[TheForge] help! welder advice

[greg]

This rig will work but you have to adjust your welding to the
heat of the source. A simple water rheostat will make it
adjustable. Instructions posted on another forum.

"Take the plastic container and fill it 3/4 full of tap water.
Dope with two or three teaspoons of BAKING SODA (do not use other
salts which will produce chlorine gas). Friction fit the two
copper pipes into some form of mounting bracket (plastic or
marine grade plywood, drill oversized holes, wedge in the pipes)
which will allow the pipes to be held firmly, but which allows
release so the pipes may be raised and lowered into the bucket of
doped water. Connect the pipes in series with the pole pig
primary"

The pipe is quick and simple. Plates will provide a larger area for higher
currents. When I was a kid we had one made from a metal container,
with the container being one electrode, and a flat bar as the adjustable 
element.
'course when I was a kid they put carbide in a generator, water dripping on 
it
and made carbide for brazing and cutting. Can you buy carbide these days?

Greg

> Battery Welding: here are some brief instructions on welding with
> batteries. First of all, you need at least two car batteries, but three is
> better. The reason for this is that you need about 36 volts to get a 
> decent
> arc from the weld rod.


>You must wire the batteries in a series fashion. You
> can use a few sets of jumper cables to do so. The batteries must be as far
> away from the welding as possible! Also cover them with a blanket or tarp
> incase of an explosion.
>


> Three batteries: From the first battery, attach a cable from positive to
> negative of the second battery. Then from the second battery, connect a
> cable from the positive to the negative of the third battery. Now, your
> welding rod cable will go from your positive side on your third battery,
> and the ground cable will come off the negative side of the first battery.


> Your ready to weld now! Be real careful!!!!!!