Oxford Oil Cooled Welder problem on low settings

[reb78]

I was messing around with the old Oxford oil cooled arc welder today. I haven't used it much as its not long since I re-wired it after inheriting it from the late father in law. Its wired to run on 2 phase. On the lowest settings, I cant really get it to do much. Earth is good (changed the clamp today), put a rod in and it just sparks but I cant get it to actually create an arc. Whop it up to middle to high settings and it burns right through what I am welding.

I then realised that it has two connections for the stick end... One says low voltage for the higher amps and the other for high voltage for the lower amps. I swapped them over and it worked on some of the low settings but not the lowest (30 and 40 amps). I just cant get a good arc, so it sparks and the rod will stick but there isnt an arc to speak of (not that I can create anyway!)

It says 16G rod on these. The rod i was playing with was 2.5mm. Should this have caused an issue on these lower amp settings?

Any ideas?

 

[eddie49]

With a multimeter set to the 200v AC range, measure and note the output voltages from Earth to Stick on all the various settings.

 

[frank horton]

not sure u'd weld with a2.5rod at those low settings....
I'd go for a smaller rod....
better still if it's than thin metal use a mig...
my oxford never get used below 125amps....but it's always 3mm min metal...

 

[Mikes]

16 Gauge is 1.6 mm so rod too large for setting.

 

[8ob]

Take the top of the welder off and check the contacts on the lower settings, they sometimes need a clean and tweek to tighten them up on the divider/wedge.

Bob

 

[brightspark]

no way will it burn a 2.5 rod on 40 amp its even difficult to weld with a 16g

 

[reb78]

Great. Thanks all. It looks like I'm just using the wrong rods! I'm just playing and am OCD about my tools working properly.

My other motive is that i seem to be able to consistently weld much better with arc than mig so wanted to get this machine working fully. I might post another thread about that though!

 

[WorkshopChris]

As above 2.5mm is to big for the lowest settings. I have a few 1.6mm rods left dad got a box years back, they must be over 40 years old but they are a great rod to keep in the toolbox for emergenceys when you need to tack or patch a thin pannel and no mig or tig is avaliable.