Spot Welding

[toplessHO]

Ive got a couple spot welders both 120v,and need to weld some body panels.
A couple areas are 3 layered so pretty much know that they arent up to the task.
Looking for input as to if anyone has disconnected the input to tongs
and used an arc welder as power for those thicker areas.

 

[chrism0107]

drill thru two sheets at the weld spot and use a mig welder to fill/weld and grind smooth.

 

[Zeke]

If this can be done I'd like to hear.

 

[toplessHO]

tried my good ole USA Dayton with 12 inch tongs
first 2 layers then 3
it works fine(this is current year GM sheet metal) and results may vary with older "good stuff" sheet metal.
I purposely left it on too long a couple of times to see if it had the horsepower to burn the metal and it does.

 

[toplessHO]

and I will answer the question myself about using an arc welder as power source
looking at the Dayton with 6 inch tongs its over 5000A @1.2V
arc welder will put out much higher voltage but much lower amperage.

 

[toplessHO]

drill thru two sheets at the weld spot and use a mig welder to fill/weld and grind smooth.

at an area that mig cant get into
tongs are 12 inch long on the spot welder so I can with those.

 

[toplessHO]

made my own tongs(electrodes) to fit in area that was too close for normal ones
also made one for my bigger spot welder

 

[rsanter]

Need to get some metal samples (coupons) or similar metal to what you want to weld.
Typically spot welder have no issues with welding 2-3 or even 4 layers of metal.
The metal needs to be clean and in contact with one another.
When welding multiple layers it is often more an issue of clamping that it is of the spot welders power.
I have had several spot welders that I have used for body panels. Yes the 220v one I have now works better but the 110v one did fine.

Bob

 

[toplessHO]

that coupon shown above was of the same metal and thickness.

agree that clamping force is needed as well as good power
burn thru is possible with even the 120v unit so its got plenty of power