Scored a few goodies today!

Big Barn · Dec 4, 2015

I think in my dying days when I fondly look back at TBN, three photos come to mind that I KNOW will bring a smile to my face..

Shield Arc's shorthood pictured above

James' KOua's bucket hooks And Steve's ( BuckitCase) Plasma Cart Plumbing Extravaganza

Lots of others too but thanks everyone.

.

..back on topic Terry

BukitCase · Dec 4, 2015

"Steve's (Buckitcase) Plasma Cart Plumbing Extravaganza"

Wow, what an honor - first of all I'd like to thank my former pipeline welder Bob, both for getting me started in arc welding and for the loan of his SA-200 til I got permanent power to the home I was building back in 1975. Next, I'd like to thank my (then) local auto parts guy LeRoy for alerting me to a sweet deal on an ac/dc 250 amp welder in another branch of his organization. Then, there was this guy......

All seriousness aside, I still stand by my design - I don't think it's extravagant when every component serves a purpose (although they may not have needed to be stainless :laughing

In fact, there isn't even a refrigerated moisture separator involved (yet), but only for lack of room at the time

I've re-posted the pic Terry alluded to for my not-yet-indoctrinated fans

Gratefully, shiny (but denying any allegations of extravagance)... Steve

dntfxr · Dec 5, 2015

I got a chance to try out the plasma cutter and the ln25. The cutter is made to be run off another welder as a power source. It didn't seem to get along with my Dialarc. Not sure why but it would initiate pilot arc then just sort of stutter, and occasionally it sounded like the Dialarc would almost max out and kinda roar. I downloaded the Starcut manual and it lists different power sources that were compatible and sure enough the Dialarc isn't mentioned. But the SA200 is, so maybe once I get that going I can try again with it.
The LN-25 however works great, and it seems to be a great combo running on the Dialarc. Is that even kosher, running a blue and red machine together? Oh well, I really like it lol! I really expected it to be finicky running off a cc welder but it once dialed it it was very smooth. I don't have a lot of mig experience but it seemed to run similar to 7018, except you don't have to stop and reload

. These are the first beads I ran with .045 and .035 flux core once dialed in. Nothing to write home about but I am really surprised at how smooth the arc is. It is very nice, in fact better than my little mig welder. I think I will go ahead and set it up with gas and try it like that too. I could do without the spatter.

Shield Arc · Dec 5, 2015

If your LN-25 is part number G1757-2 through G1757-5, there is an 1/8-AMP fuse under the cover inside the machine that can burn out. Good idea to get an extra one.

dntfxr · Dec 5, 2015

Shield Arc said:
If your LN-25 is part number G1757-2 through G1757-5, there is an 1/8-AMP fuse under the cover inside the machine that can burn out. Good idea to get an extra one.

Good call it is popped! I'll pick some up this week. What does this control? Hopefully the contactor, my wire is hot all the time. In function though it's not bad at all being hot, just like stick welding really. Thanks for the heads up SA!

Shield Arc · Dec 5, 2015

Yeah when the LN-22s came out they were hot all the time. Kind of a PITA! And boy you can go through a lot of contact tips, with the wire being hot all the time.

Here is a picture of an LN-22.
And I scanned this right out of the LN-25s manual about the fuse.

dntfxr · Dec 7, 2015

I got the shorthood in the shop and snapped a couple more pics. Rats nest and dirt daubers under the cover. Besides weathering, doesn't seem to be too bad actual wear on the gen side. Probably less use on a farm vs a professional welder. The bearing was pretty dry but it took grease, quite a bit in fact. Guess I'll check compression then start with a carb kit and a look at what the mag needs. The oil looks good anyway, and the starter turns over. Looks like someone welded the exhaust pipe to the manifold..

dntfxr · Dec 7, 2015

Shield Arc said:
Yeah when the LN-22s came out they were hot all the time. Kind of a PITA! And boy you can go through a lot of contact tips, with the wire being hot all the time.
Here is a picture of an LN-22.
And I scanned this right out of the LN-25s manual about the fuse.

Ok thanks, I had seen that page in the pdf manual but couldn't find the number anywhere until I checked the board under cover. Mine is a 1757-3 so the fuse "interrupts the 500a lead to the trigger switch". Does that mean it interrupts the contactor function or what exactly? I'm still not sure I even have a contactor or what it looks like. I'll see if I can locate a replacement fuse today.

Shield Arc · Dec 7, 2015

I think all that fuse does is protect the circuit board. It shouldn't have anything to do with the contactor. You can remove the metal cover inside, if there is a little black box between the welding lead, then most likely you have a contactor. If the welding wire will arc, with out you pulling the trigger, you don't have a contactor.

Big Barn · Dec 7, 2015

A while back when I initially hooked up my bench feeder I had my first experience with mig 'electrode hot'. Momentarily scared the crap outta me.

Wasn't until the next day that I realized I had my machine's process switch on the wrong setting.