Body Work Tools - Anyone use this Eastwood stud welder kit?

[BronCowie]

This looks like it would work great for pulling out a large dent in my tailgate where you can't attack it from behind. Those round tips attach to your MIG welder to weld studs onto the sheet metal. Then you attach the slide puller to the studs and go for it. Decent price too! Any comments or reviews out there?

 

[Lennardlector]

Never used that brand but all "pullers" function relatively the same just make sure you get a good clamp on the shaft of the rivet so it doesn't keep sliding off. The money should be spent on a good stud setter. Seen a few that didn't tack weld the rivet on strong enough and others that heated up too quickly and burned a hole straight through the sheet metal. Either way, don't skimp on rivets and use as many as you can to get your panels as straight as possible!

 

[nickgp]

While I have not used the rivit style stud welder/puller, I have used a Spitznaegle(sp?) Brand resistance spot welder/slide hammer unit. It is a slick unit. Apprx 1800 bucks. On the reverse side of the gun, it has another contact point that facilitates shrinking the metal. No more drilling holes for a slide hammer and no cutting/grinding off the rivets. It sure is nice having a professional bodyman as your partner!

 

[bflippinw]

I think I saw the dent you were trying to pull on your tailgate. Looked the same as mine which I think was from slamming the spare tire carrier into the tailgate or a hit to the spare tire. I have an older stud welder with a slide hammer and after welding like 100 studs to the tailgate and breaking them frequently I gave up. That tailgate is thick metal and the body line there is very hard to pull out. I think I'm just in the market for a new tailgate. Maybe you'll have better luck but if your only buying the welder for the tailgate you might want to do something different. I would stay away from Eastwood all together. Kind of like harbor freight of body tools. Just my 2 cents.

 

[BronCowie]

...I would stay away from Eastwood all together. Kind of like harbor freight of body tools. Just my 2 cents.

That's kinda what I thought, not knowing any better. I'm a rookie body guy. Yeah the gate was rear ended years ago. I was able to pull the dent out most of the way with a slide hammer and was looking for anything else I could do before the bondo. If I don't like the way it turns out, I'll dish out the $500 for a new gate, but really, I'm not after perfection, just a nice looking body when I'm done.

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