DIY Spot welder

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Nourish
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DIY Spot welder

Post by Nourish »

I don't know where for sure to post this so I'll do it here.
I'd love a spot welder - I make such a mess with my Mig and even worse with the Tig.
I couldn't justify spending the money buying one in this country - we don't have 'Harbor Freight' here in the UK.
So how about making one? I'd like just to think aloud here on the possibilities of doing so if I may.
s-l1600.jpg
s-l1600.jpg (90.96 KiB) Viewed 1563 times
These are some cheapo tongs from China. Could something like these be connected to an Arc welder? This would be nice and light if used with long leads
A timer would have to be added with a trigger switch - how?
Any ideas?
les
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Re: DIY Spot welder

Post by les »

A spot welder is handy but don’t give up on the mig, far more universal, including spot welds. Like most things, practice! :D
Quantumrush
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Re: DIY Spot welder

Post by Quantumrush »

les wrote: Fri Sep 24, 2021 4:28 pm A spot welder is handy but don’t give up on the mig, far more universal, including spot welds. Like most things, practice! :D
Agreed.

When I first started using a mig I was horrible with it so I kept practicing and eventually got a bit better.

I've decided to pick up a welding course to help me :)

Make sure you have a good earth too!!
Quantum :)
Nourish
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Re: DIY Spot welder

Post by Nourish »

I only have vision in one eye so struggle with depth of field. I'm told one eyed people can't weld - well this one can't!
kennatt
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Re: DIY Spot welder

Post by kennatt »

Nourish
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Re: DIY Spot welder

Post by Nourish »

Kennatt - Have you tried these?
kennatt
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Re: DIY Spot welder

Post by kennatt »

yes .drill a hole ,size depending on how big a spot you want in top sheet push tip hard down onto surface over hole to press the two sheets together.(Trim wire to level with end of tip) pull trigger . Practice on scrap sheets to get how many seconds to hold trigger. Some high end migs have a timer to set for the thickness of metal but after practice you get the feel of how many seconds you need to fire the gun.Sometimes it blows a hole through the bottom sheet if you hold it too long .If so,no problem just then fill hole with the usual rapiid dabbs of power.
Matt
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Re: DIY Spot welder

Post by Matt »

We don't have harbour frieght in the UK Either ;)

Those clamps you have pictured are all metal - so would not work very well as a spot welder!
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Nourish
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Re: DIY Spot welder

Post by Nourish »

"frieght " - Doh!
They do look crap but might work with a thick pair of gloves :(
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