Finally...Found an AC/DC welder

[VictorBravo]

I first learned to weld in high school shop back in the 70s. We had four machines--3 were AC buzz boxes and one was a Lincoln AC/DC welder. Of course, there was always a line on the AC/DC welder so I got reasonably proficient on the AC buzzer.

Out of school I saved up and bought an AC tombstone and kept looking for DC welders. Years went by--always too expensive. In recent years I'd see them on Craigslist, but usually they were 2 hours away and overpriced.

So I used that Lincoln AC welder for 20 years until it went away by accident in my dad's estate sale. Then I bought a Northern Industrial Chinese AC buzzbox for $90 just to get by. It works, but it's painful with its 10% duty cycle on 75 amps.

So, driving by a pawn shop I saw a blue box outside. AC/DC Miller Thunderbolt. I stopped and looked. The guy said he'd take $200 for it. We plugged it in and I ran a bead on DC and AC. Smooth as silk--I'm transported back in time to those best days in shop class. It came with 20 foot leads that are still in good shape.

Now it's home and I've finally fulfilled one of those weird life aspirations that only a shop-nut could have: I've got a DC welder.

(Maybe some day I'll learn TIG welding, but I still weld with Oxy-Acetylene sometimes, so these new things take me time to get used to).

Now, any ideas on what to do with that Chinese buzzbox?

 

[Professur]

Do you own a boat?

 

[VictorBravo]

Do you own a boat?

Yes, I do. A couple of them: homemade out of wood.

But they already have anchors.....

 

[Professur]

Then you've got a new anchor.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Pardon my ignorance, but what can you do with the DC machine? Aluminum? Different processes? thicknesses? Good looking machine? I see those pop up on craigslist from time to time and wonder about the differences.

 

[VictorBravo]

DC stick welding is usually smoother than AC. The arc is more stable. You can get better penetration and less splatter. Vertical welding and overhead welding is night and day. You can adjust polarity for various applications.

You can even weld aluminum with the right rod--can't do that with AC.

But having AC is an advantage in certain circumstances where there might be arc blow from magnetized parts.

I grew up with stick welding and am quite comfortable with it.

 

[Syberia]

I didn't know AC/DC made welders, only music! I think they'd make a killing selling batteries, though