Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for welding a stud to a workpiece and maintaining the area around the weld substantially free of smut. The existence of the smut detracts from the appearance of the workpiece and, if the workpiece is to be painted or otherwise covered with a coating material, the smut must first be removed. A spark shield assembly has an outer end which is placed in contact with the workpiece around the stud. Anti-smut liquid is first deposited from the assembly on the weld area around the end of the stud where the weld occurs thereby to eliminate the deposit of a coating of smut. Air is then directed through the spark shield assembly toward the outer end thereof after the weld is completed to aid in removing the anti-smut liquid from the spark shield assembly.

Abstract: A stud welding tool has an improved plunge dampener and an improved lifting mechanism assembly. The plunge dampener is mounted in a front cover of the tool for easy assembly and disassembly. A threaded member controls movement of the dampener to adjust the amount of free travel of a stud and chuck assembly during a plunge stroke in a welding cycle. The lifting mechanism is mounted in a housing as an assembly. The housing is located in a bore or recess in the welding tool body and held in place by a main plunge spring in the tool. The housing and lift mechanism is easily installed and removed for replacement or repair.

Abstract: A large diameter stud and a method and apparatus for welding same are provided. The large diameter stud has a protruding tip at a weldable end thereof containing a solid rod-like body of flux. A ceramic ferrule which can have a two-step cavity surrounds the weldable end portion of the stud when engaged with workpiece to which it is to be welded. An arc blow coil surrounds the ferrule and is spaced therefrom with powdered flux therebetween and above the ferrule. The arc blow coil is attached to adjustable legs of a welding tool and has a weight thereon to aid in supporting the welding tool upright on the workpiece during the welding operation. In the welding cycle, a relatively low weld current is used for the main welding arc and is maintained for an extended period of time. Current through the arc blow coil is initiated when the welding cycle begins and is gradually increased to a maximum at an intermediate point in the welding cycle.

Abstract: A method for welding studs to a workpiece is provided. When studs are welded to workpieces using a drawn-arc, stud-welding technique, a coating of smut is sometimes deposited on the workpiece around the welded end of the stud. This coating detracts from the appearance and if the workpiece is covered with coating material, such as paint, the smut must first be removed, requiring an extra operation. It has been found that the coating of smut will not be deposited, if, during the welding cycle, fluid is carefully deposited on the weld area around the end of the stud where the weld occurs. This fluid consists of a small volume of low pressure air and an anti-smut liquid.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for welding studs to a workpiece with the area around the welds being substantially free of smut. The existence of the smut detracts from the appearance of the workpiece and if the workpiece is to be painted or otherwise covered with a coating material, the smut must first be removed. The coating of smut can be eliminated if, during the weld process, fluid is carefully deposited on the weld area around the end of the stud where the weld occurs. The fluid consists of a small volume of low-pressure air and an anti-smut liquid. The latter also helps to keep weld splatter from adhering to the interior of a spark shield used with the stud. However, by applying a non-metallic, preferably plastic, sleeve within the spark shield, the problem of splatter can be further reduced or substantially eliminated.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for welding studs to a workpiece are provided. When studs are welded to workpieces using a draw-arc, stud-welding technique, a coating of smut is sometimes deposited on the workpiece around the welded end of the stud. This coating detracts from the appearance and if the workpiece is covered with coating material, such as paint, the smut must first be removed, requiring an extra operation. It has been found that the coating of smut will not be deposited, if, during the welding cycle, fluid is carefully deposited on the weld area around the end of the stud where the weld occurs. This fluid consists of a small volume of low pressure air and an anti-smut liquid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for welding studs to a workpiece are provided. When the studs are welded to workpieces using a drawn-arc, stud welding technique, sometimes a coating of smut is deposited on the workpiece around the welded end of the stud. This coating detracts from the appearance of the stud and workpiece. Further, if the workpiece is to be covered with a coating material, the coating of smut must first be removed, resulting in an extra operation. It has been found that the coating of smut will not be deposited if, during the stud welding cycle, gas is directed toward the weld area in a swirling manner around the end of stud where the weld occurs.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for welding studs to workpieces. The invention is particularly concerned with welding studs to workpieces made of materials having relatively low electrical resistance but covered with layers of other materials having higher electrical resistance, a common example being metal workpieces having painted surfaces. In order for the stud to make effective electrical contact with the workpiece at the beginning of the welding cycle, the paint must be eliminated; in accordance with the invention, this is accomplished by rotating the stud which effectively removes the portion of the paint in contact with the stud. Electrical contact can then be established between the stud and the workpiece to enable the welding cycle to be initiated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for welding studs to workpieces are provided. The invention is particularly concerned with welding studs to workpieces made of materials having relatively low electrical resistance but covered with layers of other materials having higher electrical resistance, a common example being metal workpieces having painted surfaces. In order for the stud to make effective electrical contact with the workpiece at the beginning of the welding cycle, the paint must be eliminated; in accordance with the invention, this is accomplished by rotating the stud which effectively removes the portion of the paint in contact with the stud. Electrical contact can then be established between the stud and the workpiece to enable the welding cycle to be initiated.