Spot weld Cutters???

Hey Guys,

I know a few of you have purchased spotweld cutters for drilling out spot welds around the doghouse and I am wondering what ones you have, where you got them and how much they cost?

Also, are they a lot better than just using a drill? I saw some at the local hotrod shop but I think they were around $50.00. I am doing some major work around my windsheild and I have quite a few spot welds to remove.

Thanks

I don't remember the brand, but I don't know how I lived without them. Minimal distortion of the panels, even realign spots for reassembly.

They are really cheap , only about $10-$12 dollars. I got mine at the paint and auto body supply store by me. They are better than a drill for the reason you have to drill threw the part, where wth the spot weld cutter you cut around the weld. The only thing and this would apply with a drill is you have to wire wheel the part coming off to see the welds

Ok, i did a little google work since I originally posted. I see you can purchase them individually for around $11. The ones I had seen before were in a kit of 4 or 5 for $50. I am pretty sure I would only need one.

I needed 2 for the work I did , some places sell just the cutter head if you break it one. The cutter comes off the bit

Gman, What sizes did you end up using?

I think it was a 1/4 or 3/8's??? Here another tip use a small bit to make a pilot hole so the spot weld cutter don't dance around

I used a 3/8th's and used a center punch to start so it didn't dance...

That looks like mine, donivan... the pilot point gets worn after the first few spots, then it dances. A good, small, sharp punch would do the trick. Also, have to hold the drill and bit as perpendicular to the weld as possible... I've broken a few cutters laying on the ground trying to remove stuff!

Gman, do you mean you needed two the same size because one wore out? or that you needed two different sizes?

If you get a little off perpendicular, it doesn't take much to chip off a tooth, and then you have to flip the cutter or replace it. I went through a couple cutter bits trying to get into the rear roll pan and front valence on the 63 Econo. Just one size though... I would bet the size of cut they make is either 3/8 or 5/16, so easily the size of a factory spot weld. You're good to go wacko.

I just re-read your original question... not many alternatives in Saskatoon, but there is a good, dedicated auto body supply shop in town where I bought my kit similar to yours for the same price. My drill bearings are going, so the shank has a little wobble to it, and messed up enough cutters and pilot points that I've had to buy replacement packs. I'm willing to bet that $50 is for a quality name brand.

Harbor Freight doesn't ship to canada but there is one in seattle which is about 2Hrs from me. I ended up picking up a couple from the local tool shop.
They are a different style than pictured above but the price was right to give them a try

http://www.kmstools.com/norseman-spot-weld-cutter-3798

I will let you know how it works out

Hey,

BTW guys, I just removed my doghouse a couple days ago, and I found it was super easy to just pry up and break the spot welds with a chisel and hammer. Some spots on the doghouse floor skirt get bent, but they're an easy fix after its off. It took me less than 10 minutes to rip it off. FYI.

Heavy

wacko wrote:Harbor Freight doesn't ship to canada but there is one in seattle which is about 2Hrs from me. I ended up picking up a couple from the local tool shop.
They are a different style than pictured above but the price was right to give them a try

http://www.kmstools.com/norseman-spot-weld-cutter-3798

I will let you know how it works out

I've bought many of these, also from KMS. No pilot hole required and if you use cutting fluid like rapid tap it will last for ~100 spots. Don't try wiggling the bit around when you are drilling... it seems like it helps to cut faster, but it dulls the points very quickly. I didn't get nearly the life out the 8mm one that I did from the 6mm.

Yeah, I had these spot weld cutters like in these pictures, I had 2 sizes - 3/8 and 5/16. I had to tap in a point in the center in each weld spot to give the needle point the brace to keep the spinning in center. These cutters usually last me up to 50-75 spots in one straight run, then have to flip over for a new face.

I also have my own equipment like this above - from Mac Tools. I have 6 spot weld cutters in different sizes, 2 extra needle points to replace the first point if worn out, one tap point chisel to mark where I want the needle point to stay in center. One cutter lasted me almost 2 years - now is worn out so I have to buy a new one again. Cost me $110 (for the set) but think is well worth if one cutter last me that long!

Our training dept at work is trying out some high end titanium spot weld cutters. They seem very durable but super pricey at $43 each !!

If they last I don't think thats bad, the two I used to remove a doghouse were trash after I was done and together they were about $24-$25

Harbor Freight sells some of the crapiest tools available yet they get away with it as they are so cheap. Ironically, one has to buy 4 or 5 of the Chinese tools to outlast one German or American made tool. Of course, know it is hard to get anything worth keeping so I guess those disposable, reversables are the way to go. Be careful with the Chinese, brittle steel as it will go right thru your eyeball or arm if spinning fast enough--like on circular saw carbide tips. Someday, when the Chinese stuff is the only thing available, cabinet shops and the like will need their folks to wear bulletproof vests and better eye protection. Sorry for the rant and good luck with the project. Happy motoring, Mark

Mark,You get a little snow there? Bill

Hey Bill,

A little snow, you bet. Now more than a week after the "blizzard" and the main uptown drag (near where I live) Wisconsin Avenue is still one lane outbound. Funny tho, it closes to one lane just after the traffic camera. No need to plow the snow when the city makes $thousands a day in tickets there.

It is getting a little old as walking on the street (few shovel walks here) is getting death defying. Snowed today, just enough to make it pretty again.

At least my dog likes it :-) Thanks for asking, Mark