Factors to Consider Before You Buy A Spot Welder

A spot welder can be a very costly investment, but it can also be very efficient if chosen correctly. In this guide, we Phonefix walk you through the factors to consider while purchasing a spot welder to ensure you get the best one for you. 

Spot welders are used throughout industry in manufacturing, welding shops, and many trades due to its ease of use, reliability, and low cost. In this spot welding method, the metal workpieces are welded via an electrical current that flows through the metal from two electrodes placed against the workpiece opposite each other and weld the two items.

You need to answer the following three questions before buying a spot welder

1. What are the materials you will be working on and also how thick will those materials be?
2. Do you require portability? Some models work better indoors while others can also work outdoors.
3. Have you used welding tools earlier?

Factors to consider when buying your first welding machine

I.Type Of Project

Knowing what work you need to do is crucial in finding a suitable machine. Spot welding can be a great way to weld almost anything from battery packs to car detailing.

But, you can’t expect a spot welder meant for fusing small 18650 batteries to be strong enough to weld car pieces together, the same way you can’t expect a spot welder made for automobiles to be delicate enough to handle small batteries.

II.Input Voltage

The input voltage is an essential aspect of any kind of welder. If you don’t want to spend on any extra adapters at home, then it’s best if you choose a spot welder that’s compatible with the kind of outlets at home.

III. Accessories

Different projects need different consumables, and it can be impossible to get specific jobs done without them. Battery fusing requires a filler material to act as a bridge between batteries; that’s why China Phonefix 3GOA Spot Welder come with included nickel-plated strips just for that. Not all machines come with consumables in every purchase. Take note if a purchase includes extra consumables so you can prepare beforehand.

IV. Portability

If you plan to stay in one location or you’re not going to be moving around all that much, feel free to get a bigger and sturdier spot welder.

If you know that you will be moving around the workshop or moving between sites, then it might be right for you to get a compact spot welder that you can carry around.

V. Material being welded

Some spot welders won’t be as good at handling certain metals while others can. It’s essential to do adequate research online to ensure that the spot welder you’re eyeing can effectively do the job you need done.
1/8″ Mild Steel – 110V
1/4″ Mild Steel – 220V
1/8″ Aluminum – 110V
1/4″ Aluminum – 220V
1/8″ Stainless Steel – 110V
1/4″ Stainless Steel – 220V

VI. Thickness of Material Being Welded

Here are some examples of the differences required for welding various thicknesses of steel and other metals:

Metal material that can be welded includes:
Steel – Mild, Low Carbon, Alloy, Hardox, Wrought Iron, Chrome Moly, Cast Iron, Manganese, Corten
Aluminum – 1,000 through 7,000 series alloys
Brass – Cartridge, C330, C360
Gold – Jewelry grades
Copper – Oxygen-free, Tough pitch, Phosphorus deoxidized

VII. Duty Cycle

Home Qianli spot welders with weekend projects normally require a 110 Volt power source. Larger capacity welding machines can take 220 Volt power to work with thicker material or extended “duty cycle” use. A welder’s duty cycle is shown in percentages and refers to the amount of time the welder is fully operational. A 60% duty cycle means that a 10-minute session has six minutes of welding and four minutes of cooling.

It’s an important consideration when you want to take into account the overall time-efficiency of a welder and its energy consumption. We recommend a 60% duty cycle for a middle ground between time and energy efficiency.

VIII. Spot welding Applications

Spot welding is widely used in many industries and has many applications. For example, it found its way into manufacturing gas sensors, solar panels, switches, high voltage cables, and circuit boards.

Spot welding is one of the prevalent methods in the automotive industry, because it is cost-efficient and works excellent with metal sheets.

Resistance spot welding is also used in industries like aerospace, rail, manufacturing, electronics, construction, battery, and others.

Pros and Cons of Spot welding

Just like any other welding method, spot welding has its ups and downs.

Pros:

Cons:

It is one of the most challenging welding processes. You can use spot welding to join any conductive metal such as mild steel, nickel alloys, titanium, but also aluminum, stainless steel, or galvanized steel Spot welders utilize much less power than MIG or TIG welding machines Spot welding is easy to use and master Produces the highest quality welds with sheet metal Relatively cheap to operate and automate works both outdoors and indoors.

Working in confined spaces can be hard Spot welding is not so efficient when dealing with thicker material Fluctuations can affect the weld quality Sparks, fumes, and heat can injure the operator It creates significant splatter that must be cleaned after the project.

Also Read:
Top 4 Best Spot Welder for Beginners and Professionals of 2022 Reviews