Western Arctronics ancient stick welder - anybody familiar with this?

[stuckmotor]

When I rewrote my last message I accidentally left out the part where I thanked you guys for giving me more information on using an arc torch than I've found in a lifetime.
To the OP my apologies for hijacking your thread. The information that has been provided was too good not to pursue.

 

[rankrank1]

Here is a link to an older thread I posted in on this site. One of my posts in that thread I link to another site I also posted on a few years back. Lots of info about Twin Carbon Arc in the 2 threads. Nothing more I can really add.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/welding/280273-carbon-arc-welding-brazing.html?highlight=carbon

 

[stuckmotor]

Thanks rankrank1. I'll check it out.

 

[stuckmotor]

rankrank,
Your link gave me more good information. The diy torch in the Instructable is the one I made with slight modifications. One day I might grab it, replace the spring and try again.
Thanks,
Stuck

 

[rankrank1]

Hope making one (or making improvements to one you already made) works for you. That said do not give up on finding an older factory made one either as they are still out there. I found my Montgomery Wards Twin Carbon Arc Torch on Craigslist for like $15 or $20 and my 2 Lincoln torches at an auction for $6 total for both of them. Lincoln still offered the units in their catalog as of a couple years ago (although they have since been discontinued them ). Way back in the olden days Lincoln included that torch for free with every AC-225 Tombstone they sold and they sold lots of em. Accordingly, My guess is you will find more Lincolns than any other type out there in peoples barns and flea markets.

 

[California]

The diy torch in the Instructable is the one I made with slight modifications. One day I might grab it, replace the spring and try again.

You might set up a 'notify me' search on ebay and let it run for a while. I just looked in welding/sold listings/carbon arc torch/under $50, and found one that went for $37.50 that needed fresh cables. Try some alternate names/spellings/categories too, that's how to find one that is overlooked by others.

Or a Searchtempest nationwide search of Craigslist.

15 years ago I found my second one in a thrift store including an owner-made box. I think it was $5 and I wouldn't have paid much more than that since I already had one.

 

[Big Barn]

15 years ago I found my second one in a thrift store including an owner-made box. I think it was $5 and I wouldn't have paid much more than that since I already had one.

DANG! I KNEW I shouldn’t have thrown mine out!!!

 

[stuckmotor]

Rankrank and California,
Thanks for those suggestions. After I get up some energy I may begin a search for a used torch.

 

[CNC Dan]

That's good to hear. So the OCV and full-load voltage are in the ballpark for stick welding then?.....

Further research: Googling that name, P. O. Box, and address all I found in the modern era was a now-vacant warehouse, and a firm in the Midwest now using the Arctronics trademark for their line of specialty spot welders. I now think this unit was the dedicated power supply for a spot welder offered years earlier than what is shown in this 1960's (??)


http://www.sterlingmachinery.com/media/brochures1/file/Western-Arctronics-Spot-Welders-Brochure.pdf . Note the equivalent KVA spot welder in the catalog isn't rated like a stick welder. Instead it specs 7,000 amps for a half second, for each spot weld.

It's definitely a stick welder. The open-circuit voltage for a spot welder will be much much lower and the current would be much much higher.

It looks like a good old school AC welder.
Note that it can be configured to work on 230 volt power or 115 volt power.