How I Learned to Use a Spot Welder

Before learning how to use a spot welder, I had to learn how to cut sheet metal.

I used a shear to try to achieve a smooth, clean cut. I held the shear steadily and used the table for leverage to cut the sheet metal.

Using the shear, brake, and roll machine was another method of cutting pieces of sheet metal.

To use the spot welder I needed sheet metal to weld.

I used a tri-square and a marker to draw rectangles that were one inch wide by two inches long.

I cut along the lines on the sheet metal using the shear, roll, and brake machine.

I used the same machine to bend each piece of sheet metal at an approximate 90-degree angle.

Before spot welding, I used sandpaper to clean the outside of the sheet metal. Rust and stains yield weaker welds.

A fellow classmate demonstrated how to use a spot welder. To use a spot welder you must wear safety goggles and leather gloves. The machine sparks when it is activated.

I used and held the spot welder at different times. The numbers on each piece of welded sheet metal represent how long, in seconds, the spot welder heated the pieces together.

My classmates and I pulled apart the welded pieces of sheet metal. We did this to test the strength of each weld. As the heating period reached seven seconds, the weld grew stronger.

I continued welding more pieces of sheet metal and increased the heating period. However, heating the metal for too long only burnt the metal. I was told by my instructor, Mr. Grosinger, that nine seconds was way too long and past the machine's limitations.

The weld grew stronger. I was unable to find the point in time (length of heating period) at which the sheet metal joints begin to weaken.