Can you use custom probes with a Kweld spotwelding kit?

[Mockbubbles]

I made my own much easier to use probes with 0.5m of 25mm^2 welding wire that goes into a brass probe holder, and the probes are 2.8mm diameter copper wire that's been sharpened

Is the device picky with what probes are used?

Thanks for any help

 

[jonyjoe303]

I dont have the kweld, I use the malectric welder and I make my own welding cables. For the best result I use 6 gauge pure copper welding cables. For probe tips I use copper nails which work excellent. Before I was using 8 gauge copper clad wire and the wires were getting to hot to hold after a couple of welds. I also was using solid copper wire as probe tips but they kept getting bent.
All the 12 volt welders are basically the same, you can use your own wire/probes as long as its heavy duty enough so they don't heat up.
Here is the picture of the copper nails/ 6 gauge wires, note how I put the firing switch right on the probes.

 

[Mockbubbles]

I dont have the kweld, I use the malectric welder and I make my own welding cables. For the best result I use 6 gauge pure copper welding cables. For probe tips I use copper nails which work excellent. Before I was using 8 gauge copper clad wire and the wires were getting to hot to hold after a couple of welds. I also was using solid copper wire as probe tips but they kept getting bent.
All the 12 volt welders are basically the same, you can use your own wire/probes as long as its heavy duty enough so they don't heat up.
Here is the picture of the copper nails/ 6 gauge wires, note how I put the firing switch right on the probes.
View attachment 362737

Thank you that's really useful, I'll have a look at the malectric one since people say it's much simpler than the kweld and doesn't need calibration. Having the button on the probe wasn't something I thought of but is a really good idea I will try implement

 

[Diggs]

Having the button on the probe wasn't something I thought of but is a really good idea I will try implement

I found an inexpensive foot switch to be more convenient. Leaves the hands free. Something you may want to think about.

 

[harrisonpatm]

I found an inexpensive foot switch to be more convenient. Leaves the hands free. Something you may want to think about.

If you search your local classifieds (facebook marketplace, craigslist, etc.), it's very likely that someone will be giving away an old sewing machine for cheap or free. Steal the foot switch off that.

Though I do prefer a hand switch, personally. I made very large packs with both, and I did the same thing that @jonyjoe303 did, incorporated the switch directly into the probe. It does keep a hand free that way, since you need to be holding the probes anyway.

 

[Diggs]

If you search your local classifieds (facebook marketplace, craigslist, etc.), it's very likely that someone will be giving away an old sewing machine for cheap or free. Steal the foot switch off that.

Careful, these are usually a variable rheostat not an on/off switch.

 

[harrisonpatm]

Careful, these are usually a variable rheostat not an on/off switch.

Yes, but that shouldn't matter for most applications. You'll just press the pedal until the rheostat decreases resistance enough to surpass the threshold of whatever circuit is monitoring the on/off of your switch. I can't say that it will work for every spot welder setup, but it worked on 3 different circuits that I had played with.

Alternatively, you could modify/bypass the rheostat in the foot pedal with a simple on/off microswitch.

In either case, my preference is usually to find and use something that's already available rather than purchase something new.

 

[floydr]

Auto fire ( forget what it is called ) on the Kweld works well. So no need for foot pedal, least it does once you have used it for a few cells.

Is the device picky with what probes are used?

If your probes have the same resistance as the original Kweld probes you shouldn't have a problem.
Later floyd