Graham Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 Apologies guys on a roll today this must be at least my 3rd new post just invested in a spot welder so does anybody have any suggestion for a good source (cheap!) arms and electrodes the ones I have seen appear to be made from an unubtainium ,hens teeth rocking horse poo alloy coated in gold with diamond tips ! many thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john.r.davies Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 What make of spot welder,Graham? and where have you been looking? This site offers electrodes for £5-10 each depending on profile: https://www.sureweld.co.uk/spot-welding-electrodes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Salisbury Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 Buy copper rods of the appropriate diameters and bend and make your own, .... but even this method is not cheap due to the price of copper. Cheers Rob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graham Posted May 1, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 3 minutes ago, john.r.davies said: What make of spot welder,Graham? and where have you been looking? This site offers electrodes for £5-10 each depending on profile: https://www.sureweld.co.uk/spot-welding-electrodes Nothing posh John it’s a Clarke 13T Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 Hi Graham, have you got a good power socket to plug into. When I tried to get mine going it kept popping the circuit breaker in the garage. I then used the redundant cooker socket (60 amp) in the kitchen. This still caused the CB to get hot and pop My household CB's were 'B' rated. I fitted a 'C' rated CB and it worked OK CJ Auto's 240V 6amp (apparently\0. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graham Posted May 1, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 27 minutes ago, RogerH said: Hi Graham, have you got a good power socket to plug into. When I tried to get mine going it kept popping the circuit breaker in the garage. I then used the redundant cooker socket (60 amp) in the kitchen. This still caused the CB to get hot and pop My household CB's were 'B' rated. I fitted a 'C' rated CB and it worked OK CJ Auto's 240V 6amp (apparently\0. Roger Hi Roger yes I’ve got a 16 amp supply in the garage so should be ok Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 Graham, I installed a slower 16A “C” rated fuse (the automatic type) as Roger did, it never blew anymore with my 4 post lift, my 170A mig welder or my 2.5 kW compressor; off course not running simultaneously;) The normal 16A (“B” rated I think) fuses popped in 1 minute. Cheers, Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mark69 Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 Check out ebay, always a good source for used one's. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ed_h Posted May 2, 2020 Report Share Posted May 2, 2020 My ancient ACO spot welder has arms and electrodes similar to yours. I just buy copper rod (1/2" or 3/8", can't remember) and form it myself. But sometimes you have to get more creative. These are copper bussbars for getting to a narrow flange with tall surfaces above and below it. It was on the rear valence of a TR6. Ed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted May 2, 2020 Report Share Posted May 2, 2020 Hi Ed, that looks heavy. How do you manage. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john.r.davies Posted May 2, 2020 Report Share Posted May 2, 2020 7 hours ago, ed_h said: My ancient ACO spot welder has arms and electrodes similar to yours. I just buy copper rod (1/2" or 3/8", can't remember) and form it myself. But sometimes you have to get more creative. These are copper bussbars for getting to a narrow flange with tall surfaces above and below it. It was on the rear valence of a TR6. Ed Wow! Worthy of a Bond villain's lair! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted May 2, 2020 Report Share Posted May 2, 2020 16 hours ago, john.r.davies said: What make of spot welder,Graham? and where have you been looking? This site offers electrodes for £5-10 each depending on profile: https://www.sureweld.co.uk/spot-welding-electrodes Thats only electrodes, its the arms that get really expensive.Plus you need a good sharpener as well as you need a nice small tip or you wont get the right penetration. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ed_h Posted May 2, 2020 Report Share Posted May 2, 2020 7 hours ago, RogerH said: that looks heavy. How do you manage. Roger-- yeah, I think it's 35 pounds or so. It's normally mounted on a stand so I can bring the work to the welder. If that's not possible, I can either suck it up and wrestle it into position, or hang it from the engine hoist. Ed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted May 2, 2020 Report Share Posted May 2, 2020 5 minutes ago, ed_h said: Roger-- yeah, I think it's 35 pounds or so. It's normally mounted on a stand so I can bring the work to the welder. If that's not possible, I can either suck it up and wrestle it into position, or hang it from the engine hoist. Ed Shorter arms would help! I have loads of different length ones to be able to get in different places including ones to go round "A" or "B" posts, one of the best investments I ever made. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ed_h Posted May 2, 2020 Report Share Posted May 2, 2020 7 minutes ago, stuart said: Shorter arms would help! Yes, they surely would! You can see that I had less than an inch to spare in the boot. So far, I've been able to make do with the long ones. As you mentioned, arms are pricey. Ed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graham Posted May 2, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2020 4 hours ago, stuart said: Thats only electrodes, its the arms that get really expensive.Plus you need a good sharpener as well as you need a nice small tip or you wont get the right penetration. Stuart. Stuart any recommendations for a good sharpener Sealy one is circa £100 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted May 4, 2020 Report Share Posted May 4, 2020 On 5/2/2020 at 4:48 PM, Graham said: Stuart any recommendations for a good sharpener Sealy one is circa £100 If its the ratchet one then its the best one to use, at one time there was a knock off version for about £35 but I havent seen one since unfortunately. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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