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#1 Big Sam

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Posted 21 October 2018 - 04:39 PM

Machine Mart are currently doing their vat free sale so i've been thinking of picking up a spot welder to complement my Mig.

 

I'm doing a full body resto over the winter and i know i could feasibly get by with plug welding where needs be. Is buying a spot welder worth it just to make the jobs that require spots that bit easier?

 

Cheers! 



#2 sonikk4

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Posted 21 October 2018 - 04:59 PM

I bought the CSW13T and could not get to grips with it. So ended up with a plug weld fest on Project Paddy. Its still in my garage and one day i will get the bugger to work properly.

 

Now if you get one and you get to grips with it then it will save you a ton of time. No grinding back welds etc etc.



#3 AndyR

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Posted 21 October 2018 - 07:09 PM

In the big scheme of things, i think the biggest advantage of a spot welder is in the consistency of the welds.  If you are experienced enough your plug welds dont have to require a huge amount of grinding (at least nothing a good flap disc wont make quick work of) and thus the strength should be pretty consistent.  In my experience the time used actually welding and dressing of the welds is nothing in comparison to drilling/splitting the original spot welds and fixing the flanges from said drilling/splitting.  I guess you will also need a plethora of attachments to get into all the different positions with a spot welder, whereas a mig welder can do it all.  A tool in my garage that is worth its weight in gold in terms of time saving is the pneumatic plug weld punch, saves a lot of drilling and cleaning up of burs ready for plug welding.

 

I guess it also comes down to what level of originality you are after too.

 

Andy



#4 E1LDR

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Posted 21 October 2018 - 10:21 PM

Machine Mart are currently doing their vat free sale so i've been thinking of picking up a spot welder to complement my Mig.
 
I'm doing a full body resto over the winter and i know i could feasibly get by with plug welding where needs be. Is buying a spot welder worth it just to make the jobs that require spots that bit easier?
 
Cheers!


Hi Sam - I too am looking at purchasing from machine mart - in need of a welder. I don’t suppose you have the link/code for the VAT free offer/discount please?

Thanks

#5 Big Sam

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Posted 22 October 2018 - 03:05 PM

I bought the CSW13T and could not get to grips with it. So ended up with a plug weld fest on Project Paddy. Its still in my garage and one day i will get the bugger to work properly.

 

Now if you get one and you get to grips with it then it will save you a ton of time. No grinding back welds etc etc.

 

 

Thats what i was looking at, and with over £100 off with the deal its certainly worth considering. If someone with your skills struggles I think that says a bit having read all your threads!

 

In the big scheme of things, i think the biggest advantage of a spot welder is in the consistency of the welds.  If you are experienced enough your plug welds dont have to require a huge amount of grinding (at least nothing a good flap disc wont make quick work of) and thus the strength should be pretty consistent.  In my experience the time used actually welding and dressing of the welds is nothing in comparison to drilling/splitting the original spot welds and fixing the flanges from said drilling/splitting.  I guess you will also need a plethora of attachments to get into all the different positions with a spot welder, whereas a mig welder can do it all.  A tool in my garage that is worth its weight in gold in terms of time saving is the pneumatic plug weld punch, saves a lot of drilling and cleaning up of burs ready for plug welding.

 

I guess it also comes down to what level of originality you are after too.

 

Andy

 

Originality is definitely something to consider, and i guess im being a bit blasé with it being a late 80s Mayfair and not a Mk1 or 2 but im not too fussed with it. I just want a solid shell to do what I want with, it'll have heritage panels where ever is needed anyways so its not like its getting bodged.

 

The pneumatic is definitely worth considering then. It may just be I spend my money elsewhere and get a compressor and assorted air tools because currently thats something im doing without but opens up many other possibilities. Just got to figure out what size tank is worth while!



#6 AndyR

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Posted 22 October 2018 - 04:44 PM

Well it does depend on how much time and effort you want to put in.  The right tools for the job does make it a more satisfying experience.  In my case, the time i get to work on my car is very limited, so when i do get a chance i dont want to be drilling loads of pilot holes and then opening them up and then cleaning up the burrs.  So the air punch means i get more time to do other things and be efficient with my time.

 

A lot of pneumatic tools used for bodywork use quite a lot of air.  If you dont want to invest in a large compressor capable of running these, you can always buy 2 cheaper units and connect them in parallel with some non return valves to get the CFM you require.  Air tools are not essential, but they do make life easier i feel.  I guess you have to decide if you are going to do more projects or if this is going to be the only one, then you can decide what you want to invest in.

 

Either way, you cant go wrong with good metal - and in my experience heritage panels fit well and save a lot of time and head scratching.

 

Andy



#7 Daz1968

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Posted 22 October 2018 - 05:21 PM

I have the csw-13t and found it brilliant for my project, I did buy some longer arms and also made some custom electrodes for some of the awkward places.
I think of you are doing a lot of full panel replacements then it would be invaluable,
It did take a little practice but I found good clean metal, good electrodes and ensuring material is clamped together made for the easiest and best welds.

#8 rkde

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Posted 22 October 2018 - 07:43 PM

Worth it but you will still find that you will need to plug weld as there will be places you can't get too. I tend to use my TIG welder to spot weld where the welder can't get too as I find it cleaner. 

 

Where it comes into its own is on a set of sills when you realise you can replace them in no time



#9 sonikk4

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Posted 22 October 2018 - 08:51 PM

 

I bought the CSW13T and could not get to grips with it. So ended up with a plug weld fest on Project Paddy. Its still in my garage and one day i will get the bugger to work properly.

 

Now if you get one and you get to grips with it then it will save you a ton of time. No grinding back welds etc etc.

 

 

Thats what i was looking at, and with over £100 off with the deal its certainly worth considering. If someone with your skills struggles I think that says a bit having read all your threads!

 

In the big scheme of things, i think the biggest advantage of a spot welder is in the consistency of the welds.  If you are experienced enough your plug welds dont have to require a huge amount of grinding (at least nothing a good flap disc wont make quick work of) and thus the strength should be pretty consistent.  In my experience the time used actually welding and dressing of the welds is nothing in comparison to drilling/splitting the original spot welds and fixing the flanges from said drilling/splitting.  I guess you will also need a plethora of attachments to get into all the different positions with a spot welder, whereas a mig welder can do it all.  A tool in my garage that is worth its weight in gold in terms of time saving is the pneumatic plug weld punch, saves a lot of drilling and cleaning up of burs ready for plug welding.

 

I guess it also comes down to what level of originality you are after too.

 

Andy

 

Originality is definitely something to consider, and i guess im being a bit blasé with it being a late 80s Mayfair and not a Mk1 or 2 but im not too fussed with it. I just want a solid shell to do what I want with, it'll have heritage panels where ever is needed anyways so its not like its getting bodged.

 

The pneumatic is definitely worth considering then. It may just be I spend my money elsewhere and get a compressor and assorted air tools because currently thats something im doing without but opens up many other possibilities. Just got to figure out what size tank is worth while!

 

 

To be honest i think the machine itself is fine, its me being slightly impatient. i will have another go with it when i dig it out to see where i was going wrong. 

 

And be brutally honest my plug welds will be a sight stronger as the majority of them are a minimum of 1/4" in diameter.



#10 Big Sam

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Posted 23 October 2018 - 06:01 PM

Much food for thought, thanks to everyone. 

 

I'll have to have a think. Im half thinking its an expense best spent elsewhere as im a bit like you Sonikk, if im doing a plugweld its not a small one just to make sure!

 

Cheers!



#11 pete l

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Posted 24 October 2018 - 01:20 PM

I have one and it makes for a factory look weld along the panels, sills, side panels etc. 

 

But, you can only do one weld every 15 seconds or so, otherwise it gets too hot to touch and the copper arms change colour and don't work very well afterwards, speaking from experience, I thought my machine was dead, it just wouldn't weld, was giving off pink deposits around the spot welds. New arms solved it.

I love it, but then, I can't plug weld very well !!!!!!



#12 Big Sam

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Posted 24 October 2018 - 04:09 PM

I love it, but then, I can't plug weld very well !!!!!!

 

Like most things i've learnt in my adult life it was from youtube:

 

 

The plug weld technique there is what i follow and its served me good so far.






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