• OFF TOPIC fun forum - NO politics - NO religion - NO jerks. It's not complicated. Thanks!

Homemade Stick Welder - From Microwave Parts!

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

mckutzy

Well-known member
Messages
8,353
Reaction score
110
Location
bc, canada
Its dangerous.
Pretty ingenious though. if one has absolutely no money at all or has no skill at bartering for a quick fix. Kinda taking the third world home with you.

A saltwater variac is a dangerous piece of equipment.

This is an observation study only.

I have seen the other pieces of equipment he has made and its pretty cool of his use of junk to make a tool..... a power tool.....

In this case, 220vac isnt a good way to use this power.
 
machinist@large

machinist@large

Active member
Messages
2,865
Reaction score
33
Location
West Michigan, 49331
xXPhasemanXx said:
Just found this and I think it's completely an amazing example of the cheap minded person :lolgoku:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTDx3sN2dhU
What are your thoughts?
Click to expand...

1/16" rod capacity; it's also the third installment of a "See What I Did!!!" video series. You would need to build/ copy all three parts to get to the point he presents in this video. And while it does seem to work, I personally don't want to have any thing to do with a water based amperage control unit that's anywhere near the welding zone.

Interesting learning tool? Yes. Practical project welding source for a kart? Probably not.
 
M

mckutzy

Well-known member
Messages
8,353
Reaction score
110
Location
bc, canada
The only tool in his series( I dont hold any responsibility for this and not to be confused with advising it's use),That I think it will work with some degree of success for our projects here is .... is his spot welder he made.

I did some tin work on my bike, and I did look into building his type of MOT(microwave oven transformer) spotwelder. The only real set back for me was, I didn't/couldn't find a old microwave out in the trash. I kinda would have liked one, made kinda of a mess with my FC mig. With that it would have looked pretty good in that department I think.

So for the bunch of us who ride buggies and others with tin work,(fenders, cowling and fan shrouds) would come in big a handy way to create a nice piece of work.
 
M

mckutzy

Well-known member
Messages
8,353
Reaction score
110
Location
bc, canada
"microwave" per-se....
Stick electrode into one of piece of meat, place the other ground onto other end of the meat....
Where protective garments and eye protection....

Turn power on...... It will "Microwave" it internally.... with 60hz(ya I know not that micro) and what ever voltage......
 
M

mckutzy

Well-known member
Messages
8,353
Reaction score
110
Location
bc, canada
Potentially, I see where your going with it... But look at it this way.. with a HF El-cheapo FC 90amp,110v has a warranty and some legal protection should occasion arise that said welder have a catastrophic failure while you are in it presence whilst it be electrified, and say get hurt and or die........
There will be some restitution....you hope..... but not... well it was a sad accident, and were pretty sure this is out"__" (insert family member) ashes here in this urn...... as for he burnt to a cindery crisp.

You catch my drift...
 
xXPhasemanXx

xXPhasemanXx

Newb
Messages
242
Reaction score
2
Location
Canada, AB, Spruce Grove
I know full well how dangerous it is. I just think it's really cool how he made a home made welder for super cheap! A lot of his stuff is super cool, but dangerous. Danger is just so cool :lolgoku:
 
itsid

itsid

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
11,563
Reaction score
248
Location
Ruhrpott [Germany]
I think the basic idea is really great,
and I think that someone with good knowledge and experience could
add enough safety to make it actually a perfectly working alternative.

The thing is, I believe that is beyond ordinary DIY;
when playing with 400Amps you really should know what you are doing.
Everything else is just -forgive me- plain stupid.

'sid

PS I agree, his stuff is really cool.. I still wouldn't want to use his stuff :D
 
M

mckutzy

Well-known member
Messages
8,353
Reaction score
110
Location
bc, canada
Yes and yes.
Danger factor does have an effect on the cool and/or look cool factor in almost all ways possible.
 
M

mckutzy

Well-known member
Messages
8,353
Reaction score
110
Location
bc, canada
One professional battery spot welder I saw was basically the same except it was 2 insulated copper rods with leads to the transformer, and it was hand held with the 2 leads in each hand. Spotting each batt connector with a spot from the rod when powered.
Typically used in making a large bank or battery pack for a device.

I agree the thompson variant is the better version. Has a better safety factor involved. the version I was planning to build.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top