The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Which spot weld cutter to buy?

I'm going to buy a spot weld cutter and need advise on which one might work better. These are the kind that chuck into a drill. In the Eastwood catalog they have one that cuts a 3/8" circle around the weld and another that cuts completely down thru the weld. Which is better?

Looks like the circle cutter will require more work later to grind off the little disks that are left behind?

There are also two sizes, 3/8" and 1/2". Which would be used most on old truck body work?

The circle cutter has a harder time staying on-center unless you drill a pilot hole. They also can be quite finicky. The other type stays centered but takes quite a bit longer to cut through the weld. Most spot welds are 3/8 inch.

let me know which direction you go, and which on you decide. I've been considering that same thing.

I ended up using a 3/8 drill bit.works good.
Vaughn is right about the circle cutter,can be very finiky.I have what is called a roto-broach,can cut hole in sheetmetal in 10 seconds at 100rpms and you have to be REAL careful not to cut through both pieces.
I also have the spot weld cutter bit from snap-on,works OK in a hand drill but like vaughn said it takes a bit longer.

I'm with kicks all the way. I have the one that has the springy point on in the middle of the cutter, and as Vaughn says you have to make a pilot hole. I now use a good quality sharp 3/8" with not a lot of pressure. If I can I slip a screw driver between the pieces and give it a little pressure so that it "pops" up when the first layer is cut through. I saw one that I thought was well done, the fellow had ground the cutting edges of the bit so that there was a little point (1/16") in the center of the bit sticking out and acted like a pilot drill, not sure how he ground it though. Worked well and when the point got dull he just reground it.