home made welder?

[RegionalChaos]

Pam, I've heard of motorcross and dirt bikers doing just that for field repairs.

[ralphy]

Vintageprojects.com, I think has someting about that, I believe they used a 24 volt
alt. from a military truck or jeep, I have a stick, and 2 gasless wire welders. So I didn't look into it any farther. But goodluck on your project! would like to see pictures of your progress!

[meancoyote]

well ive given up on this project after toasting 2 alternators. ive decided to save up some $$$ for a Lincoln Electric AC/DC 225/125 Welder. home depot has them for $390.

[Rich Hale]

That lincoln will do everything you need and for a loooong time

[Dodge]

I learned about this idea many years ago in a bull session about neat stuff you can build out of junk. While I am a big advocate for home built stuff, I can't remember reading or hearing of anyone actually using one of these alternator based welders as their primary welder. They were nearly always built simply to prove a point. Yes, it can be done but the blood sweat and tears, not to mention monetary resources that would need to be spent to make it work well are even beyond my frugal tendencies. (ok I'm cheap ). I have one of Lincoln's AC "tombstone" welders that I bought nearly 30 years ago, and it is all the arc welder I have ever needed. It was $130.00 and I'm pretty sure they can still be bought at farm and home improvement stores for less than $200. With the proper rod and heat selection, it will weld anything from exhaust pipe, all the way up to heavy plate. It will weld 1/4" plate in one pass and anything heavier in multiple passes. In my 20 years as a professional welder I learned multiple passes are typically required on anything over a 5/16" fillet weld no mater what welder is used anyway. I don't remember AWS (American Welding Society) rules verbatim but I believe anything requiring a 3/8" fillet required multiple passes due to weaker grain structure in larger welds. NO homemade welder is going to efficiently provide that kind of capability.

[meancoyote]

i use a miller trailblazer 302d at work, but ive never had anything better then a 110 v wire feed at home, im ready to start doing some bigger projects at home. will the ac welder run 7018 and 7024? the reason i want the ac/dc is so i can run 7018, but the ac is alot cheaper.

[Dodge]

It is my understanding that there is a 7018 rod available that is rated for AC. Not sure who makes it. (Lincoln Electric?) Check with you local welding supply. The other option is 7014. Very nice to weld with but mostly for flat work. For heavier stuff, beveling or chamfering of the parent metals is required as I don't think it has quite the penetrating qualities as 7018.

[Dodge]

Shoulda done it before last post but I just googled "7018 for AC" and got thousands of hits. Lincoln Electric does in fact make a 7018 for AC. It is called, interestingly enough, 7018AC

[evfreek]

Buying a Miller Thunderbolt (AC buzzbox) off craigslist for $100 spelled the end of the pretty poor efforts to make a homemade welder. That Miller is just great for everything except small stuff. I just saw an AC/DC version for $125. This is a real bargain. craigslist is great for these used buzzboxes. No need to pay full new retail. On the other hand, for a high end welder, it is probably better to buy new. You see Miller Synchrowaves for sale at 70-80% of new price. Too risky.

I think that I will resurrect the homemade welder project to make a micro welder. Got the argon and the flowmeter, just need some consumables. But it sure is nice to have a real welder to get that "must-do" fabrication stuff done.

[Joe H]

Many years ago I built an AC stick welder from 4 microwave oven transformers. It worked well and I completed many projects with it. Of course, it did not take me long to move on. That little junk welder got me addicted, it wasn't long before I had spent thousands on TIG welding and plasma cutting equipment. It's ironic in a way, I built that welder to save a few dollars. LOL.


Consider this your warning.