Eastwood MIG Stud Welding Kit?

Has anybody tried one of these? I've never even used a regular stud welder, but I have an Accord with a badly dented rocker panel. When I went to look at the traditional Eastwood stud welder, I found this kit. I already have a MIG welder, and this is $200 cheaper.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=32&v=rFLZE7z1v0Y

http://www.eastwood.com/mig-stud-welding-kit-27778.html

Lots of negative reviews on that page.

In reply to Derick Freese:

Yikes! Thanks for pointing that out.

I just used nails, and a vice-grip-slide-hammer.

In reply to SkinnyG:

You should put this up in the Tech section. It's neat idea.

Oh. Good idea. Done. Thanks!

In reply to SkinnyG: Liking that very much.

I can't tell you just how handy a vice-grip-on-a-slide-hammer is. One of my favourites now.

I have been using the reasonably affordable Harbor Freight stud welder. It works great. A stud welder is absolutely essential with panels you cannot remove or get behind (which is 90% of Corvair metal).

I highly suggest one. It will greatly reduce the amount of filler you use.

I have also modified some vice grips with bar stock and a bolt to attach to a slid hammer. This allows you to grip multiple studs at once. Studs are also very useful for supporting metal you can't get behind when hammering.

In reply to SkinnyG:

That's awesome! Can you post a closeup of the attachment point of the Vise Grips to the slide hammer?

In reply to SkinnyG:

Also, was a MIG welder enough to attach the Vise-Grips to the slide hammer or did you need to use a stick welder?

I used a MIG, but I can't remember if it was the 110V or 220V unit.

This is the biggie size pic of the whole shebang:

http://gwellwood.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DSC01831.jpg

this has become one of my favorite threads ever on this board.

I just got back from Harbor Freight. I bought their Stud Welder kit for $99, partly because I knew it would be easier than dragging out my MIG welder to weld nails to the car every time, and partly because it came with a sacrificial slide hammer. I also grabbed a three pack of Chinise-Grips ($9) to weld onto the slide hammer, so I don't have to sacrifice a pair of good pliers to the cause.

I really try to avoid buying stuff at Harbor Freight, but it's the perfect place to shop for tools that you will take home and immediately turn into different tools that don't exist anywhere else.

Woody wrote: I really try to avoid buying stuff at Harbor Freight, but it's the perfect place to shop for tools that you will take home and immediately turn into different tools that don't exist anywhere else.

Quoted for truth.

I am sacrificing some 1/2 rod and a vise grip as soon as possible despite having no immediate use for it.

I have been using the HF version for a while, no real issues. I tend to hold it on for a lot longer then they recommend to get a good attachment (warning, I am dealing with older sheet metal). Also, the best way to remove the studs is with a pair of wire cutters (dikes), then you grind smooth. I was cutting them off with a grinder, but using wire cutter is way faster. You might be able customize a HF pair of cutters specifically for this. Ideally, they would have a bend at the cutting head (kind of like curved needle nose pliers).

The stud welder comes with a slide hammer that grabs onto the studs, so you don't really need to do the vice grip mod. It's probably a lot easier to detach then a vice grip also (just bump it forward to unlatch it)

For the vice grip clamps that I made, I welded a nut to the rear adjuster of them that screwed into my slide hammer (HF version)