Cleaning an old Forney

[bigtiller]

With the back of the RCA television off, the TV repair man told me back in the 70's to never touch this, even when the TV is unplugged because it is still energized with enough power to harm/kill you.

I would like to open up my welder which is just like the one pictured, to see how dirty it is inside and just maybe figure out why the 120 plug doesn't work....I think it is 120 volt, I bought it used and it has never worked.

Question;
After I unplug it, is there anything inside that will hurt me if I touch it?

Never bitten but still twice shy


Pic was borrowed from the internet.

 

[stevewarner1957]

The thing the TV guy was talking about is a capacitor. They store electrical power to give things a boost when electric motors start or in welders when the arc is struck. I’m not familiar with Forney but it could possibly have one. If you take a insulated screws and short out the 2 output terminals you can make them safe. First you got to identify what might be the capacitor

 

[bigtiller]

The thing the TV guy was talking about is a capacitor. They store electrical power to give things a boost when electric motors start or in welders when the arc is struck. I’m not familiar with Forney but it could possibly have one. If you take a insulated screws and short out the 2 output terminals you can make them safe. First you got to identify what might be the capacitor

He was pointing at the back side [the pointy side] of a 24" picture tube. I forget what he called it, probably was the capacitor.

Where could I get an insulated screw?

 

[stevewarner1957]

Screwdriver

 

[metalbender]

Those old Forney welders are 220v as far as I know. They were the go to welder for prairie farmers as they had rather low power requirement. Also very versatile with various attachments. I have a Forney carbon arc torch, great for heating and brazing. Highly doubt they have a cap but an insulated screwdriver, wired to the chassis, prodding inside, one hand only should free all the nasty residual electrons.

 

[stevewarner1957]

They were great gas station welders as some had built in battery charger circuit with timer and also soldering iron connections. In my hometown one of the auto parts stores carried them. Gas station owners could buy them on time from their parts house. I never welded with one, I’m sure they are ok

 

[user.69169]

First, Forney is still in business and far as I know still very proud of how long those old machines lasted. They may have diagrams on line, can't say for sure.

Been a while since I was inside one of them, but as I recall ain't but a transformer with Multiple taps going to the plugs on front.

It's old and things may be brittle inside, particularly soldered connections. Also might be open connections if it been dropped.

Don't recall if they got the 120 volt from a transformer winding or just grabbed 1 side of the line and neutral. Be easy enough to see once you open it.

MOST IMPORTANT No compressed air over 10psi should be used blowing crud out. Pressure air will do damage.

Them is tough old machines. Many been drowned, hung to dry with the laundry and went back to work.

 

[bigtiller]

I bought this in '93 and kept a towel draped over it while not in use for the last 20 some years. It is working the same now as it did then.

Monkeying with AC electric stuff makes my fingers a little shaky so I think I had better leave well enough alone.

Thanks everyone for the tips.

 

[stevewarner1957]

Don’t fix something that’s not broke. Just have fun using it

 

[Big Barn]

Welcome to the Forney Club bigtiller!