PORTABLE WELDER ,HOW MANY CARRY ONE ?????????

justcruisin01 · Guru

PORTABLE WELDER ,HOW MANY CARRY ONE ?????????

DeBe · Guru

Hi justcruisino1. I carry a set of welding leads, rods in a bit of plastic tube a short jumper to join 2 x 12V baterys & a piece of flat sheet aluminium with a welding lense stuck in it. Takes very little space & works too.

dave06 · Guru

the trouble is with a 24 volt welder it has very limited capacity, if I'm "out there" and a mudguard cracks or breaks (which is about as far as a 24 volt dc welder will penetrate) I just chuck it on the trailer, no biggy, be carefull that you dont let the rod "stick" too long or you will blow your battery

you may even flatten your battery by welding with it and leave yourself stranded

what I would like to know is how do I get the bosses diesel portapack welder/ generator mig stick and arc into a confined space such as a camper

I've also used mine to start a campfire by running two wires down into a piece of steel wool, it lights and burns quite good and easily starts a fire, just keep it away from the battery gases

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

I carry a 24V DC mig welder called a "Readywelder II". Search google for it.
It provides about 280A of welding power at 24V and is no toy.
Weighs about 6kg.
It can also use gassless or gas wire and weld aluminium or s/s.
I have used it on the side of the road in the bush.

Cheers,
Peter

dave06 · Guru

yeah! probably one of the better ones!

DeBe · Guru

Actualy Dave i dont carry the gear for permanent repairs, more to get me out of trouble if necesary. To get some where there is a decent welder for more permenent repairs. Cheers Daryl.

dave06 · Guru

my main concern is that the young players that are reading this will go out and hook a couple of batterys together in an attempt to start welding, this is fraught with danger to the uninitiated

I have seen batteries explode and ignite the engine bay, I have come across stranded motorists who have patched up a mudguard and then the vehicle wont start

this is a very good post and will be very usefull but please explain to the folks your procedures to using the welding method described with safety!

justcruisin01 · Guru

I was refering to the 2 battery system.

Have used it once on Cape York to repair a trailer aframe .

2 x N70ZZ batteries , [ removed from vehicle ]

enough amps to blow holes in 6mm on a vertical up weld, & over head .
on a flat weld the slag was rolling up behind the weld
cut , straighend ,repaired and plated both sides of the aframe.
approx 600m in length of weld .
no drop in amps .
refit batteries, normal start ,on the road again.

it came all the way home with no problems,
a couple years later i cut it all out & made a new one.

-- Edited by justcruisin01 on Tuesday 10th of November 2009 04:58:46 PM

DeBe · Guru

Sory about that Dave Il have ago. 1. use both batterys away from the vehicle & make sure welding is done as far away from the batterys as possible, so there wont be any sparks near battery& make sure no persons are near batterys. Provided you are using resonable size batterys eg 2X N70ZZ a small welding job shouldnt flaten the batterys. If your likely to flatten your batterys make sure you carry a generator & decent charger. If you are realy nervous about batterys exploding chuck a bag over them, that should cover any acid being sprayed around ( yes I still carry acouple of old wheat bags in the back of the vehicle )Guess I must be lucky havent had any prob yet.

dave06 · Guru

thanks fellers, I use to use the same system, I managed to get hold of 2 mill welding rods and I found they worked very well running at 24 volts for small running repairs, I dont carry it anymore, not mig as in peters case, hadnt seen that particular one before and it looks good

I seen a feller in kadina, he had a pair of jumper leads with no electrode trying to weld his mudguard back on to his camper trailer because he read about welding with a battery, I shuddered and said to him that he needs an electrode, he couldnt be told

Wombat 280 · Guru

Dave, the steel wool as a fire lighter is a great asset when timber is a little damp or the wind is blowing in all directions, have used it many times even a match will start it and once underway it will keep going . Good inclusion in any survival pack.

dave06 · Guru

absolutely I've done it a couple of times and I know it works, as in all things look after your battery and keep it well away from the fire or sparks,

I would just like the welder explanation to be continued a bit more, I dont want to do it as I see it as taking over the post, it is a very handy thing to know and very usefull when "out there" and in a wee bit of strife

DeBe · Guru

Hi Dave06, I have found 2.5MM rods are quite easy to use on 24V, I keep a few Gpurpose & Weldall rods in a piece of 25mm PVC tubing with end caps on too keep them dry, small cold chisel to chip of slag & 4inch angle grinder with afew cutting & grinding disks.

humpy · Veteran Member

we carry one the same as DeBe but we use 2mm rods as Dave says it just gives a bit better bight

Disco Duck · Guru

A toilet roll soaked in petrol and a set of jumper leads is a great way to start a fire. They burn for ages. You just have to hope that noone needs to go at that time.