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sheetmetal restoration: Spot welder #884942
12/21/10 09:03 AM
12/21/10 09:03 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,828
Houston, Tx
hemi68charger Offline OP
master
hemi68charger  Offline OP
master

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,828
Houston, Tx
Hey gang.
Being new and a total novice to the sheetmetal repair world, does this product make any sense for spot welding in areas you can't get a traditional spot welder too? I'm looking to install the replacement AMD lower radiator core support on my Charger 500 and would love to be able to duplicate the original spot welds.



Troy
Houston Mopar Connection Club
'69 Charger Daytona 440 - auto - 4.10 Dana (now with 426 hemi)
'69 Charger 500 440 - 4speed - 3.54 Dana
'70 Road Runner 383 - 4speed - a/c (now with 440)
Re: sheetmetal restoration: Spot welder [Re: hemi68charger] #884943
12/21/10 11:05 AM
12/21/10 11:05 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,764
near Port Huron, MI
Paul Offline
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Paul  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,764
near Port Huron, MI
Not sure about those hand held spot welders, but I know these work well.



Here's the link Lenco Panel Spotter

6369871-ebaywelder.JPG (901 downloads)
Re: sheetmetal restoration: Spot welder [Re: Paul] #884944
12/21/10 11:42 AM
12/21/10 11:42 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,828
Houston, Tx
hemi68charger Offline OP
master
hemi68charger  Offline OP
master

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,828
Houston, Tx
Quote:

Not sure about those hand held spot welders, but I know these work well.






Thanks Paul.... Would be nice to find something that'll work on 110, but looks like I'll need to add a 220 outlet in my garage...


Troy
Houston Mopar Connection Club
'69 Charger Daytona 440 - auto - 4.10 Dana (now with 426 hemi)
'69 Charger 500 440 - 4speed - 3.54 Dana
'70 Road Runner 383 - 4speed - a/c (now with 440)
Re: sheetmetal restoration: Spot welder [Re: hemi68charger] #884945
12/21/10 11:55 AM
12/21/10 11:55 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,764
near Port Huron, MI
Paul Offline
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Paul  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,764
near Port Huron, MI
They're neat machines. One tip is energized and has a switch in the hand grip, the other serves as the ground. You end up with two spots welds at once and can get into to some tight areas as well.

Not sure how much shipping would be on the one I linked to above, but at the current bid, that's a killer buy.

I bought mine locally off craigslist for $250 last year, and it didn't include the cart and extras this one has.

Re: sheetmetal restoration: Spot welder [Re: hemi68charger] #884946
12/21/10 01:11 PM
12/21/10 01:11 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,550
Sacramento CA
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Morty426 Offline
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Posts: 9,550
Sacramento CA
Quote:

Quote:

Not sure about those hand held spot welders, but I know these work well.






Thanks Paul.... Would be nice to find something that'll work on 110, but looks like I'll need to add a 220 outlet in my garage...




You want 220

Re: sheetmetal restoration: Spot welder [Re: Paul] #884947
12/21/10 01:41 PM
12/21/10 01:41 PM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,890
In the 8's
FY1TA Offline
top fuel
FY1TA  Offline
top fuel

Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,890
In the 8's
This is what I have . It works great .




Quote:

Not sure about those hand held spot welders, but I know these work well.



Here's the link Lenco Panel Spotter



Re: sheetmetal restoration: Spot welder [Re: FY1TA] #884948
12/21/10 02:02 PM
12/21/10 02:02 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,828
Houston, Tx
hemi68charger Offline OP
master
hemi68charger  Offline OP
master

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,828
Houston, Tx
Thanks guys...
Guess I'll get the 220 going. It should open up other possibilities for different tools of the hobby..


Troy
Houston Mopar Connection Club
'69 Charger Daytona 440 - auto - 4.10 Dana (now with 426 hemi)
'69 Charger 500 440 - 4speed - 3.54 Dana
'70 Road Runner 383 - 4speed - a/c (now with 440)
Re: sheetmetal restoration: Spot welder [Re: hemi68charger] #884949
12/22/10 12:44 AM
12/22/10 12:44 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 549
Washington, MI
Ashsdad Offline
Whatever you call me, my wife has called me worse.
Ashsdad  Offline
Whatever you call me, my wife has called me worse.

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 549
Washington, MI
I bought one of those pistol types many years ago when they first came out. The one that I have (had?) needed an arc welder to provide the current. Not sure if the current ones are the same. All I had was a 110v buzz box and had serious trouble getting consecutive welds of any quality.

Re: sheetmetal restoration: Spot welder [Re: Ashsdad] #884950
12/22/10 01:14 AM
12/22/10 01:14 AM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,535
Canuckville
68Cbarge Offline
master
68Cbarge  Offline
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Posts: 3,535
Canuckville
I used an old spot welder on the outer panels on my car.Luckily,my garage had a 240 volt line-I just had to buy a plug to fit the old girl.
I like the way it penetrates,and keeps the heat/warpage to a minimum compared to MIG.
The clean lines and finished product help keeps the amount of filler needed to a minimum.

She dimmed the lights in the shop and house,though,LOL!



Last edited by 68Cbarge; 12/22/10 01:15 AM.

'68 Newport Custom Barge on a Budget!! BOAB
1973 Satellite WAGON! 318- 3 on the tree!!
2008 Chrysler 300c HEMI!
Re: sheetmetal restoration: Spot welder [Re: 68Cbarge] #884951
12/22/10 02:20 PM
12/22/10 02:20 PM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 600
Vicksburg, MI
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coffeeman383 Offline
mopar
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mopar
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 600
Vicksburg, MI
So 68Cbarge, that weld looks good. Are basically stitching the spot welds across (as opposed to 'spots' every inch or so)?

Re: sheetmetal restoration: Spot welder [Re: hemi68charger] #884952
12/22/10 09:35 PM
12/22/10 09:35 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,100
Fort Lauderdale
Dave440 Offline
super stock
Dave440  Offline
super stock

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,100
Fort Lauderdale
Ditto on lack of consistent welding out of that eastwood tool. Ive got one and its hit and miss... I have done a few VERY nice welds with it....emphasis on the FEW!! U need an arc welder for power and it either works or burns thru. U Have to be able to really see the back side to know when its attaching to the base metal and stop it just b4 cherry red to make sure u get penetration without burn thru. Sometimes u get lucky just looking at the front side. Pieces have to be attached very well to eachother on either side of the weld or the heat from the top side cud warp it up and seperate far enuf from the bottom piece that the 2 wont attach and it just burns thru the top piece and isnt close enuf to attach to the bottom.

I HAVE had some success at using a (cut down) arc welding rod in it to use it as a right angle holder vs my standard electrode holder. Its more comfortable and offers a bit more control.

For upside down welding with that thing....forget it! I tried to re-attach my lower quarter inner skin to outer where it had separated due to some rust and bad factory welds.... and I managed to attach it in a few places with LOTS of burn thru. The top layer cant drop down to the bottom with that thing if ur welding upside down. I was able to attach the panels but ended up using some fiberglass filler and body filler over the holes it made for cosmetics.


For 30 bux or so...it might be worth experimenting with if you already have an arc welder....but know u may end up doin some body work you didnt plan on to fix holes if it burns thru. And forget it for upside down. Rosette welds with a mig are a better bet if u have a mig welder.

Or if its edge welding or someplace you can get two electrodes from either side....one of those portable spot welders from harbor freight shud do the trick for around 100 -150.

Last edited by DAVE440; 12/22/10 09:39 PM.
Re: sheetmetal restoration: Spot welder [Re: Dave440] #884953
12/29/10 06:03 AM
12/29/10 06:03 AM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 394
md
W
wicked Offline
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wicked  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 394
md
I dont know about that little one. I have tried all kinds up to and including water cooled Pro-spot unit. Always end up going back to the mig to finish the job any way. Those spot welders seem to work much better if you use a scotch bright disc and polish the metal as opposed to the roloc grinding discs. And if the panels not tight you end up with a big hole to fix. Too many times have heard welds popping loose as you move around the panel with the spot welder. i just use the mig anymore

Re: sheetmetal restoration: Spot welder [Re: 68Cbarge] #884954
02/26/12 11:16 AM
02/26/12 11:16 AM
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1
florida
K
kraut11 Offline
member
kraut11  Offline
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K

Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1
florida

just bought a panel spoter as in your picture-no book
do you have or can you supply a copy.
wher can parts for these old lenco machines be obtained
any help appreciated
thanks
pete







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