ConcoursMustang Forums
Restoring - General discussions that span across many different groups of years and models => Body, Paint & Sealers => Topic started by: bryancobb on February 13, 2010, 05:41:26 PM
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I tried uploading a good long descriptive video of me spot-welding in my right trunk floor, from the top only, with LENCO-500 spot welder. It was gonna take 3 days to upload so here's a short video.
(http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad350/bryancobb/th_DSCN0937.jpg) (http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad350/bryancobb/?action=view¤t=DSCN0937.flv)
It worked great. I made a cardboard patern to locate the welds in the same spots as the originals so the quantity is the same. I removed about a dime size circle of paint or EDP or galvanize from 1) top of frame rail 2) bottom of trunk floor 3) top of trunk floor. I had a floor jack pushing upward on the frame rail flange with a piece if plumbing pipe. Had to move it every 4 or 6 welds to make sure the 2 pieces were touching well. I had to pull the trigger 3 or 4 times to make sure the weld was melting together well. The welde's timer was maxed out. It took me about an hour to do all the prep. It took me about 3o minutes to do about 50 welds, counting moving the jack underneath. AND.... IT LOOKS FACTORY! You have to keep pressure on it for 10 of 15 seconds till it cools, or it will pop loose.
(http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad350/bryancobb/DSCN0842.jpg)
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Cool never saw a spot welder like that before. I cant believe it works like that with the probes so far apart.
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Got any close-ups of the spot welds?
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Yeah guys,
I'll do a little better "spit-shined" version on the left trunk floor and post some pic's. My Dad was the Body shop foreman at the local Lincoln/Merc dealership. I grew up in the shop and I remembered him using one of these in the early 70's. I looked on Ebay for 6 months before I found this one. $275 incl. shipping. I did several spot welds, 2 at a time, from 1 side, as much as 15 or 20 inches apart. It works as long as an electron path exists from 1 electrode to the other.
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That is nice! I thought you would have to put the opposite probe directly underneath the other.
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Nope, I've even put one of the electrodes on a previous spot weld as much as 24" away and it still makes one NEW weld very well. If you don't want to mess up the previous spot weld though, you have to let IT cool a little before pulling the trigger again.
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Do both electrodes create a spot weld or is the one just acting like a ground?
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BOTH create a new spot weld, but like I said, I HAVE used a different technique and only create 1 new weld. Both handles are exactly the same where they contact the metal and the only difference is one has the trigger button.
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bryancobb,..I do remember using spot welds like that before in the late 70's. Today's spot welds are a work of art. The attachments are great for all kinds of shapes, even one for wheel well lips. This machine will also give you a read out of the % of weld penetration for each weld and log its history for every weld used on a car.
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It looks like you can buy brand new ones made by Lenco for $1100.They look like they are designed the same as the older ones.
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Yes you can still buy them. $1100 is a little rich for my budget so my Ebay $275 is about all I could afford. IT WILL BE FOR SALE WHEN I'M DONE WITH IT.
That CADILLAC shown by "thefordshow" is over $6000 if I remember right. WOW! Lets see... a document that shows each weld's % of penetration? Water cooled handles? Adjustable pinch pressure with a visible gauge? A capuchino fill nozzle? WOW! WOW!
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yep..its an expensive unit, not for the one timers,..but this unit is the best and saves time and has a factory look. With todays cars its a must. Tho, I didn't see the capuchino fill nozzle, I'll have to have a second look.
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I bought the lenco about two years ago and it saves you a ton of work.Just be careful that your work is clamped tight.I purchased the extra ends for it so it does the very small pinch welds on the drip rails and a special end for the front and rear window trim pins.No more loose screw in types.Snap on is now carrying it with the snap-on name for about another 1000 or so.A worth while tool if your into a lot of restoration work.