Hello folks,
I'm new to this forum, and a novice welder. About a year ago, I bought my first welder, a very second hand Weldspares 120 Mig, which has been ok until the circuit board failed a few weeks back. A very techy friend is working out a cricuit diagram and assures me he will repaire it, but it will take some time.
To get me welding again, I've just bought a Butters Autoweld 160 (even more second hand, I think it must be about 20 years old )
As soon as I got it to my workshop, I gave it a try, and was gutted , as it would not strike an arc on any power setting. I was being hasty, I was using it off a 15 mtr 10 amp extension lead, and had not connected the Argoshield gas.
Next day, I had more time, I cleaned up the earth clamp, and the trigger switch, connected the gas, and plugged into a ring main socket, and it works great, ... better than the Weldspares machine.
Was it not striking an arc because I was using a low current extension lead ? or does the gas HAVE to be connected in order to arc properly ?
Also, have I bought an old dinosaur, or a classic 'gem',.. Clearly I know nothing about these machines, but although its very shabby, it looks very well made,.. any comments would be appreciated. Thanks.
I'm new to this forum, and a novice welder. About a year ago, I bought my first welder, a very second hand Weldspares 120 Mig, which has been ok until the circuit board failed a few weeks back. A very techy friend is working out a cricuit diagram and assures me he will repaire it, but it will take some time.
To get me welding again, I've just bought a Butters Autoweld 160 (even more second hand, I think it must be about 20 years old )
As soon as I got it to my workshop, I gave it a try, and was gutted , as it would not strike an arc on any power setting. I was being hasty, I was using it off a 15 mtr 10 amp extension lead, and had not connected the Argoshield gas.
Next day, I had more time, I cleaned up the earth clamp, and the trigger switch, connected the gas, and plugged into a ring main socket, and it works great, ... better than the Weldspares machine.
Was it not striking an arc because I was using a low current extension lead ? or does the gas HAVE to be connected in order to arc properly ?
Also, have I bought an old dinosaur, or a classic 'gem',.. Clearly I know nothing about these machines, but although its very shabby, it looks very well made,.. any comments would be appreciated. Thanks.
