Advice on welder required.

[Anthony KnightsParticipant @anthonyknights16741]

I've been in electronics for most of my working life and therefore learnt to soft solder very early on. Since retirement, I've taught myself to silver solder/braze. I now wish to learn electric welding. Some weeks ago I had the opportunity to buy a defunct gasless MIG welder, complete with self darkening helmet and various other accessories. I think the guy just wanted rid of it as the price was less than a new helmet. The fault turned out to be really crappy crimps between the aluminium transformer windings and the copper welding cables. Having some aluminium solder, I made some brass sleeves and soldered the joints.

There was an article some time ago in MEW about converting a gasless welder ot one using gas. This involved reversing the polarity of the welding cables. My welder is AC (about 22 volts off load and not a diode in sight). My question is should I persevere with this obviously cheap and nasty pile of crap or should I weigh it in and buy something decent.

Don't know why the title has gone dyslexic.

Edited By Anthony Knights on 12/06/2017 17:50:55

Edited By Anthony Knights on 12/06/2017 17:51:34

Edited By Anthony Knights on 12/06/2017 17:53:28

[Anthony KnightsParticipant @anthonyknights16741]

[JohnFParticipant @johnf59703]

Hi sounds like you got a bargain and I am no authority on welding but I recon I would flog it and buy a better set. However I would have a think and decide what your requirements now and in the future are likely to be, sheet metalwork, fabrication, all steel material or maybe some stainless and alloy ???

I feel others will offer more advice but consider the above and maybe add a bit more info
Cheers John

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Anthony, can't say I've ever heard of an AC MIG welder, maybe someone has ripped the rectifier out for some reason and left you with those crappy crimps. I think I would sell it as spares or repair and get a half decent new gas one. The first MIG I had was a gasless one and although it would weld, it left a lot to be desired.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 12/06/2017 22:16:02

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