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?
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?