spot (plug ) welding

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Jan 11, 2003 | 05:00 PM

Gwilkrrs

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Jun 2002

Posts: 1,986

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From: maryland

spot (plug ) welding

is there any special tip i need to plug or spot weld? i know they sell a drill bit to drill out spot welds but dont know if sell tip for welder. whats the procedure to spot weld? ive never done it before.

Jan 11, 2003 | 05:34 PM

xcopterdoc

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Joined: Jan 2002

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From: "tween the cotton and tob

spot (plug ) welding

What are you trying to weld and what type of welder do you have?

Jan 11, 2003 | 08:11 PM

Rosati

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Joined: Nov 2000

Posts: 2,557

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From: Texas

spot (plug ) welding

They do sell a tip for MIG's but you don't need it. Make sure you have grind the metal on both pieces before trying to weld or your puddle will pile up. To accieve the best possible looking rosette(plug) weld, clamp the metal together tight, run you wire just inside the hole in the panel and move the wand in a circle around the perimeter and finally end up in the center of the puddle. With a little practice, you should be able to fill the hole and grind very little to achieve a flush surface.
When doing spot welds (to join a butt weld) I just hold the wand with my right hand and rest it on my gloved left hand about 3/16" perpendicular to the surface.

Jan 11, 2003 | 10:25 PM

FortyFords

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Joined: Jan 2002

Posts: 5,859

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From: USA

spot (plug ) welding

We need to know what type of spot weld your doing ?
Or do you mean tack welding just to hold it !

Spot welding with millermatics welders can be done 3 ways
1)metal over metal-weld penetrates through top level to metal below
2)metal over metal -top metal has hole ,just fill the hole
3)Timed spot weld controlled by a timer in the machine.uses #1 method
The tip used for method #1 looks like Castle Tower turned upside down
threads on the gun

Rich
02 F250 4x4 SC 5.4v8 6spd 3.73ls Trueblue/Silver and Chrome Nerfs

"All Levers"

Jan 12, 2003 | 07:53 AM

Gwilkrrs

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Jun 2002

Posts: 1,986

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From: maryland

spot (plug ) welding

sorry i was less then full with my question. i have a wire welder (mig i think its called). we will beworking on 2 vehicles to repair 1 buddies jeep, was rivited together fron factory, so the replacement panels he wants to spot weld insted of rivit. 2 my 51 ford. bought a repair roof section for the front widshield where the rear mirror goes. has whole section guy said since i only need inside piece drill out the spot welds to get the half i need, then drill out the welds on the truck to split the pieces then clamp the new piece in and spot weld it in.
i understand the drill bit to drill out the welds but dont know if any special need for the tip to weld spot welds. where do i look for this special drill bit? do they come in different sizes? will a regular drill bit work or is it recommended for the special bit?? thanks for the help!

Jan 12, 2003 | 09:26 AM

walkhaulsey

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Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 84

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From: South Haven, Mi.

spot (plug ) welding

It is impossible to spot weld the part that you want to spot weld( unless you have a portable spot welder). You need to drill out the current spot welds and then mig weld the new part on(tack weld the exiting holes till they are full).Just make sure you have your heat turned down or you will warp your steel.Tack weld it every 6-8 inches let that cool then go back and add a little more weld till you are confident it won't break.

General Fabrication Mig Tig Welder
1962 F350 4x4

Jan 12, 2003 | 12:08 PM

theonlybull

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Joined: Aug 2002

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From: clementsport canada

spot (plug ) welding

you can make a "cheat" spot weld with the mig, where your pannels over lap(where the orginal spotwelds you drilled out are), you can drill some 3/8 holes in your new metal, so that you can fill this hole up to creat a spot weld. This is easier then trying to weld the edge, cause it alows you to build up a little bit of heat, to help the weld lay flater. make sure you deburr your holes, and clamp your parts together very good...