# Budget stud welder for up to 1/4"-20 studs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Welding & Fabrication\ **Created:** [July 30, 2024, 2:09pm UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/budget-stud-welder-for-up-to-1-4-20-studs/2787 "2024-07-30T14:09:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HenrysWorkshop](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/fireball.discourse.group/henrysworkshop/32/1763_2.png) [@HenrysWorkshop](https://fireball.discourse.group/u/HenrysWorkshop)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 2:09pm UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/budget-stud-welder-for-up-to-1-4-20-studs/2787/1 "2024-07-30T14:09:16Z")
I’m realizing a need for a CD stud welder. I already checked the usual suspects like Harbor Freight but theirs is only for dent repair and these tiny, nail-like studs. When I searched elsewhere, most of the options seemed to require 240v and were very expensive for a box with capacitors in it (roughly $800 and up). Are there any other options y’all are familiar with or am I going to just have to make one of these things? I just want the ability to attach studs up to roughly 1/4"-20 ---
**Author:** ![Knick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Knick](https://fireball.discourse.group/u/Knick)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 3:31pm UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/budget-stud-welder-for-up-to-1-4-20-studs/2787/2 "2024-07-30T15:31:06Z")
I see them on E-bay all the time, but your right they are not cheap! Check Langmuir forum I saw some one posted they bought one in the last few days, seems like it was around $600. Not sure what the capacity was ---
**Author:** ![HenrysWorkshop](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/fireball.discourse.group/henrysworkshop/32/1763_2.png) [@HenrysWorkshop](https://fireball.discourse.group/u/HenrysWorkshop)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 3:35pm UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/budget-stud-welder-for-up-to-1-4-20-studs/2787/3 "2024-07-30T15:35:25Z")
At that price I’ll just DIY one. The components are so cheap in comparison I can’t understand the pricing. Besides, I’d like one that takes M18 batteries anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Knick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Knick](https://fireball.discourse.group/u/Knick)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 4:20pm UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/budget-stud-welder-for-up-to-1-4-20-studs/2787/4 "2024-07-30T16:20:28Z")
If you decide to document your build I would love to see it. ---
**Author:** ![HenrysWorkshop](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/fireball.discourse.group/henrysworkshop/32/1763_2.png) [@HenrysWorkshop](https://fireball.discourse.group/u/HenrysWorkshop)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 2:50am UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/budget-stud-welder-for-up-to-1-4-20-studs/2787/5 "2024-07-31T02:50:53Z")
It seems like an 18v battery with a buck converter (with some additional circuitry due to the limited ranges a simple circuit like that can output) with a high current resistor to limit the rate of charge of the capacitor bank would take care of the power supply. I’ve found stud welder guns in about the $55-75 range on Amazon/eBay that could then be wired into the power supply. I’ve also just been thinking of hooking up a variac to a bridge rectifier followed by an induction coil and using that to charge the bank. I’m not sure which direction I’ll ultimately go or if I’ll come up with a better solution in the short term but the above is all I’m thinking. It _seems_ relatively simple. ---
**Author:** ![Knick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Knick](https://fireball.discourse.group/u/Knick)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 12:52pm UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/budget-stud-welder-for-up-to-1-4-20-studs/2787/6 "2024-07-31T12:52:06Z")
> [@HenrysWorkshop](#): > > It _seems_ relatively simple. Not simple to me! I wish you lived next door or you were my partner! 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![Gringo.Ironworks](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/fireball.discourse.group/gringo.ironworks/32/1827_2.png) [@Gringo.Ironworks](https://fireball.discourse.group/u/Gringo.Ironworks)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 6:10am UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/budget-stud-welder-for-up-to-1-4-20-studs/2787/7 "2024-08-02T06:10:42Z")
Henry, be honest with me…are you making up words here…? 🤣 you just as soon be speaking Dutch to me! ---
**Author:** ![HenrysWorkshop](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/fireball.discourse.group/henrysworkshop/32/1763_2.png) [@HenrysWorkshop](https://fireball.discourse.group/u/HenrysWorkshop)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 2:37pm UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/budget-stud-welder-for-up-to-1-4-20-studs/2787/8 "2024-08-02T14:37:03Z")
It occurs to me that I should probably post my garbage box welder mod(s). At this point I’ve used it on more than a few projects and can confidently say it works well, even if it was probably more effort than I should’ve gone to for such a terrible machine. ---
**Author:** ![HenrysWorkshop](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/fireball.discourse.group/henrysworkshop/32/1763_2.png) [@HenrysWorkshop](https://fireball.discourse.group/u/HenrysWorkshop)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 2:38pm UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/budget-stud-welder-for-up-to-1-4-20-studs/2787/9 "2024-08-02T14:38:26Z")
You looking for a partner on a new venture? That usually sounds like fun to me. What kinda stuff are you doing? ---
**Author:** ![Knick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Knick](https://fireball.discourse.group/u/Knick)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 3:17pm UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/budget-stud-welder-for-up-to-1-4-20-studs/2787/10 "2024-08-02T15:17:10Z")
I do all kinds of stuff. My Website shows some of what I do. But I’m 67 Things are becoming harder for me to do. I would like to find somebody that may be interested in buying the building and property and would let me continue there and Work for a few more years. > **[Darnic Fab - Metal Fabrication, Welding and Repair](https://darnic.net/)** > > Whether you need a custom metal project for your business, or something breaks at your home and you are not sure who to turn to, give us a call! ---
**Author:** ![HenrysWorkshop](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/fireball.discourse.group/henrysworkshop/32/1763_2.png) [@HenrysWorkshop](https://fireball.discourse.group/u/HenrysWorkshop)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 6:24pm UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/budget-stud-welder-for-up-to-1-4-20-studs/2787/11 "2024-08-02T18:24:07Z")
That sounds like the dream! Retire and still get to play with metal. I checked out your website, funny enough I’m planning on doing a gate really similar to the one in the picture on the homepage with the big wheels on it for the driveway to my house. That thing looks awesome! Clear powdercoat? ---
**Author:** ![Knick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Knick](https://fireball.discourse.group/u/Knick)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 10:52pm UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/budget-stud-welder-for-up-to-1-4-20-studs/2787/12 "2024-08-02T22:52:56Z")
That’s a aluminum boat lift ---
**Author:** ![HenrysWorkshop](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/fireball.discourse.group/henrysworkshop/32/1763_2.png) [@HenrysWorkshop](https://fireball.discourse.group/u/HenrysWorkshop)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 11:02pm UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/budget-stud-welder-for-up-to-1-4-20-studs/2787/13 "2024-08-02T23:02:37Z")
Maybe I’m the one going blind, then 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Knick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Knick](https://fireball.discourse.group/u/Knick)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 11:15pm UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/budget-stud-welder-for-up-to-1-4-20-studs/2787/14 "2024-08-02T23:15:31Z")
Your talking about the square thing with black plastic wheels? ---
**Author:** ![HenrysWorkshop](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/fireball.discourse.group/henrysworkshop/32/1763_2.png) [@HenrysWorkshop](https://fireball.discourse.group/u/HenrysWorkshop)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 11:16pm UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/budget-stud-welder-for-up-to-1-4-20-studs/2787/15 "2024-08-02T23:16:25Z")
Yep, for some reason I saw rubber wheels. ---
**Author:** ![Knick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Knick](https://fireball.discourse.group/u/Knick)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 11:17pm UTC](https://fireball.discourse.group/t/budget-stud-welder-for-up-to-1-4-20-studs/2787/16 "2024-08-02T23:17:10Z")
Yep that’s a boat lift😁