Stud welder

Mysfyt · May 8, 2016

Looking into buying a stud welder that would handle up to 1/4". There seems to be three levels of them. The cheaper auto body models, the capacitive discharge for around $2000, and the top end that goes for 4 grand plus.

I'd like to say it would hardly get used, but once you have it you start finding more uses for it. Thus, the cheaper units may not be the way to go. Looking for opinions from people that have them. Thanks!

crazyal · May 8, 2016

Can I ask what you are planning to do with the welder? I'm assuming that if you are looking for one that can do up to 1/4" then you are not talking about sheet metal repair. I have no advise to offer as I've only seen body repair ones being used by others. I did see one that would weld studs with rings on the end. It allowed for a steel rod to be slid through all the rings so instead of a slide hammer pulling on just one stud you could pull on a bunch all at once. I think he called them keys. But I'm thinking that you're looking to weld things like threaded studs.

Mysfyt · May 9, 2016

I'm making a control panel and the print calls out #10-24 studs.

prichard · May 9, 2016

I've made a lot of control panels. I used to work for a panel shop. I have never seen a stud welder used on one. The manufacturers of the enclosures use them for back panel mounts and such. Are you building the actual enclosure or modifying one?

jwmorris · May 9, 2016

I have one of the auto body style stud welders and if you could get threaded studs that would work, it would be fine for #10. Locating them with precision wouldn't be that great though.

Whenever I needed something like your describing I always used self-clinching studs. They even make them flush mount so after powder coat you couldn't tell the difference between them and a welded stud anyway.

50 of them 10-24x7/8" will cost you about $10.