Spot Welding Basics

Let's talk about resistance spot welding while I fix up an old junky spot welder and see what it can do.

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[greatestunknown]

Very cool. I was considering a spot welder for some garden plant hangers and stuff like that. I didn't know if I was on the right track and now with your video I'm good to go. In fact, I'm going to check out Harbor Freight right now.

[glenwalker]

Hey Tim I always get a lot out of your videos. The way you explain things and your enthusiasm for welding is infectious. I only picked up a welder about a year ago after watching a few of your videos and I haven't looked back. I've fixed a few things around the house and built a smoker with the knowledge you've passed on and just by giving it a go. To enhance my skills I have enrolled in a welding course which starts next year. I'd just like to thank you for kindling my passion for welding and I always look forward to your next video. Thanks again, Glen

[Oldskoolbloke]

Great video as usual. Quick tip - once you have the electrodes aligned after shaping, use a fine cut double sided file and lightly clamp the electrodes on it at 90° and give it two to theee light strokes, this ensures that the contact areas are parralell and the have matching contact areas

[newfiejoe]

Dude! This is an awesome video! I have been thinking about buying a used spot welder and learn how to make helpful things on my own. I will watch more of your videos for tips. Thanks so much.

[aquarius]

Another great video. Keep it up. To make good quality spot welds you have to make the welding electrodes to be coaxial when the welding materials are between the electrodes & the proper clamping force is applied. Sparking is not normal and could be dangerous ( proper protective gear is a must ). The factory supplied upper tong end has to be bent more to get coaxial with the bottom end. It is obvious that for every thickness of welded materials you will have to use different diameter / length welding tips & set up their alignment individually. A timer is also a must for good quality spot welds. There are timers with welding time compensation. These are monitoring the welding current and adjusting the welding time accordingly.

[suhelsidat]

Bro looks like Keanu Reeves if he was a welder.

[spiderqueen]

"one banana, two banana, three banana" this is why you are my favourite welding teacher on youtube loool

[goosefarm]

thank you for this tutorial, after scrolling around your channel I realized I needed to subscribe

[Hey_Its_That_Guy]

Another good one, Tim. Takes me back to my shop class days. Thank you!

[mwinner]

This takes me back to my junior high metal shop days making a tool box and dust pan with spot welds. 👍

[carvalhoribeiro]

Great explanation. Thanks for sharing this

[AbdulSamad-hdsr]

Great video.
Can you please tell exactly how much voltages are on the output?

[enigmaak]

Hi. Can you cut and extend clumps? If I want to make tool box I need to go in 20 inch and weld.
Or can I use battery charging cable and hand help electrode?

[dennisyoung]

You want a slight radius on your electrode faces, and this is best done on a lathe. More, you need to have the electrodes meet precisely, which means you need to adjust them for the planned thickness of material to be “spotted.” Finally, the electrode faces need to be cleaned and “dressed” on a frequent basis.

Note also that thicker, .045-.065 material really wants the 220 version. (I have this one, and have done two pieces of .065 material with it. It only needed a brief “pulse” of 1/2 second or so to create a solid weld nugget. Multiple smaller weld nuggets seem to work best, based on my limited experience with the spot-welder.)

For best consistency, especially with short (less than 1 second) weld times, you want a weld-timer. I plan to purchase or make one for mine.

[hughtierney]

Is this a good sort of machine for welding metal mesh to metal mesh?

[simplesoul]

Can you use a single handed spot welding using a big machine, like the green one you have on the background? I have that version of spot welder hence I am asking..

[ocherukahmad]

Thanks, I'm in Uganda need to purchase one, any assistance

[CircuitsAndStrings]

Very interesting. I had wondered what those welders are used for. 🤔

[ClementTakudzwa]

Hi I need to lean this type of welding

[jimmyeng]

Thanks for the video, was informative. Some machines say they only weld materials up to 2mm x 2mm, is this one made for thicker materials or are you using a spot welder made for another specific thickness?