Re: Need project ideas for the winter

On Mon, 12 Dec 2005 13:13:46 -0600, ShadowHawk
<shadowNOSPAMhawk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>I've got (3) gas-powered motors that were GIVEN to me... all run, in fact,
>for their age, they run VERY well...
>
>2 were on sidewalk edgers.. (2hp B&S - Horizontal shaft), and the other-
>A lawnmower's 5hp B&S vertical shaft with the extra vertical shaft output
>for powering the "self propelled" part of the mower
>
>Now.. I've seen several of the plans online for gas-powered welders, and
>gas-powered generators - using auto-alternators... But has anyone here on
>- list actually ever *made* one of these projects? And have they worked?
>And more importantly... Would a 2HP horizontal shafted motor power an
>alternator with enough "umph" to actually work under a welding load?
>
>How about that 300amp DC welder that's in the "Surplus Center" catalog
>(Page 96, Item #673 - 300Amp DC welding generator)... Maybe I could mount
>it vertically for the 5HP motor...
>
>I hate to let these motors sit idle.. not working or serving a purpose..
>and I'm sure not gonna get rid of them... So any ideas as to their
>potential uses? The edger & lawnmower frames/bodies went rusty LONG ago,
>and aren't worth messing with... but I'd love to make some project where
>these oldie engines are useful...
>
>Thanks,
>Rex S.
>Richardson, Tx
>shadowhawk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx




Roger P Williams
Feb 24 1998, 12:00 am show options
Newsgroups: misc.survivalism
From: Roger P Williams <r...@xxxxxxxxx> - Find messages by this author
Date: 1998/02/24
Subject: Welder from Alternator, was: Re: good inexpensive welders ?
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This is a synopsis of an article found in Mother Earth News #66,
November/December 1980, "Build a $20 Portable DC Arc Welder."

Materials:
---------
Lawnmower
Automobile alternator (remember, this was 1980 when most of them
didn't have voltage regulators built in)
pulleys and V-belt
deep-cycle battery
Two 1 1/2 ohm, 8 amp resistors (found at auto parts store)
diode and thermal overload switch (usually part of alternator)
ground clamp & welding rod holder

Construction:
------------
The alternator is mounted on the side of the lawnmower so it can be
powered with a V-belt from the lawnmower shaft. The battery sits atop
the
mower in front of the 3HP engine. I can't reproduce the wiring
diagram
but it is simple enough to describe:

Alternator Ground to diode Anode (positive end) and ground clamp

diode Cathode (negative) end to battery negative and Alternator
Armature

Alternator Field series-connected *through* thermal overload, the two
resistors in series, and on/off switch to battery positive and welding
rod holder

Remember, you have to use *thick* wire capable of handling heavy
current,
and make good electrical connections.

Comments from the text:
----------------------
Power is adjusted by varying lawnmower engine speed. Without the
resistors to cut the field voltage, striking an arc would just about
kill
the engine. With a 50 amp alternator maximum penetration is about
1/4"
and because of the low voltage, the welding rod must be held very
close to
the work to maintain an arc; but because it's DC this is easier
because
there is little tendency for it to stick. The unit should also only
be
used about 20 min. at a time to avoid overheating the alternator.
"The thermal cutout will let you know when enough is enough."

Needless to say, the $20 estimate assumes that you scrounge the mower,
battery, and alternator.

Disclaimer:
----------
I have not tried this myself, but it sounds like it would work.

--Roger


Somewhere in my Stuff..is a Scott Welder..gotten from I think Jerry
Martes some years ago...I guess I should find a motor myself and make
one up....


Ya know..I wonder..if a guy could make a few bucks making up a new
version of the old Scott welder and pushing it through the 4x4
magazines and so forth?

Gunner

"Pax Americana is a philosophy. Hardly an empire.
Making sure other people play nice and dont kill each other (and us)
off in job lots is hardly empire building, particularly when you give
them self determination under "play nice" rules.

Think of it as having your older brother knock the *** out of you
for torturing the cat." Gunner
.