Ok just to set the record straight Aluminum is an exellent choice for makeing a lower tong.
Which is why I made the lower tong for my spotwelder out of aluminum.
Aluminum wire is currently used in construction both in residential and commercial work, as long as all of the connections and breakers are listed ALCU and an anti oxidizing agent is used on it.
The difference in resistance for MCM 600, which is .626 in\2, .001" bigger than 5\8 round stock.
copper .0223 ohms per 1000 feet
aluminum .0353 ohms per 1000 feet
For a tong less than 1 foot just move the decimal point 3 places to the left.
copper is a better heat conductor than aluminum, but not that much better most heat sinks are aluminum.
5/8 round aluminum with a tweeko tip I cut the threads off of and pressed into a hole I drilled in the aluminum works great.
Soon as I figure out how to post a pic I'll put one up.
Hi, maxposner There is a guy on another forum selling one.
I think his is made from tubing with a mig tip. http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?t=329961&highlight=WTS+spot+welder+tong
I just thought you got your forums confused, I do all the time.
I will be looking for a post on one forum, only to stumble accross it on another forum.
Got a new HF spot welder for Father's day today. No more plug welding rails which I have become good at, but no more. Its a bit tricky with a small gas wirefeed.
I tried using tubing, 1/2 inch soft copper from the hardware store was too springy. I bought a same length of 3/8 inch and slipped it inside. It works well. I reused the tip of the HF spot welder, but if I were to do it again I think I'd use MIG tips.
Better would be a length of Type M hard copper tubing, if you have a plumbing supply in your town they should be able to fix you up.
I found a guy that sells that same tong on another forum for less than I could I could make it for.
I bought one and it works, which was a surprise to me.
But this tong really works; AK Hunter1 says it is hard copper tubing with heavy copper cable inside. And it has a MIG welder tip that is replaceable.
He sells extra tips too. Here is the link.
One thing about aluminum. As it gets hot it expands and then shrinks when it cools.Make sure you check your connections for tightness once and a while.
I know this is a very old thread, but Type K copper is thicker...used for water supplies and such. If making a tong using cable and tubing, use the Type K.
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