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Spot Welders

Discussion in 'The Tool Shed' started by FinoCJ, Oct 24, 2021.

  1. Oct 24, 2021
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    I need to spot weld some sheetmetal in place in a pretty tight location...I don't think its really an options to try and get a drill in there and use the MIG to sort of 'spot weld' the hole - although I guess anything is possible if you try hard enough. But I've welded this kind of thing before like that, and I just can't get it strong enough given the access and my lack of skill....I was looking at using something like this:
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...&linkId=9cb88687be278ad1ceb1598ffdddcf9b&th=1

    HF also has one like it, but I am concerned with the 1/8 total maximum - it might work. And even with this set-up, not sure how big it really is, and whether it would fit....but I understand you can put long tips or whatever they are called on it. Am I missing any other options that might be better?....FWIW I am currently limited to 120V only - and as I live in Denver, CO, I've yet to find an electrician that will run a 240 to my garage (its against code or something).
     
  2. Oct 24, 2021
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
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    Spot welders need to be calibrated to what is required of them. It might be easier to just cut a hole and rosette weld it.
     
  3. Oct 24, 2021
    boopiejones

    boopiejones I can’t drive 55

    California east bay
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    exactly where you are trying to weld? You said it’s a “pretty tight location,” but I don’t see how the Amazon spot welders you linked to can get into a tight location. If you can get those welders in the location, you can certainly get a normal mig welder in there as well.
     
  4. Oct 24, 2021
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    I’m assuming you have 220 in your house?

    [​IMG]
     
  5. Oct 24, 2021
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    Sometimes it is quicker, cheaper, and easier to farm out special processes. Just my thought. Find the local car show circles and see who they speak highly of.
     
  6. Oct 24, 2021
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    We have one 220 plug in the basement that runs our dryer....and having a massage therapist in the house, it seems laundry is constantly being done. But if I had to....
     
  7. Oct 24, 2021
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    you mean setting it for the thickness of the metal - kind of like setting voltage and wire feed for MIG?
    If you mean cutting a hole to access the panel - that would mean cutting a hole in the rear corner panel we just did all the body work on....As for rosette welding it, well that is what I did that failed. Looks like it needed more penetration. The sad part is I welded in on the table before and installed it before the corner was done as I knew how hard it would be to access it.
    I am sure for many of you, you could MIG it in location, but not sure I can...I can barely weld on a flat table - upside down in the back corner of the jeep would be tough for me - and for lack of a better way to put it, any chance to get the MIG tip in there would require 'left-handed' position if that makes sense, and no way I can get my head in there to see. I am not sure how big the spot welders are and how portable they are and how easy/difficult they are to manipulate - that's why I was asking.
     
  8. Oct 25, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Drill it through and use a bolt? I suppose you don't want the head showing though.
     
    FinoCJ likes this.
  9. Oct 25, 2021
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    maybe...thought about it...would have to be a pretty small bolt, and not sure about getting a drill in there....I have 90degree chuck, but its kind of bulky...guess I could buy a little battery operated unit pretty cheap that could squeeze in there. We'll see...the jeep is getting cleaned up and a couple little things done, then it gets parked for a bit while I am in MT all winter....this may all have to wait until spring unless somehow the 58 project goes fast and easy - but not counting on it.
     
  10. Oct 27, 2021
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    James, do you own a MIG welder?

    Is there room to place the welder head perpendicular to the steel, ie the wire normal to the surface?
     
  11. Oct 27, 2021
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    Yes I have MIG, but only a couple inches to get the head in there normal to surface need to weld. And certainly I cannot get my head in there to see...maybe if I could clamp the head in place - I think Eastwood may have something like that. Also, for a sort of MIG style spot or rosette weld, I'd need to drill a bit of a hole - right angle drill chuck might work.
     
  12. Oct 27, 2021
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    You haven’t lived until you’ve welded with mirrors. :D
     
    Ol Fogie, tcfeet, mortten and 4 others like this.
  13. Oct 27, 2021
    boopiejones

    boopiejones I can’t drive 55

    California east bay
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    Sounds like this spot you’re trying to weld is quite hidden, so a pretty weld isn’t necessary. If it were me, I would take an educated guess of where to hold the mig welder and how long to pull the trigger, then check my work and do it again if needed.

    If you can’t get a mig welder in there, I don’t think you’ll fare any better with a spot welder.
     
  14. Oct 27, 2021
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    I am sure most of you could weld this as is blindfolded, but the welds I did when it was on the bench weren't good enough so worried my blind welds won't be much better.
     
  15. Oct 28, 2021
    Moosanah

    Moosanah New Member

    Calgary, Alberta
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    Have you considered a product like 3M panel adhesive?
     
  16. Oct 28, 2021
    Steamboat Willys

    Steamboat Willys Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Paddock Lake, WI
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    I have a spot welder you can use. Just need to figure out how to get it to Denver.
    [​IMG]
     
    FinoCJ and ITLKSEZ like this.
  17. Oct 30, 2021
    jeep2003

    jeep2003 Well-Known Member

    Upstate NY
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    if it didnt hold with rosette welds on the bench a 110 spot welder is not going to do it. They work for very clean very thin steel and you still have to pepper the crap out of the panel
     
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