Welding 0.15 nickel strip with the AWithZ portable spot welder — very solid

The Village’s Only Schoolkid has built a dozen power-tool packs with the AWithZ portable welder and answers a follower: 0.15 nickel strip (slotted) welds very solidly, pulling it off leaves two holes and later it won’t come off at all; the negative holds just as well; holding strip and pen in both hands makes the button awkward, so fit the foot switch or use auto mode; for 0.2 strip he only has the slotted kind, and that welds fine; gear ‘around the middle, turn it down if the welds go black’; comments: on the UK1 gear 50 does 0.2, a U2 at 9.9 can’t match it

Built a dozen power-tool packs with this little spot welder over the past few days, thinks it’s good, the welds hold. Power-tool pack strip is slotted (an opening in the middle) — that kind welds well and holds; this piece seems to be 0.2 and a bit thick, but slotted it welds solidly. A follower asked whether this (unslotted) strip welds solidly, so today’s the test: another problem shows up, one hand on the strip and one on the pen makes the button awkward, so the foot switch is needed, fit it; there’s also an auto mode up top, auto works too. Weld then pull: with a big reel of solder wire underneath as a support, it came off, tearing out two holes (strip torn); then weld the negative (the positive is easier to weld), the negative holds just as well, two holes punched through; keep welding, does it hold — very solid, won’t come off; zoom in, the strip is 0.15 and it still tears like this. A follower says 0.2 won’t weld; no unslotted 0.2 strip on hand, only the slotted 0.2, and that welds fine, no problem; unslotted 0.2 he doesn’t have. Comments: on the UK1 set gear 50 for 0.2 and it works (with photo); my AWithZ U2 at 9.9 can’t get this result, the machine’s no good (creator: mine isn’t even turned up high, I’ve used several and this portable is still the best, the others fall a bit short); what gear for 0.15 pure nickel (forgot, set it loosely, turn down if black, turn up if weak, around the middle); a 3D-printed jig to merge the two pens into a one-hand pen; the handle should be swapped for one with a button; can it weld 32140; did you build the welder yourself.

Outcome

Steps6 steps · click a frame to jump

1. 
   1. Background: a dozen tool packs built; slotted strip welds well; a follower asks about unslotted strip

   The little spot welder has built a dozen power-tool packs, not bad; tool-pack strip has a slot in the middle, welds well and holds; this piece is about 0.2 and a bit thick but slotted and holds; a follower asked whether this strip holds, testing today.

   00:00 – 00:42
2. 
   2. Strip and pen in both hands makes the button awkward → fit the foot switch; auto mode also works

   One hand on the strip and one on the pen makes the button awkward, the foot switch is needed, fit it; there’s an auto mode up top too, that works as well.

   00:42 – 01:13
3. 
   3. Weld the positive, then pull: comes off leaving two holes

   Pull to see if it holds, a big reel of solder wire underneath as a support; it came off, tearing two holes.

   01:25 – 01:47
4. 
   4. Weld the negative too: very solid, two holes punched through

   Now weld the negative, the positive is easier; the negative holds just as well, very solid; two holes punched through again, keep welding.

   01:55 – 02:25
5. 
   5. Weld again: won’t come off; the strip is 0.15

   Does it hold — very solid; no good, it won’t come off; zoom in, the strip is 0.15 and it tears like this.

   02:38 – 03:00
6. 
   6. Slotted 0.2 welds fine; no unslotted 0.2 on hand

   A follower says 0.2 won’t weld; only slotted 0.2 on hand, and that welds fine, no problem; no unslotted 0.2 right now.

   03:01 – 03:20

Bill of materials

Creator’s tips

• Slotted tool-pack strip welds more easily and holds better 00:14
• With both hands busy, connect the foot switch or use auto mode 00:42
• Welds going black, turn down; not holding, turn up; comments: on the UK1 use gear 50 for 0.2
• The positive is easier to weld than the negative 01:55

Pitfalls

• With dual handheld pens and no manual button, the button is awkward to press 00:42
• The creator doesn’t remember his own gear setting

Li-ion safety

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