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blair spot weld cutters which one is best? #1585353
02/28/14 12:53 PM
02/28/14 12:53 PM
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Shingle Springs Ca
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haddixj Offline OP
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About to start on my car and have alot of spot welds to cut, so which one to buy? Either way I will get the lube that seems to be recommended and extra cutters.

http://www.amazon.com/Blair-BLR11096-Cut...pot+weld+cutter


http://www.amazon.com/Spotweld-Rotabroac...pot+weld+cutter

http://www.amazon.com/Double-End-Spotwel...pot+weld+cutter

I have heard these break pretty easy?


So for whoever has done this which ones do you prefer?


70 duster 25.1E,73 barracuda, 70 gran coupe, 71 cuda
Re: blair spot weld cutters which one is best? [Re: haddixj] #1585354
02/28/14 01:01 PM
02/28/14 01:01 PM
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Rogue River, OR
Jeremiah Offline
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I have both and think the Rotabroach is a better value. The teeth on the cutter are wider and will not peen over with use like the blair unit that uses the double ended cutters. If I were you I'd get the full Rotabroach set to start with. It is a little more expensive that the one you linked but it sure does come in handy.

Re: blair spot weld cutters which one is best? [Re: Jeremiah] #1585355
02/28/14 01:13 PM
02/28/14 01:13 PM
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Shingle Springs Ca
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haddixj Offline OP
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What is confusing is that the "heavy duty" one seems to use the same cutters at least that is what they are linking in the amazon buy this for XX amount all together. I think the double ended ones are out. But what makes one heavy duty is what I dont get? I will look for the other kit. Does it just come with different sizes? From what I have seen 3/8" is the only size I will need? Is that correct? I am doing both quarters, a front frame rail and need to remove the upper cowl to patch it up.


70 duster 25.1E,73 barracuda, 70 gran coupe, 71 cuda
Re: blair spot weld cutters which one is best? [Re: haddixj] #1585356
02/28/14 01:19 PM
02/28/14 01:19 PM
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Conway, SC
T2R9 Offline
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I have the center kit linked. I just replaced the cowl and firewall on my Cuda. These worked beautifully and I did not need any extra cutters. I did use the lube stick that's recommended. I also have an older set of the doubled sided ones. I wont even use them anymore.

Re: blair spot weld cutters which one is best? [Re: T2R9] #1585357
02/28/14 04:26 PM
02/28/14 04:26 PM
Joined: Mar 2003
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Rogue River, OR
Jeremiah Offline
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When I get to the shop I'll get you the p/n of my kit. Please hold...

Re: blair spot weld cutters which one is best? [Re: haddixj] #1585358
02/28/14 06:53 PM
02/28/14 06:53 PM
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East Aurora (Buffalo) NY
RoadRunner Offline
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I have the first one and last one in your list. I use them both. The teeth are more fragile on the double ended cutters, but I find the effort to cut through the top layer to be a bit less. I also finnd the double ended cutters work well in areas where you can get a good center punch, and the spot weld is pretty smooth (as not to catch one of the teeth).


68 Road Runner (383/4speed, post car w/decor pkg) - Major Project
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Re: blair spot weld cutters which one is best? [Re: haddixj] #1585359
02/28/14 06:56 PM
02/28/14 06:56 PM
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nomore65BelvJim Offline
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Got a Harbor Freight close by?
I used to use the Blair rotabroach for cutting spotwelds. Worked great, cut like a little lathe...until a tooth snags a weld and breaks off.
Dealt with that for a dozen or more bits at @ $9 each until I found the HF cutter.

Double sided 3/8" cutter for $4-$5. Doesnt last as long as the Blair but if it breaks off a tooth it still works.
I used to use up 2 Blair cutters per car. Now I may use 2 or 3 of the HF cutters. Around 1,000 spotwelds cut on each car, give or take a couple hundred depending on how thorough the breakdown.

I still use the rest of the Blair kit for other hole making needs. Holes in a step bumper and frame to mount a hitch and the like. Works great, better than a drill IMO.


8056326-100_1284a.JPG (143 downloads)
Re: blair spot weld cutters which one is best? [Re: nomore65BelvJim] #1585360
02/28/14 07:09 PM
02/28/14 07:09 PM
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Rogue River, OR
Jeremiah Offline
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Here are the pics of my preferred kit. It cuts much faster than the style above and for me time is money. YMMV...

Re: blair spot weld cutters which one is best? [Re: Jeremiah] #1585361
02/28/14 07:10 PM
02/28/14 07:10 PM
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Rogue River, OR
Jeremiah Offline
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I apologize for the poor quality cell phone pictures.

Re: blair spot weld cutters which one is best? [Re: Jeremiah] #1585362
02/28/14 07:10 PM
02/28/14 07:10 PM
Joined: Mar 2003
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Rogue River, OR
Jeremiah Offline
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Jeremiah  Offline
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Last one.

Re: blair spot weld cutters which one is best? [Re: Jeremiah] #1585363
02/28/14 07:42 PM
02/28/14 07:42 PM
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Shingle Springs Ca
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haddixj Offline OP
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thanks and yes I have a harbor freight 30 or so miles away but I would prefer to get a nicer tool for such a miserable job.


70 duster 25.1E,73 barracuda, 70 gran coupe, 71 cuda
Re: blair spot weld cutters which one is best? [Re: haddixj] #1585364
02/28/14 08:03 PM
02/28/14 08:03 PM
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Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1 Offline
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Honestly I have used the blair cutter(very fragile, don't like them)

Then bought the kit shown above, very nice works well.
But my most favorite cutter is a reg old drill bit. It worked the best for me and I even resharpened it with my drill doctor. You get good at it. I did all this with just a drill bit. There's no draw back or compromise when using a reg drill bit, imo.
Got to be a tough guy and get up on that drill and show it who's boss.

Re: blair spot weld cutters which one is best? [Re: haddixj] #1585365
03/01/14 02:56 AM
03/01/14 02:56 AM
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nomore65BelvJim Offline
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Quote:

thanks and yes I have a harbor freight 30 or so miles away but I would prefer to get a nicer tool for such a miserable job.




No problem, up to you.

I do that "miserable job" for a living

8057001-100_1914a.JPG (137 downloads)
Re: blair spot weld cutters which one is best? [Re: Challenger 1] #1585366
03/01/14 03:06 AM
03/01/14 03:06 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
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nomore65BelvJim Offline
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Quote:

Honestly I have used the blair cutter(very fragile, don't like them)

Then bought the kit shown above, very nice works well.
But my most favorite cutter is a reg old drill bit. It worked the best for me and I even resharpened it with my drill doctor. You get good at it. I did all this with just a drill bit. There's no draw back or compromise when using a reg drill bit, imo.
Got to be a tough guy and get up on that drill and show it who's boss.





The Blair tools are fragile, brittle even, but they do cut clean when they are working.

I use a drill bit on a few areas that the cutter shank isnt long enough.

If you have to really lean into it to get it to cut, its dull

8057005-100_1311a.JPG (154 downloads)
Re: blair spot weld cutters which one is best? [Re: nomore65BelvJim] #1585367
03/01/14 02:58 PM
03/01/14 02:58 PM
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Lost in the 70's
440gtx6 Offline
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Maybe it's just my lack of skill but I've been cutting welds on 3 cars lately and about half of the welds I either can't find the center of the weld (like on really rusty floors) to get the 3/8 cutters to work or the weld's just too big of a diameter. I was thinking I need to get one of the 1/2 cutters but doesn't anyone use one, results?



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Re: blair spot weld cutters which one is best? [Re: 440gtx6] #1585368
03/02/14 08:32 PM
03/02/14 08:32 PM
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Ontario, Canada
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Stanton Offline
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I hate those Blair-style cutters because they leave that little "plug" that you have to grind off later, doubling your work.

I really like the way this style works because it will cut flush to the inner panel (with one or two practice cuts). Usually seeing rust dust is an indicator that you're through!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3PC-Set-HSCO-Tit...=item51ba0f5e81

These are available at virtually every swapmeet from those guys that sell all those offshore tools.

Unfortunately I found the smaller two cutters are useless because they're too small. The larger one is 3/8" which seems to be ideal. The down side is they are China-made and wear out quickly (got one and an half inner fenders cut before it was toast). However there is a US-made cutter available but the name escapes me right now.

Re: blair spot weld cutters which one is best? [Re: nomore65BelvJim] #1585369
03/03/14 05:47 PM
03/03/14 05:47 PM
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fredericksburg,va
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cudaman1969 Offline
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Quote:

Got a Harbor Freight close by?
I used to use the Blair rotabroach for cutting spotwelds. Worked great, cut like a little lathe...until a tooth snags a weld and breaks off.
Dealt with that for a dozen or more bits at @ $9 each until I found the HF cutter.

Double sided 3/8" cutter for $4-$5. Doesnt last as long as the Blair but if it breaks off a tooth it still works.
I used to use up 2 Blair cutters per car. Now I may use 2 or 3 of the HF cutters. Around 1,000 spotwelds cut on each car, give or take a couple hundred depending on how thorough the breakdown.

I still use the rest of the Blair kit for other hole making needs. Holes in a step bumper and frame to mount a hitch and the like.


[image]http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_3222.jpg[/i

I use this, only problem is the center punch,after it brakes i replace with a 6 penny nail, center punch the spot weld and drill with 1/8 bit, no skipping then. Didn't know about the lub,need to try. If you are using a spot welder, weld up the hole first, if welding with mig no need to.

Re: blair spot weld cutters which one is best? [Re: cudaman1969] #1585370
03/03/14 05:58 PM
03/03/14 05:58 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 240
Shingle Springs Ca
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haddixj Offline OP
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Ill stop by and pick up a few at harbor freight and give them a shot. I am going to test it out on a different car and do the repair on its lower quarter first
thanks for the help


70 duster 25.1E,73 barracuda, 70 gran coupe, 71 cuda
Re: blair spot weld cutters which one is best? [Re: haddixj] #1585371
03/03/14 06:55 PM
03/03/14 06:55 PM
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Lee Co. Fla.
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5carguy Offline
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I have used the double end type for years,and have had good luck with them.Try not to push so hard and they last longer than most of the other designs.

Re: blair spot weld cutters which one is best? [Re: 5carguy] #1585372
03/04/14 02:54 PM
03/04/14 02:54 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
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nomore65BelvJim Offline
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also keep the speed down, heat shortens the tool life...plus its not a race

.

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