Building a welder, Anybody ever try it?

I

Ilovetoolsteel

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Jul 28, 2003
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I got a catalog from Surplus center today and they had a section DC aircraft generators. These are high voltage like 300 or 400 VDC and in the description they explain you can use these to build a stick welding outfit. Anybody ever try this? and if you did how well did it work?
 
There were plans around years ago when the alternative lifestyles push was on in Western Australia.

Hippy types where buying bush blocks and making all kinds of stuff from car generators. You can make a welder from a good car alternator. They do work and they can also be attached to an inverter. You do have to watch the duty cycle or they will burn out and you have to flog the guts out of your car motor to get the power but they do work. You do need a few skills.

Keep looking for someone that has actually made one before you lash out.
These things often do work but there is a big BUT associated with them.
 
You may want to check out gunsnet(ak47 forums) or ak47.net . A few years ago, 2000-ish, some guys on the build it yourself forums made a few spot welders with alternators for fabricating magazines... drstrangelove did one, if I am not mistaken. Also a few were made like you were saying, too. Check there.
 
There is a certain online auction site selling them for $5 bucks.
Stick welders are usually cheap to buy, most discount tool shops have them as cheap as chips, even MIG welders are reasonably priced for the small ones.
 
I'm with Danno.
This is sort of like cutting your own trees and sawing them up into 2X4s.
Check around and you can come up with all kinds of welding units for almost nothing. The local trader paper had trailer units for $400 , MIG units for $500, and stick units for $25. Harbor freight is another source, too.
Stacy
 
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