Old school welding sets

[RobWilson]

Evening chaps 


Was given this old oil cooled set today , 





something about it failing a PAT test 




I rued the day I got rid of my old oil cooled Oxford welding set ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,now I have a bigger one to mess with 

so have any of you lads got any old welding sets  hiding away ?


Rob

[ieezitin]

Rob..

The PAT test is a oxymoron applied to this welder... i would like to see any pleb use that as potable..

I learned stick on a Oxford.... smooth as silk.. great machine.. don't make them like that anymore.... now most welding rigs / sets are very touchy just like the wife... down to the electronics...  I envy ya..

God bless

Anthony.

[Highpower]

I used to have an old Lincoln Dialarc AC stick welder. Huge machine with steel wheels that seemed like it weighed a ton when you had to move it. Beautiful arc that was butter smooth but it had a major problem. Couldn't weld with it for 5 minutes because it would turn the amperage down on it's own while you were welding. Crank the dial up to 125 amps and start running a bead, and before long it's dropped itself down to 70 amps!

I asked one of the (old-timer) technicians at the local welding shop about it when I went there to buy some new cables for it. He knew right away that I wasn't totally crazy and imagining it turning itself down. "Take the hood off, and drive a piece of wood between the bottom of the case and the bottom of the transformer." At that point I thought HE was crazy!

Danged if it didn't fix it though. Never had a problem with it after that.

It took up a lot of space in my tiny shop though so I decided to get rid of it. Gave it to my younger brother's boss to use at home, and earned him a few brownie points.
Thinking back on it now though - and that huge copper wound transformer...

Of course a year later I had three new welders taking up even more space than before...

[awemawson]

Rob,

If it's failing a PAT test it's worth pulling the lot out of the oil for an inspection. I've heard tell of the transformer oil having water below it after a few decades use. Mine is very similar to yours and it's just a case of undoing the four top screws and lifting on the handles with a block and tackle.

[Mayhem]

I've got one that belonged to my Dad, which he had in the UK before we moved here. Its in the shed at my Mum's place and I'll see if I can remember to get a picture of it next time I am there.

[RobWilson]

Hi Anthony , yes you get a very stable arc  from these old machined ,and no one wants to borrow them lol 

Hi Andrew , it never made it to the PAT testing machine ,it failed the visual inspection split power lead  , I was planning on strtipping it and replacing the oil and cork gasket , may even splash out and give it a coat of paint  , no need for block and tackle  for a wee thing like that   



Cheers Rob

[awemawson]

You obviously had your Weetabix for breakfast Rob :)

Remember it's transformer oil not normal mineral oil, and the old stuff likely contains PCB's - ( Polychlorinated biphenyls nasties, not circuit boards !!!)

[RobWilson]

Iron brew Andrew 


I used hydraulic oil in my other one for years with no ill effects   , and I thought the new transformer oil was mineral based .   , what do you recon ?


Cheers Rob

[hermetic]

I've got one, I will take a pic next week and post it up. Haven't used it yet as it has an identically oil dissolved cable on it, but I know it is single or three phase, so I will have to check it out before I stick 415v across it! Andrew is correct about the water, used to see it in the tanks of old Ellison starters. The oil is generally refined vegetable oil, the PCB stuff was generally for high voltage transformers, but don't have a bath in it, just in case!
Phil

[hermetic]

Can't get in to take a pic of the welder, in fact I can only get to it by climbing from a pile of electric motors, onto the mig welder, onto the vice of the Rapidor, then onto the welder, but I managed to uncover the top plate, it is a Pickhill Giant, made in Thirsk!
Phil.