Aluminum Stud Welder

[Erik Sine]

Anyone using some good inexpensive mid range models? I'm just using for cabinet acrylic push thru's and don't really want to spend thousands on one that is made for doing more.

[acmesign]

Right now, I just rent trying to save the expense of buying one.

[UFB Fabrication]

We have one and use it often. Check ebay and craigslist. We bought ours used and is 15 years old or so but parts are still made. As with everything buy something you can get parts for and is serviceable.

[Erik Sine]

Any suggestions on a particular manufacturer?

[UFB Fabrication]

We have a pro weld brand, made in USA even. I think it was a pretty good one when it came out.

[GraClay]

Erik, you probably have this sorted by now but as I have just stumbled on the thread I'll throw my hat in. We do have a stud welder but for acrylic push thru lettering we would flange the acrylic & chemical weld the acrylic with two pack adhesive.

As long as the surfaces of both the ally and the acrylic are clean we have had no failures. The product we use is SIKA brand but 3M also make a similar excellent product. We always try to make each letter a separate piece to eliminate expansion problems however we have had success with joined script lettering and long underlines etc. I have attached a pic of a recent job that also included 316 stainless faces that were also adhesive joined to the acrylic push thru's.

Incidentally, these S/S faces were also held with stainless studs, nuts & washers as the client was very specific on their requirements although the studs were completely unnecessary.

regards, Graham