Has anyone on here ever make a home made spotwelder? I've seen some info on the web about using a microwave transformer, but will it weld metal the same gage as body panels? I'm doing rosette welds on the car now, but, I honestly have around 700 to 800 more to do, so a spot welder would PROBABLY BE A LITTLE FASTER! The package tray alone has around 160 welds. Dan
Well, you are too far away to have been talking to one of my former students but that sounds like something he would have come up with. I'd hit the welding supply shops and see if they had or knew of a used unit for a right price first. <input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">
If I was faced with 700 spots I would be looking for the proper welder, which is what you'll likely end up doing after the 'converted' pos dies at weld number 4... .
Not really a spot welder, but you ought to make one of these as well, remember, safety first! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgAThGrCV4A&NR=1 while you're there, look around, there are a lot of home made spot welders. Here's just 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp7JF2sANsw
Why dont you buy one from Harbor Freight? It would be a lot safer.... here is the link... http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Category.taf?CategoryID=295 Steve
Call any major companies Customer Service line and ask "Bill" or "Mary" for their Brother "Sanjay the welder's" phone number
You'll need at least 2-3 microwave oven transformers (MOV transformers to the basement builders) to get the kind of power you need to weld body panels, which makes the whole setup rather heavy. That is a problem because with the kind of current that it takes to burn in a resistance weld requires huge ass conductors, which is why they typically mount the electrodes right to the transformer to keep them short. While the MOV transformers might be able to handle 1kw each, you are limited by the number of windings of heavy condutor you can wrap on as a secondary, so you might be able to get two windings on each. If your goal is to mess around and learn something, there is a host of 19th century cutting edge technology projects you can build with moderate knowlege of the transformer, but a decent sized spot welder is somewhat hard to build yourself. I found a 220v 1.8KW spot welder at a swap meet for 75 bucks, it needed some work but now it welds like a champ. I think you might be able to find one at the local equipment dealer for a reasonable sum.
I was thinking of one from harbor freight, but I didn't know if it would last as long as the "microwave" type. Honestly, I'd probably kill myself with a home-made one anyway. "What's that odd smell?" "Oh, that. Dan's using a different kind of shampoo, a little more fire retardant." Dan
love that pic. no gloves, probably no goggles (clearly no mask, as his lower face is shown), no idea of what amperage he's working with.... skin cancer? p-shaw! zinc jitters? p-shaw! flash burns (ESPECIALLY his eyes) oh p-SHAW! he'll more than likely be hacked to death by rival tribesmen first.
The Jalopy Journal
