My new toy(Lenco spot welder)

[Stanger]

I just picked this up off of Craigslist. The retail is a little over $1k. I got this one for $50. The guy said or best offer, and I usually take advantage of that, but I just couldn't this time. I'm getting soft. The leads are there as is the power cord. Everything appears to be in good shape, just a little dusty. I'll probably clean it all up and repaint. But for now, I'd like some more info on it. If anyone has any experience with them, I'd like to hear it. It seems like a nice piece of equipment, but it may be junk, I really don't know. It is a "LENCOSPOT DUO-SPOT" Mark II L-4000. It appears to have 230V 30A input. The power cord, which appears original, is 10/3.

[Chris Adams]

Is that like a 'stitch' welder? For spot welding on sheet metal where you can't access the other side with the 'tong' type?

[Stanger]

Is that like a 'stitch' welder? For spot welding on sheet metal where you can't access the other side with the 'tong' type?

No, this is the same as the tong type, but the contacts are seperate, if that makes sense. They aren't on one connected jaw, they are flexible on there own leads. I'm not describing this well. I'll get a pic. For now, here is the stock pic. You can see the leads.

[zuspiel]

Cool! Nice find!

[mulepackin]

Great score! This looks like the type that allows you to manually line up contacts, not limited by jaw depth, only lead length. I'm still agonizinge over picking up the Hoabart Beta Mig 250 I found locally for $850.

[bchee]

Originally Posted by Stanger

The retail is a little over $1k. I got this one for $50.

what's the catch? Have you tried it yet and does it work ok?

[eschoendorff]

Neat toy! I wouldn't worry about repainting it.. seems pretty nice as it is!

[Danglerb]

Maybe open it up and blow it out first, visually check it over. 220 30amp could make quite a show if something is wonky inside.

[5wndwcpe]

How do you line them up with each other? I'm thinking a small pilot hole or something.

[Stanger]

Sorry I haven't updated this guys, I've been busy.

I cleaned the welder up today. It has 50 feet of 10/3 on it!!! Everything appears to be in great shape, it is just missing a small screw that holds one of the plastic handles on the lead, no big deal. I opened it up, blew it out, and then cleaned it out with electrical contact cleaner. Everything looks pretty mint inside. I plugged it in and it powers up. I haven't tried to spot anything yet, but I'll probably try that tomorrow. I'm VERY pleased. This should make my restorations much more accurate and easy.

Some pics...
50' cord

Dusty interior



Cleaned...

[Stanger]

what's the catch? Have you tried it yet and does it work ok?

No catch. Apparently the guys wife is pushing for him to clean out the garage. I have to say that his garage was a mess. A lot of nice looking tools in there though. I'll be watching to see if he sells anything else. I plugged it in and it powered up.

Neat toy! I wouldn't worry about repainting it.. seems pretty nice as it is!

I think I'm going to leave the front and sides with the original finish. However, the top has a lot of surface rust so I think I'll clean it up, spray it with epoxy primer, and then put a mat on it. That way I can lay the welding leads and my helmet on it without scratching all the paint off.

[Danglerb]

Is the wire in space some kind of unused wiring option?

I'm curious about exactly how its used, post more when you can.

[Stanger]

Is the wire in space some kind of unused wiring option?

I'm not sure, but that's my guess. It doesn't appear to have ever been apart, so I'm inclined to think that is the way it left the factory.

I'm curious about exactly how its used, post more when you can.

Will do.

[volvo]

.
Is that one of those machines that when you hit the switch the electrode wires fly up into the air and it erases your credit cards in your wallet ??....H

[rbj2]

have you got to use it yet ? just pick up the exact machine for free. just curious you don't have to line the tips up right ,you can do two spots as long as they are touching the same panel from what i read.

[mk2sprite]

Fifty dollars, free??? You guys are killing me. Hi I have been searching for one of these units . As I understand you use the handles and can weld 2 spots at the same time, although there is only a trigger on one of the handles. I think you could use just the one handle for a single weld also. You do not have to put the tips facing each other, they each make a independent weld. I have been fightning about which type to buy. I work on small sports cars so I was thinking that something like this would be way more flexible than the clamp type units. These are pretty expensive, I just saw two similar types used from SnapOn go on ebay for about $900 ea with shipping. Please do me a favor and send the next great deal you find my way....
Nice to be here.
Mike

[FOMOGO]

The contacts are not used in a face to face position. They are used as 2 separate spot welds at the same time. I have one exactly like it and have used it a good bit. The down fall is that the panels have to be very tight on fit up or the spot weld wont hold. I use mine doing restoration work but only where I can clamp the panels tight. Every where else I just drill a hole and plug weld the spot. I have never tried to use just one lead to make a single spot weld.... Dont see how it would work at all as the current has to flow through the metal back to a ground (the other contact) to complete the circuit. Great find and great price. If I recall I paid &200.00 for mine in a hock shop 15 or so years ago. The first thing I used it on was some 11 gauge steel for shelving that went on a pallet rack. They have had all sorts of things stacked on them, from complete motors to stacks of toploader 4 speed transmissions and they are still holding strong. There are numerous attachments available for these units. Just do a Google search. Parts are available through most any Hobart/Miller dealer. They can be a little pricey though.. Enjoy your new toy.

FOMOGO

[PCO6]

I guess $50 is the going rate for one of these units. That's what I paid for this one about 20 years ago. It's a "Porta-Spot" that I bought at a garage sale. I bought it from a woman whose husband had passed away a few years earlier. She told me it was an arc welder. When I told her it was a spot welder she started to argue with me again saying it was an arc welder. For her asking price of $50 I decided to agree with her.

I had it checked over by a shop that serviced them and it was in perfect working order. They basically blew out the dust. They also told me the unit sold for about $1,100 when new.

FOMOGO's description of how they work is very accurate. I understand these units were used by body shops for quickly putting on patch panels. I have a more "typical" spot welder as well (also pictured below) but I still use the Porta-Spot when I can't access the back side of what I am welding. They work very well!

[lametec]

Originally Posted by Danglerb

Is the wire in space some kind of unused wiring option?

Probably for 3-phase hookup.

[Teken]

Originally Posted by FOMOGO

The contacts are not used in a face to face position. They are used as 2 separate spot welds at the same time. I have one exactly like it and have used it a good bit. The down fall is that the panels have to be very tight on fit up or the spot weld wont hold. I use mine doing restoration work but only where I can clamp the panels tight. Every where else I just drill a hole and plug weld the spot. I have never tried to use just one lead to make a single spot weld.... Dont see how it would work at all as the current has to flow through the metal back to a ground (the other contact) to complete the circuit. Great find and great price. If I recall I paid &200.00 for mine in a hock shop 15 or so years ago. The first thing I used it on was some 11 gauge steel for shelving that went on a pallet rack. They have had all sorts of things stacked on them, from complete motors to stacks of toploader 4 speed transmissions and they are still holding strong. There are numerous attachments available for these units. Just do a Google search. Parts are available through most any Hobart/Miller dealer. They can be a little pricey though.. Enjoy your new toy.

FOMOGO

Great information . . . BTW: You have been a member since 2008! This is your first post?

Lurker You Are . . .