7 replies to this topic

[weeally]

Looking to purchase a spot welder but there are a few knocking around the market and not sure which one to buy, and what accessories I will need as in size of arms. Any help would be appreciated. 

 

[MiNiKiN]

under this link at the very bottom you find an "ARO welding guide" which contains all the required arms as well as the instructions where to use which one.

 

http://mk1-performan..._paint&body.htm

 

[Daz1968]

I bought the 16amp Clarke one, did my mk2 project no problem, I bought some longer arms and made some electrodes myself from copper bar for some awkward areas, but it performed very well. It takes a little thought to get to some places but was fine, I had to plug weld a few areas due to not having correct arms but they are expensive for a one off, 

[weeally]

Thanks for the replies. I'll have a look at that link and have a read.
Much appreciated.

[Bobbins]

Is it correct to assume that if used at home a 16A spot welder would need to be high power supply (e.g. cooker circuit) and would not run off a standard 13A feed?

[Johnmar]

I bought the 16amp Clarke one, did my mk2 project no problem, I bought some longer arms and made some electrodes myself from copper bar for some awkward areas, but it performed very well. It takes a little thought to get to some places but was fine, I had to plug weld a few areas due to not having correct arms but they are expensive for a one off,

This was my spotwelder until this Saturday (standard Clark spotwelder bought arround 1998 at Machine Mart in the UK)


It has the standard 12,5cm welding arms (10cm effective).

I was able to weld with is quite well, Did manage inner sills welding, but it is much easier if I had different arms for it. But the price of these arms.. Like gold.
Last week I ordered coopper en this weekend I used that material to graft arms and arm extentions in a modular fashion:

Bought:
- 100cm 25mm round copper (for the arms, connections)
- 25cm square 30mm copper (for arm lowering extention and the "go-though" part)
- 100cm of 10mm round copper (for the electrodes)

After some drilling and lathe work I had:



With that I can make:

To get closer to any body panelsas otherwise the arms can foul:


New longer arms (35cm instead of the 12,5cm standard arms:)


Arm lowering block (and longer bottom Electrode) in combination with standard or long arms to clear a box section like a sill:


Standard arm in combination with a "go-though"block to weld internal corners that cannot be reached externally:


If I wanted to buy these arms I had to spend about 6 times that amount of money. So time and money well spend!

Edited by Johnmar, 02 June 2021 - 03:43 PM.

[MiNiKiN]

Is it correct to assume that if used at home a 16A spot welder would need to be high power supply (e.g. cooker circuit) and would not run off a standard 13A feed?

You assume right. My circuit breakers (even the 16A/400V supply) kept going off. So in the end I plugged into my electrical emergency heater supply which has 3 phase 400V fused with 50A each. Now it works great with that 5-terminal 6mm² extension cable. Don't ask if this is safe to do for the DIYer, I am trained on such matters.

[Johnmar]

Is it correct to assume that if used at home a 16A spot welder would need to be high power supply (e.g. cooker circuit) and would not run off a standard 13A feed?

Here in NL it runs on a 230V 16A automatic fused group.
Only changed it for a slower characteristic so spikes don't trigger it.
Works great.