Electrode help

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Hi allI picked up an old spot welder and need help to find electrodes for it. The power unit is a Thrifty spot and the spot gun is a Marquette. I would like any info on this old rig I can get such as, how to use it for one and what are the electrodes made of?Here are a couple of pics for you guys to ponder.
Reply:Cool.  Does it work?
Reply:It seems to work. I threw a 7018 in it and the rod turned red. No spot weld though.
Reply:Originally Posted by D0ZXIt seems to work. I threw a 7018 in it and the rod turned red. No spot weld though.
Reply:DOZX I saw that on CL. You must be close to me.As for the electrode I agree with Sandy. You might try here   http://www.weldplus.com/   there on SR50 /River Road in Cincinnati.Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:I couldn't pass it up for $20 and he was 1 mile from me. I know the high freq spot welders use copper mix electrodes. I'm thinking this unit uses something made pre 1970??
Reply:I'm no expert, but I thought they were Cu also.  I was under the impression a spot welder worked sort of like a spring loaded "C" clamp with a Cu electrode on each side of the 2 pieces being welded..  The welding, actually fusing, process was done by quickly bringing a small "spot" on each piece of metal to near molten stage thus fusing 2 pieces together.   No filler rod of any kind used at all.IF IT WORKS, DON'T FIX IT2 Lincoln CV-300 / LN-7 GMALinde-VI 253,400 & 450 w/MIG35 feedersCNC Table with Oxweld O/A & Hypertherm 1250G3Lincoln Ranger GXT 250Hobart-MicroWire 300ESAB Heliarc 161ESAB-Mobilemaster 2 CC/CV Feeders& more
Reply:I'm no spot welding expert but I have not heard of a spot welder that uses stick welding electrodes.   The ones I know of use clamping copper electrodes as described above  and weld by heat created by electrical resistance of the current passing from one electrode, through each piece of base metal, to the other electrode, and clamp pressure, NOT a conventional welding arc, liquid puddle and filler.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I'm no spot welding expert but I have not heard of a spot welder that uses stick welding electrodes.   The ones I know of use clamping copper electrodes as described above  and weld by heat created by electrical resistance of the current passing from one electrode, through each piece of base metal, to the other electrode, and clamp pressure, NOT a conventional welding arc, liquid puddle and filler.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:sorry, double postMM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I used one of those back in high school metal shop (30 years ago). As I recall, it used a copper clad carbon rod, (maybe a carbon arc gouging rod?). We used it to weld galvanized sheet steel together. I think we were building some sort of holder for used baby food bottles, for storing nuts and bolts etc. I forget exactly what the trigger was used for, but I think when you squeezed it, it allowed the rod to come in contact with the metal, starting the arc. As there was no filler metal in the rod, the base metals were fused together. It seemed to work real well, and made a very strong spot weld. Haven't seen one since high school though.Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC (Sold)Miller Dialarc 250HFMiller MM251Miller MM200 (Sold)Miller MM130Miller Spot WelderVictor O/A rigMiller Spoolmatic 1 (Sold)
Reply:I'd love to tell you it's dangerous, parts are unavailable and you need to send it to me to dispose of properly....but since I doubt you'd believe it...Here is a little material I found doing a very quick search (besides the material on a site called WeldingWeb...): From:   http://www.asedeals.com/MigWldrs.html-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MARQUETTE MIG WELDERSIn November 2003, Lincoln Electric / WCTA aquired Marquette Welding Products from Clore Automotive. Lincoln Electric, founded in 1895 is the largest manufacturer of welding products in the world. They have manufacturing facilities in 19 countries and are headquartered in Ohio. Nobody makes more, and nobody makes them better.Simply put, Marquette welders and plasma cutters are the best in the industry.-----------------------------------------------I'd guess Lincoln would be the best ones to contact about the parts and info. you need.
Reply:Thanks for the help guys. I tried an air arc rod, it blew apart at the clamping jaws of the gun. I drilled out the hole in a mig tip and drove a 7018 in it and that just turns the 7018 red and will not produce a spot weld. I also reversed polarity and tried it again with same results.I called 2 local weld suppliers and they don't have a clue what it uses??