Finally put my hands on a welder

[HughF]

Ummm. it's heavy, full of oil, has 100% duty cycle... They are not designed to be moved, more left under a bench and used with long leads. It will need a 32a type C breaker (probably, I just run it straight of a generator as I have no mains)...

 

[solemnwarning]

Oh, didn't realise they took /that/ much power. I've only got 13A (plus however much leeway a plug fuse has) in the shed.

 

[Kent]

Don't go bigger than 2.5 mm rods. Real good rods will cost more than the plant is worth for a full box so go get some super 6 in a 2.5 mm e 6013
These will need pretty much full power normally about 70-80 but I do run them hotter at times
Problem is this sort of plant hardly ever puts out its rated power and fades then trips quickly when you do wind it up

 

[solemnwarning]

Got back to it after a week or so of absence today.

Started by putting a fan in the welder, then made some (terrible) beads to try it out. Went through about 8 rods before the cutout kicked in, took about 5 minutes to come back on then cut out again after 2.5 rods... which is about what it was before I feel. The air coming out never got very warm, so I assume the hot parts are blocked off from the ventilation.

The plate also warped a little bit and touched the bench... whoops.