|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
07-29-2020, 04:55 AM | #21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: FP, NJ
Posts: 2,770
|
Re: Use of a MIG welder for other purposes?
I want to heat the rivets strictly by resistance. When I get the time, I'm going to see if I can heat a rivet using a 12 V battery with jumper cables and a couple of copper pieces that will fit the ends of a rivet. I have an old Sears starter current meter to measure the amps. I don't think that the HF unit has the oomph to do what I'm thinking of.
__________________
Don't never get rid of nuthin! |
07-29-2020, 07:56 AM | #22 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Boston North Shore
Posts: 752
|
Re: Use of a MIG welder for other purposes?
So the front crossmember in my coupe had been replaced with a 29 unit, bolted in with 3/8 bolts. Scribed the correct location on the frame then put a copper plate behind the 3/8 holes and welded them up with a mig. Next we re-drilled the holes with proper size rivet holes and replaced with Big Flats Rivets. A friend held a buck and we heated the rivet with ox-actelene torch. Once cherry red shot the rivet down with 4-x rivet gun, took 2 heating's to get it set tight. That was 12 years ago, has not loosened a bit and cant tell the cross-member had ever been replaced. Not difficult, just take your time and do it right.
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
07-29-2020, 08:21 AM | #23 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 832
|
Re: Use of a MIG welder for other purposes?
Quote:
|
|
07-29-2020, 08:25 AM | #24 |
Member Emeritus
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
|
Re: Use of a MIG welder for other purposes?
Keep in mind that is possible to blow up a battery with a direct short like this. I would at least isolate it in some way.
|
07-29-2020, 10:30 AM | #25 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 6,181
|
Re: Use of a MIG welder for other purposes?
The more I think about this, for the small amount of rivets we are talking about, get a tote tank set up and use Oxy-Acetylene and do it right. Those "B" tanks should last long enough to do this job.
Why risk injuring yourself with some sort of gypsy rig set up? |
07-30-2020, 10:55 AM | #26 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Boston North Shore
Posts: 752
|
Re: Use of a MIG welder for other purposes?
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
|
07-30-2020, 09:43 PM | #27 |
Member Emeritus
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
|
Re: Use of a MIG welder for other purposes?
Not sure how many have first hand experience shorting out batteries. When I was in the military I got the brilliant idea of touching a large wrench across a 24 volt battery. It blow a hole about the size of a nickel out of it! I learn a lot of things the hard way (as in the stupid way). On a race car in the early 60s only the ignition was connected to a 12 volt battery (push start car). We were hooking up a single tail light late one evening at the track. I got under the car and was just going to twist two wires together with my hand. Well it ending up being a short to ground and instantly melted the wires into my finger! Learned a number of lessons on that one and a respect for batteries. As a side note, the stories about how you can't change your finger print are dead wrong, mine was parentally changed that night!! So anytime I need remained about batteries all I have to do is look at my right index finger. I tend to be a slow learner on some things, but at least I end up to good reminders.
|
07-31-2020, 04:32 AM | #28 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Marana, AZ
Posts: 1,194
|
Re: Use of a MIG welder for other purposes?
Quote:
In the "I tend to be a slow learner" department, I have a galvanized metal sheet on my workbench top. Turned a 6 volt Optima upside down on the bench.....YIKES!!! No bodily injury, melted the posts, and $180 absolutely wasted!! |
|
07-31-2020, 04:56 AM | #29 |
Member Emeritus
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Fitzgerald, Georgia
Posts: 2,204
|
Re: Use of a MIG welder for other purposes?
I have a similar faulty precaution story. Went to start my 8N and had no power. Remembered the cutoff switch and when I engaged it the ignition was on producing a small arc at the top of the battery. It sounded just about the same as .38 Special when the top of one cell exploded. What a mess!
|
07-31-2020, 05:14 AM | #30 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Lyman,ME.
Posts: 2,630
|
Re: Use of a MIG welder for other purposes?
I was changing smoke detector batteries in my house, I put one of the batts in my pocket and my leg started to burn. My keys were in the same pocket and shorted across the posts...... Mark
__________________
I'm thinkin' about crankin' My ragged ol' truck up and haulin' myself into town. Billy Joe Shaver |
08-09-2020, 08:51 PM | #31 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: small town Iowa
Posts: 55
|
Re: Use of a MIG welder for other purposes?
My Solar brand mig has a carbon tip adapter for heat shrinking along with directions for use. It works well. On a 47 Merc convertible I was able to free quarter window adjusters without damaging the paint in door jamb.
|
08-09-2020, 09:27 PM | #32 |
Member Emeritus
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
|
Re: Use of a MIG welder for other purposes?
|
08-10-2020, 06:21 AM | #33 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: FP, NJ
Posts: 2,770
|
Re: Use of a MIG welder for other purposes?
Quote:
When I was a kid, I spent a couple of summers working in my neighbor's ignition shop. The guys there had a big old screwdriver with a nut welded to the tip and a length of heavy wire with a big old alligator clip. The electrode from a spent "D" cell battery was inserted into the nut and held with a set screw. They used it to heat stubborn hardware or resolder starter armatures by grounding the piece to be heated to a six volt battery. The tool was connected to the battery and pressed against the piece. Worked nicely but it got too hot using a 12 V battery.
__________________
Don't never get rid of nuthin! |
|
08-10-2020, 10:16 AM | #34 | |
Member Emeritus
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
|
Re: Use of a MIG welder for other purposes?
Quote:
My guess is it first gets setup like a stick welder and the adapter is to the stick welder part? Last edited by JSeery; 08-10-2020 at 10:23 AM. |
|
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|