Funniest thing I've heard all week

[Sebculb]

Hola everyone,

So we're working building this house with thin gauge galvanised and some of the other welders told me about this homemade welding contraption called a tamale pot ("tamalera", this was in Spanish). It's a plastic five gallon bucket filled halfway with water, and a couple bags of salt added. They stick a hot 110 wire in there with another wire leading out that goes to the electrode holder. That regulates the amperage, if you want higher amps move the two wires closer together and move them apart for lower amps. I haven't seen it yet but was assured that they most definitely exist and work.

Anyone ever heard of this? I'm sure some will say it's too dangerous but it seems like it could work, especially if you made some kind of scissors jig to hold the wires apart out of wood or PVC.

Was thinking this would be a great topic for my daughter's third grade science project next year!

 

[RNeumann]

Yah it works! I cancelled my electrical utility service after I discovered this trick a few years back! To run my AC I use a 55 gal bucket though. And since salt doesn’t lose its saltiness it’s actually quite environmentally friendly.

 

[Thomas]

I am not brave enough to try that.

 

[Sebculb]

Yah it works! I cancelled my electrical utility service after I discovered this trick a few years back! To run my AC I use a 55 gal bucket though. And since salt doesn’t lose its saltiness it’s actually quite environmentally friendly.

Fabulous! ...Uhhh, but i'm confused about cancelling your electric service and running your AC... like alternating current? or air conditioning?

Or do you live off grid now and use a generator with a 55 gallon tamale pot to weld with? That's a lot of tamales!

 

[pmsmechanic]

So to break in a rebuilt 3 phase generator motor you put three rods into barrel of salt water. You hook up the generator to the rods, one per phase. Start the generator and lower the rods into the salt water until the generator has a nice load on it. As the motor breaks in you lower the rods to increase the load. After 2-3 hours the motor is ready for service. I don't see why this wouldn't work to regulate current.

I'm also curious about the cancelling the electric service story.

 

[BertZegers]

About 55 years ago there was a fair in town. On the fair was a Mary go round. The operator started the electric motor by pushing a handle connected to a bar with metal plates in a tub with fluid. The deeper the plates were in the fluid, the faster the Mary go round would go. I think it produced a little steam when the plates went in the fluid.
Later in science class I figured the fluid must have been something like salt water.

I saw other kids taking a ride in the Mary go round, and it looked fun to me. So I climbed on it as well. When the operator had the Mary go round turning, he would go round himself to collect the money. I had none and he grabbed me in my collar and put me of the turning Mary go round. This was the first time in my life that I felt very embarrassed. Unfortunately not the last time.

 

[Sebculb]

Hola Bert, I bet that taught you to be a merry-go-round stowaway! Kind of an Oliver Twist moment...

What's the pic of? some kind of antique dimmer switch?

 

[dragoneggs]

Back to the saltwater... I suggest one experiments with different dilutions and especially with different salts. Kosher, Epsom, rock... Better yet, if you can secure an old 'Mag' wheel, then you can really up the kW. Seriously, not just any Mag but the original Magnesium wheels. That and a 55gal drum and you will get somewhere!

 

[Lelandwelds]

Hola everyone,

So we're working building this house with thin gauge galvanised and some of the other welders told me about this homemade welding contraption called a tamale pot ("tamalera", this was in Spanish). It's a plastic five gallon bucket filled halfway with water, and a couple bags of salt added. They stick a hot 110 wire in there with another wire leading out that goes to the electrode holder. That regulates the amperage, if you want higher amps move the two wires closer together and move them apart for lower amps. I haven't seen it yet but was assured that they most definitely exist and work.

Anyone ever heard of this? I'm sure some will say it's too dangerous but it seems like it could work, especially if you made some kind of scissors jig to hold the wires apart out of wood or PVC.

Was thinking this would be a great topic for my daughter's third grade science project next year!

No transformer so you have 20 amps available with variable voltage? Sounds like a tinfoil or beer can welder. Spot welders need 5 volts and a few hundred amps and more. Mig needs 19 volts and 70 amps or more. Stick needs 40 volts and 110 amps or more.

I think Gilligan and the Professor did this with coconuts. McGyver did it with potatos or lemons and dissimiliar metals.

 

[thepumpguysc]

HEY.. Don't knock McGyver.!!!
I saw him stop a Nuclear reactor melt down w/ chocolate bars from a vending machine.. He saved the WORLD.!!
I just thank my luck stars theres people like him around..{Lol}