Welder Care and Cleanup...

[tomrscott]

So, aside from our friend that waxes the case of his welder /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif , I was wondering it there is some practical care of the cables and things that you guys with more experience would recomend, or do these things seem silly?

For one thing, the used welder and plasma cutter I've got have real good cables, but I think the ozone does attack the rubber and they get kind of dirty. Would there be anything wrong with wiping them down with an Armor All rubber and vinyl cleaner and preservative? Maybe clean them pretty well and then thoroughly wipe off all the excess?

The stick welder torch handle, that grabs the welding rods, the metal jaws are kind of scorched and black. Should I just wire brush these dry, or can I clean them with something that will help remove the carbon? After cleaning, leave them dry, or maybe wipe lightly with some conductive grease, or electrical contact cleaner?

The electrode plug-ins, big connector pins look pretty clean, maybe just a light wiping with fine steel wool to polish them up?

Anything else?

Oh yeah, and then you have to wax the painted cabinet. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[RonR]

I have never seen anyone wax their welder case......... Mine is 30 yrs old and gets the dust blown off of it every decade or so......

I did wrap some 'lectrical tape around the handle where a screw head protuded through and bit me a few times when the ground was wet...............

 

[Soundguy]

I'm with ron.. I view my welder in pretty much the same way as a sealed maintenance free battery.

I guess some mig nozzle splatter grease on the electrode and ground clamps wont 'hurt' anything. Keep in mind the electrode holder is a 'consumable'. In your welders lifetime.. you will be replacing it if you weld much. Keep frayed insulation in check, and that's about it.

Soundguy

 

[Mith]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( So, aside from our friend that waxes the case of his welder )</font>
come on - get it right, i only wax the tractor.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
anyway its shiny enough as it it

back on subjuct - is it ok to wipe it oww with a wet/damp cloth, it isnt going to mess it up is it?

 

[ronjhall]

<font color="blue"> or do these things seem silly? </font>
Tom
I don't do anything with my 3 welders. Except keep cover on the Mig.
If your friend has some spare time and happens to passing through Michigan. Let me know. I will be there to let him wax my Lincoln 295. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[PineRidge]

I put mine on top of the car and run through the touchless car wash. Hit it with the liquid wax cycle too! The blower cycle is iffy.

Just kidding folks, we're professionals don't try this at home..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Meche]

If you have a plasma and a welder then you should probably cover the welder with something. You might want to blow the welder out gently every now and again. The shop I work in has a plasma torch and that metallic dust gets into everything. The mig welder gets problematic when the dust gets onto the wire and rollers.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I thought we were married to our equipment. You know. It'll let us know when it needs some care and attention. Otherwise any moves on are part beyond the obligatory are considered predatory.