad

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Posted 16 February 2018 - 11:13 PM

I have a lot of panels to stitch together, drilling, welding, grinding, filling etc etc isn't much fun! Just done a rear valance with the mig and it's taken ages to get nice



#8 DomCr250

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Posted 17 February 2018 - 09:45 AM

I have a lot of panels to stitch together, drilling, welding, grinding, filling etc etc isn't much fun! Just done a rear valance with the mig and it's taken ages to get nice


Keep on looking for a proper spot welder, eventually one will come up. Don't worry if it looks old and knackered, they are basically just a massive transformer so not much to go wrong.

Also no need for a timer on it and just a basic set of 8" arms will do almost everything you need on a mini.

You will be amazed at how quick they are to use, also all the spots will look like factory welds.

After my metal shears it's one of the best tools I've got hold of, has loads of uses outside car constructions as well.

Only downside is the power requirement, it needs a decent supply and might blow the trip on a normal domestic ring main if it's protected by a 16a mcb.

#9 Ethel

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Posted 17 February 2018 - 11:45 AM

A ring should be 32amps, but you're right about the supply.

 

These 'd speed up your plug weld production, also really good for flattening edges if you just use the joggler avoiding the step.

 

The Frost tool just looks like a fancy trigger to advance the electrode, I'm sure you could rig up a similar guide for a lot less - maybe from an old mig gas shroud?



#10 jonlad

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Posted 17 February 2018 - 12:11 PM

Great shout on the joggler/punch. Even if i get a spot welder. And I work with some sparkies so have a great source of info on how to wire up. Thinking of a 32A commando socket on the wall with dedicated feed but will get their advice first



#11 Daz1968

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Posted 17 February 2018 - 01:55 PM

I jave the Clarke csw6t which is 16amp and I have completed my resto including the 3 thickness on valence without any problems. Only item I got to help was some long arms to weld floor to toeboard and boot floor to rear seat back,
Main thing is keep everything clean and well clamped together before welding, all goes well then

#12 Ethel

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Posted 17 February 2018 - 02:56 PM

16 amps should be enough for all but serious industrial welding gear. A dedicated supply is needed with a commando socket, no fuse means you want everything on a breaker that'll trip before things get melty.



#13 jonlad

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Posted 17 February 2018 - 07:39 PM

 
Main thing is keep everything clean and well clamped together before welding, all goes well then

 

Interested to know if you still use weld-thru  primer?

Thanks



#14 pete l

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Posted 18 February 2018 - 08:22 AM

 

 
Main thing is keep everything clean and well clamped together before welding, all goes well then

 

Interested to know if you still use weld-thru  primer?

Thanks

 

 

 

Yes, but only on the mating sides, not on the sides where  rods touch the metal



#15 Daz1968

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Posted 18 February 2018 - 08:32 AM

I did as above and only primer on mating side, if put it on both sides welding was difficult probably due to increased resistance




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