8 replies to this topic

[Marlin]

I was hoping to get some opinions on wether I should buy a spot welder or not.  My Mini has been sitting untouched for a while now but I am just about set up in the new garage that I can start back on it.  I currently have the entire front end cut off it and will have a few other smaller panels to replace.  A guy at work was telling mt to buy a spot welder to make it a lot easier and cleaner looking to put it back together.  What do you guys think?  Is it a lot better to do it with a spot welder?  Secondly I see 110V  and 220V spot welders.  The 220V having a little more capacity.  I assume having 220V in my shop it would be a better move to buy the bigger unit.  I can get one from Harbor Freight in the US for $175US.  Conveniently my dad is heading down there next week so I could get him to grab me one while he is there.  Opinions?

Edited by Marlin, 26 January 2015 - 02:59 AM.

[humph]

I bought a second hand spot welder off ebay. I can definiely see the benefit of having it, saving time tidying plug welds etc.  Biggest problem is that mine has short arms, so is of limited use, and new long arms are damned expensive. Beware, my spot welder has to be run off a 13A supply, all I have, and it eats 13A fuses at an alarming rate, I also have to set the timer for longer at 13A.  Have run it off a 16A supply without problems.

[dklawson]

If you were going to do multiple cars over several years the spotwelder would be a good investment.  However, if you are only doing one car, read up on plug welding and then practice the method on scrap panels.  The HF units have an OK reputation for the DIY person but I don't think they have multiple jaw/tip selections.  That means that some of the places you may want to use the spot welder will prove very difficult to access.  The one place I would LOVE to have had a spotwelder for is on the seam between the front wings and front panel.  It's hard to get in there with a helmet to see what you are welding... possible but difficult.

 

If you do decide to buy the HF spotwelder and your shop has 220V, get the higher voltage unit.  The higher voltage units have a better reputation and supposedly can handle thicker material.  Google for reviews of the HF units before buying.  

[newenglandmini]

I have the Harbor Freight 220V unit.  I've done lot's of welding on my Mini, and it works very well.  The supplied jaws have a 7" depth, which is sufficient for most of the seams on the Mini.  You can purchase deeper jaws, but they are quite expensive.  The welds are very neat and easy to accomplish, unlike plug welds.  You really can't go wrong at the low price HF charges.  You can also replace the tips, though they are not available from HF.

[Marlin]

I am really thinking about picking one up.  With tax, shipping and the exchange on the dollar it will be close to $250.  I think it will make it a lot easier and probably do a nicer job overall.

[Marlin]

Just placed my order.  $6.99 for shipping to my Aunts place in Florida.  My dad is going to bring it back in a couple weeks.  Ended up being about $240CDN.  Hopefully it makes things a lot easier.

[Cooperman]

So long as you also have a good MIG set a spot welder is a big advantage when doing a Mini with all those external seams. Not so useful on other cars like the MGB as it is difficult to get a spot welder to reach the main areas of welding.

[megamini_jb]

Definitely good to have a spot eelder as well as a MIG

[Marlin]

Definitely good to have a spot eelder as well as a MIG

Already had a MIG/TIG/Stick machine so should be covered for pretty much any sort of welding now.