New Oxford Bantam 150

[tombardier]

Greetings,

Just thought I'd show off my new toy! I was fitting my neighbours tow bar to his Discovery today, and he just happened to wonder if I wanted an arc welder that was taking up room in his garage. His rods had long since rotted away, and he'd never used it a lot anyway. Almost broke my back moving it from one house to the other, but I thought I'd show it off - can't wait to try it, because I haven't even checked the oil or switched it on yet!

 

[Engineer1964]

Nice its a 240 and 3 phase machine, 180 amp these seem to go for about £100 minium possibly more since its 180amp on fleabay so great neigbour

If you need to fill it up with oil then you need "Transformer Oil" its a special oil used in electrical equipment Morris Do it but its pretty expensive

http://www.morrislubricantsonline.co.uk/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=334

 

[tombardier]

Thanks might give it an oil change and a bit of a cleanup + some new cables, then put it into production!

 

[Engineer1964]

Just saw this one on ebay, Some people can dream £300 yeah right

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Oxford-ar...493?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a798cbc15

 

[brightspark]

Thanks might give it an oil change and a bit of a cleanup + some new cables, then put it into production!

i bet u wont give it an oil change nor when u find out the price and how many gallons it takes . mines 35 years old and the oil is as clean as the day it was put in .edit the red colour isnt rust

 

[tombardier]

Thanks for the advice and photos guys! I really want to try it, but I'm at the mother in laws tonight! any advice on how long I could make the electrode/ earth leads? don't want to move the welder too often haha!

 

[brightspark]

i use 35mm cable about 12meters long each piece. it will cover over 180 amps

 

[Engineer1964]

i use 35mm cable about 12meters long each piece. it will cover over 180 amps

I agree, you need a good 35mm cable but its not cheap, i found a bargain on ebay for £4.30 a metre

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Welding-C...332?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a614026b4

 

[tombardier]

Yoikes! Maybe I won't be extending my cables then, that's surpisingly expensive!

 

[Engineer1964]

Yoikes! Maybe I won't be extending my cables then, that's surpisingly expensive!

The £4.30 a metre was the cheapest, One guy on there was £28 a metre

 

[eil]

Put it on some bigger wheels then, good score there Tombardier.

 

[sardine]

I scrapped a big transformer a month back and binned the oil, maybe i will drain them off in future ?

if old oil is run through a filter will it be re-sellable ?

 

[Robotstar5]

if old oil is run through a filter will it be re-sellable ?

There are commercial oil cleaning companies example don't know if would be worth making the filter system on cost grounds?

 

[Pete.]

I have a precious 2L tin of bushing oil to top mine up. It's very high quality transformer oil and for it's intended use only has a shelf life of a few months I'm told, then they have to dispose of it. Heck, I'd have it just for the posh tin.

If you know anyone who works for the leccy board on substations you might be able to cop a similar tin.

 

[brightspark]

I have a precious 2L tin of bushing oil to top mine up. It's very high quality transformer oil and for it's intended use only has a shelf life of a few months I'm told, then they have to dispose of it. Heck, I'd have it just for the posh tin.

If you know anyone who works for the leccy board on substations you might be able to cop a similar tin.

a. mate of mine works for them on the high voltage transformers one old guy ran his landrover on it for years .now its all health and safety and enviromental and wheres it gone

 

[tombardier]

Well, I've just got back from a nice holiday in the Lake District, so I still haven't had a chance to play with my new toy!! Anyone know whether I need to fill it up right to the top, as there's a gap of a couple of inches at the top. I certainly can't afford 25 litres, and I haven't had much luck finding any in smaller amounts. If I want to put it in to production, I guess I have a second reason to start hanging around with electricity board people (the first reason being their nice landy's )

 

[madkayaker]

Be aware that old oil cooled oil can contain pcb's which is really nasty stuff! there should be room for the oil to expand as it heats up which is why there is breathers on the top of the tank. I have access to used but good for lv work oil (pcb free) if I had seen you needed some could have meet up as I live near Penrith!

 

[brightspark]

Well, I've just got back from a nice holiday in the Lake District, so I still haven't had a chance to play with my new toy!! Anyone know whether I need to fill it up right to the top, as there's a gap of a couple of inches at the top. I certainly can't afford 25 litres, and I haven't had much luck finding any in smaller amounts. If I want to put it in to production, I guess I have a second reason to start hanging around with electricity board people (the first reason being their nice landy's )

there not filled to the top there just filled to over half full to cover the the transformer coils . if its not broke dont fix it just use it

 

[tombardier]

Damn, that's typical! To be fair, I wasn't just around the corner, I was down South, camping in Hawkshead, walking up The Old Man of Coniston, and doing a couple of things around there, but I'd love to go again, and get deeper in to the mountains, so you never know! Thanks for the offer!

I just don't know whether I should start working it, not knowing if I've t got enough oil. Will do some more research anyhow!

 

[tombardier]

there not filled to the top there just filled to over half full to cover the the transformer coils . if its not broke dont fix it just use it

ah just over half full you say - well, I've only got a couple of inches of a gap at the top, so I'll just put it in to production based on that!! thank you