Nice score Rob. Around here an old buzz-box goes for $100 US pretty regularly, but you can get them for $50 if you're patient. But either way you're right, even at those prices if you score a good set of leads it's money well spent. Yes, we all go the the scrap yard eventually.... :o/
I also have an old oil cooled unit in the garage, looking at doing a depot of it and turn it into scrap as well. the cables on it are still good, and I will reuse them of course. Not used for over 2 decades, as i have both another air cooled welder and another more used inverter as well. Old cables will probably go to the inverter, but it already has good ( well used) cables as i got it as a shop demo unit at the local mass retailer on sale. Beat them down on price as well, got 2 ( gave the one away to another who needed it, along with the pair of cables it came with) and kept the one, just spent $10 to get a pair of those twist connectors for it to use it properly. Had to pay full retail for those. Makes a big change from the buzz box, learnt how to weld thin sheet metal with it. Still I weld badly, but nothing a grinder, putty and paint cant make look presentable. Not likely to be a Weldmonger, but trying to improve whenever I can. Did also buy a plasma cutter, makes like magic on doing metal work, and a lot faster than any other method of cutting metal. Was sold when a friend helped me out with a 1000l stainless steel tank removal, took 20 minutes from power on, till the tank was in tiny pieces and put on a big cart to take to the scrap yard. Took longer to connect the air and McGyver a 3 phase power connection for that big cutter than the actual job. I was sold there and then.
Closer investigation reveals the coils have aluminium windings. Bummer. Looks like I won't get my $10 back from the scrap metal man. Oh well, will just have to be content with the $200 cables ;)
Separate the core out at least, the core itself will be steel, the rest sub grade and the bare aluminium wire will be worth more than if it is mixed. Primary might be copper though, with the secondary all extruded aluminium strip. Tiny bit of honey in the switch though.
I still have my huge red "Buzz Box" - it does the trick but need a change really. OMG - that old Lincoln must have sat around for years! Pretty crude. :) You sure scored on those cables!
"Pick up a scrap AC unit for next to nothing..." Easier said than done. Around here in my part of the US, these old machines are basically non existent. When you do find one, the seller thinks it is some sort of "collectible" and wants $200 for a rusty old pile of crap. But good on you for finding a great deal and making good use of it!
This is the second $10 unit I've picked up in the last 12 months. Both had long HD cables. Passed the first one on to my Bro-Inlaw. It was a 4 coil Peerless like my AC unit. Looking on GumTree right now there is another Peerless with good looking cables for $35 negotiable. So get it for $20 - $30 and you've got some more very cheap HD cables. Can't lose. AC welders are just going to get cheaper and cheaper as Inverters take over. Cheers Rob
G'day Rob. That thing sure did look ancient inside. I wonder why the fellow did not just sell it for the copper? Oh aluminum, I just saw your post. At least you got some heavy duty leads.
Nice work Rob notice you have a Dawn vice I have a 6 SP Dawn vice looking for some new Jaws are they available in Aus great down under vice would appreciate any help cheers
Hi John, They are available : www.dawntools.com.au/Steel-Jaws www.dawntools.com.au/vices/Vice-Jaws You will have to contact them regarding retail suppliers and prices. Cheers Rob
Hi Daniel. I've never tried it, but I expect not. That torch is designed and jetted for MAPP gas or the current equivalent mix gas. So LPG without oxygen (which is what MAPP gas includes) won't get hot enough. LPG requires a specialised torch such as the Bullfinch auto brazing unit I demonstrate/use for Manganese bronze brazing. Cheers Rob
Hi Daniel, The other alternative is to use oxy/lpg. If you are in Australia you can now buy oxy bottles from Bunnings and return them for full refund or get a refill. Avoids paying exorbitant annual rental on BOC gas bottles. An oxy/lpg set will be cheaper than a Bullfinch kit if you buy it from Hampdon: www.hampdon.com.au/oxygen-and-acetylene-brazing-kit It's very tempting as you can braze much larger work this way. Cheers Rob
xynudu yeah mate I’m in perth and I had a look at the small oxy brazing kits but a lot people say the down side is the oxygen as it goes so quickly watch puts me off a bit mate. Do you know of any Low Temp Brazing rods round that I could try as I’m just getting into brazing. I’ve tried a so called brazing torch from Bunnings which worked after building a house of bricks to braze in but if you have any tips or info that can help it would be appreciated.
You will use four "D" size (9 kg) oxy bottles to one 9 kg LPG cylinder. LPG uses a lot more oxygen than acet does. It comes down to the size of the brazing job you intend to do. The only "low temperature" brazing rods are silver solder/yellow tip that plumbers use on copper pipes. It's not anywhere near as strong as manganese bronze rod and unless it has a very high silver content/very expensive, it's useless on ferrous metals.. Places like Bunnings refer to yellow tip as brazing, which it technically is, but it's a joke really. Cheers Rob
