New toy!

[Jesse masterson]

My brother gave me a high frequency box for welding aluminum , it's a old airco box, I have it hooked to a cheap Hobart stickmate ac dc . Not the best welder out there but definitely not the worst, it's a 225 amp ac 160 dc , it also has a dial on the front of the hf box I presume is heat , but it may be frequency setting, the paint is rusted and flaking so I can't read it. Any suggestions on using this thing!

 

[undercut]

Wow. I haven't heard of that before but it certainly sounds interesting! I'll try to do some googling and if I find anything, I'll get back to you.

 

[undercut]

If you can post some pictures of the unit, that would help. The connectors might give some indication of the unit's capabilities and what that dial is for. I guess you don't know the model number, huh?

 

[Jesse masterson]

It had 4 lugs with nuts on them the 2 inside are electrode and ground from welding machine. The outside 2 lugs are for tig torch and ground for work, I'll try to get my wife 2 post a pic, I'm not as technology savvy as she is, he'll I've only been turnig a computer on for a couple of years. Took me longer to figure out how to turn on a computer than it did a woman,just joking I still ain't figured that out, haha.

 

[undercut]

.... I'm not as technology savvy as she is, he'll I've only been turnig a computer on for a couple of years. Took me longer to figure out how to turn on a computer than it did a woman,just joking I still ain't figured that out, haha.

LOL! I can't find a lot from googling. Hope you can provide a model number or something. Cheers!

 

[yomax4]

Those boxes were fairly common back in the 80's. Century had one too. Pretty crude but HF none the less.

 

[undercut]

Hey, Jesse. Did you try out your new toy? Are you planning to do some aluminum TIG welding with it?

 

[Jesse masterson]

Yea! I welded some very thin aluminum , takes some getting used to , it's not on par with today's technology, but you can't beat the price, It does a good job though just kinda primitive.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Jesse,
Those HF boxes work fine for most people if you aren't pushing for extreme limits. You should get a nice, "fat" arc out of it. Keep the points clean and adjusted, and it will last indefinitely.

 

[Jesse masterson]

Mark, do you happen to know what the gap should be set at on the points. I have no specs on the unit. It's an airco.

 

[Shield Arc]

Don't know about your unit, but a lot of Tig machines the point gap is set at .010.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

I am not sure. SA is right about the old standard. A brief search turned up .007" for a standard Airco Tig. It might vary with your box though...and maybe by model. Our units use much larger point gaps on the units that aren't solid state.

 

[undercut]

Yea! I welded some very thin aluminum , takes some getting used to , it's not on par with today's technology, but you can't beat the price, It does a good job though just kinda primitive.

Been away for a while. Nice to hear you melted some metal! Yeah, can't beat the price. Excellent news. Cheers!

 

[rcowan]

Congrats on the new toy. Keep picking at it.
Brothers are pretty handy sometimes.

RC

 

[Jesse masterson]

Yes, they are.

 

[BlacknTan]

You were lucky to come across one of those high freak boxes, Jesse. I know where there is an old Miller, just sitting not being used anymore, but the owner still won't part with it. But, I keep tryin'......

 

[undercut]

You were lucky to come across one of those high freak boxes, Jesse. I know where there is an old Miller, just sitting not being used anymore, but the owner still won't part with it. But, I keep tryin'......

It's like reeling in a big fish. Patience and determination will win the prize .... LOL!

 

[Jesse masterson]

Funny you'd use that example, I lost the biggest catfish of my life this week. Lack of patience, shoul have worked him alot more.50plus lbs blue out of mississippi

 

[undercut]

Funny you'd use that example, I lost the biggest catfish of my life this week. Lack of patience, shoul have worked him alot more.50plus lbs blue out of mississippi

Shucks! I should have said something before you went fishing! LOL. You'll get one next time. Cheers!