Grounding the work table

[hokiefd]

That was a hoot and some of the scariest disregard for electrical safety that I've seen in a long time. There was a time long, long ago and hopefully long forgotten when similar products were actually sold right here in the US of A. As a youngster I developed an early interest in all things electrical and mechanical. As soon as I could save up $15 I ordered a welder out of the back pages of Popular Mechanics magazine. Ready to go right out of the box with hood and starter supplies. While I was able to operate the carbon arc torch accessory I never was able to get it to strike a decent arc. Mine was the Midway Electric Arc Welder in the picture below taken from a 1966 Popular Mechanics review of several versions of this suicide box. They actually gave them a decent review. Fortunately I've alway had a healthy respect for electricity so I didn't become a victim before retiring the unit to my parent's garage where I guess they eventually tossed it out. Just 120 VAC thru some coils of nichrome wire to limit the current. They were all a subject of a product safety recall in 1976 after a zillion of them were sold. I've seen write ups of folks doing similar welding using a 220 V electric water heater as the current limiter. Thank you very much but I'll stick with my 200 DX.



Gary

Yep, those old welders were pretty scary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-7av4qMFfQ

[Rodsmachineshop]

lol god i am old i had one of those welders . the was very simple inside they use like a large coil windings like a toaster and a transformer. it was a carbon rod welder welded like crap lol

[ncsugrad2006]

lol god i am old i had one of those welders . the was very simple inside they use like a large coil windings like a toaster and a transformer. it was a carbon rod welder welded like crap lol

How the heck did that even work with having two rods like that? Did you have to contro, a rod on both sides of the metal or what?

[Rodsmachineshop]

pos and leg leads are on torch you squeeze together to the rite gap and the carbon rod arc and that were you get the heat sorta like gas welding lol worked like crap lol hey like my homemade plasma cutter