LENCO SPOT WELDERS AND ACCESSORIES

FACTS ABOUT SPOT WELDERS

Manual C Welding Gun
The C-type manual spot gun works like a pair of pliers with two straight tips. There are around eight different arms and tips which can be used for easy access as well as hard-to-reach areas; such as: narrow areas, inside engine compartment, open channel and door skin. All in all, the manual spot gun can do 80% of all welding repairs.
 

Single-sided welding of non-structural areas.
The 7 to 10 ft. welding cables make it possible to do single-sided welding in non-structural areas such as: roof panels, quarter panel, inner front wheel house and trunk floor.  Single-sided welding will always penetrate by attaching the ground cable in the lower panel and starting the first weld as far as three feet away from the ground on the top panel.  This will fuse one weld at a time.  This technique differs from using the old panel spotter with the two probes weld where you could not tell if the electricity penetrated both the upper and lower panel or if the current only went through the top panel. With one probe welding you will always penetrate both sides provided you see a red glow and if you weld in the correct sequence.

Intermittent stitch welding uses a rolling blade to seal edges when doing an overlap or a sleeve.  This will prevent moisture from getting in between the joints, thus preventing the paint from cracking.

Other single-sided welding types applications are: Pin welding, Nut welding, Bolt welding, and Stitch welding.
 

Electricity used for sheet metal repair and dent pulling.
Instead of using a torch for heat shrinking or retention, a carbon rod (for larger area) or a drawing bit can be used for high spots.  Dent pulling can be done in several different ways.  The Weld-pull-twist Slide Hammer with a reusable tip (up to 1,000 times) is very fast. This tool replaces the nail gun and slide hammer with chuck. The six step job:  weld nail - lock on chuck - pull - unlock chuck - cut nail - grind off nail, is replaced with a three step job: weld - pull - twist.
 

Bear Claw with Wiggle Wire
Another fast tool for dent pulling is the "Bear Claw" with "wiggle wire".  The wire will be welded on with the stitch blade. The Bear Claw's fingers will be inserted in the loops and is pulled by hand. For heavy pulls you can weld on the "Pull Tabs" and use a "Pull Plate".  By welding 10 pull tabs side-by-side and attaching a pull plate, a force of 2 tons can be applied by using a hydraulic ram or tower.
 

Rule of 95
By including single-sided welding and a complete set-up with both spot guns and 15 welding arms and tips, 95% of all automotive welding repair can be done.  The metal inert gas (MIG) unit is still needed for where the spot welder cannot reach or for butt welding. Also, 95% of weld grinding is eliminated.  Grind dust and hazardous fumes are reduced by 95%; and, you save 95% on cost of abrasives normally used.

Key Features
Today's systems have three key features. First, repair technicians can now spot weld through the e-coating in between the panels, keeping the life-time corrosion protection intact.  The zinc coating seals around the welding nugget in between the panels. The zinc forms brass with the copper electrode on the outside spot surfaces, thus protecting the metal panels.

Secondly, repairers can now produce a pre-accidental factory type weld with far less hazardous fumes than MIG welding.

Finally, spot welding is four to five times faster than MIG welding. This calculation includes drilling the holes, MIG welding and after grinding.  This is in contrast to fusing the sheet metal with resistance spot welding and light after-wire brushing.

Available Power

How much current is required for spot welding equipment used for collision repair?

A good spot weld depends on the amount of available current and applied pressure. Available current refers not only to the machine, but also the current available at the facility, and especially where the welder will be plugged in. Even the best equipment will not perform correctly if the source power is inadequate.

Spot welding equipment can be a single-phase or three-phase input voltage. Three-phase power is generally much more efficient than single-phase power. Three-phase welders deliver a direct current (DC) output while single-phase welders deliver an alternating current (AC) output.

Three-phase DC output delivers more energy per time, and with DC, there is less loss in the secondary current to the welding electrodes. The latest inverter technology spot welders are even more efficient since this equipment converts the 50/60 Hz current to 800-1000 Hz. It delivers a higher and more efficient weld current more quickly. The inverter technology also demands less power from the primary voltage.

Investing in a quality spot welder is a major investment. Spot welding relies solely on passing an electrical current through the panels to perform the weld. Make sure to invest in a welder that is powerful, reliable and has a good track record. There are several manufacturers available today. Spot welding is an effective welding process, approved by most vehicle makers. Invest in a welder that meets the demands and requirements.