Make a Tig Welder Out of a Alternator

[JW125M]

i found this thread and i am thinkin about going to junkyard tommrow and making one!!!badazz http://www.turbomustangs.com/forums/showthread.php?s=567dd3ac4f2b3ae33138b7966f49adcf&threadid=8872&perpage=20&pagenumber=1

[nate b]

that guy is good

[JW125M]

im going to use a 5hp briggs engine..and a ford 130 amp alt and see how it works...his rig looks awesome :D

[KASEY]

sorry to say.. that 5 hp briggs will not pull a 130 amp alternator ,,, the smallest 150 amp miller gas powered welder has a 16 hp motor,,,, so i think you won't get much out of it,,,,,

[JW125M]

5.5hp Honda side shaft motor, a 2:1 pulley ratio (to spin the alternator to ~6900rpm) that'll work! or i can always go with the electrical motor....this is better than spending 1000s of $ for a tig..just make one for just under $200

[Crash104936221]

6900prm is alot i would find out what the alts rpm is when the engine is turning at 1200-2000rpm since that is the most likly peak amp output and gear to get that speed

[Ace Mon]

Man doesnt this wreak of a McGuyver episode ? LOL

[KASEY]

LOL!!!!if it won't pull it at 1:1 ratio it deffinatly won't at 2:1 ... i use to have a alternator /welder setup in an old chevy truck ,, it had a 130 amp alternator with a dual pulley and the belts had to be TIGHT it needed it when you struck an arc!!!
it was designed for emergency use only too,,, just imagine how much gas it would use ,,,, when you have a 350ci engine running @2500 rpms to weld something,,, not very practical,,,,,,,,

[JW125M]

Ya you are right kasey....did trailprotrailpro truck get a good bead?...i just thought it looked cool to try but now that i see it..i see what u sayin

[Crash104936221]

LOL!!!!if it won't pull it at 1:1 ratio it deffinatly won't at 2:1 ... i use to have a alternator /welder setup in an old chevy truck ,, it had a 130 amp alternator with a dual pulley and the belts had to be TIGHT it needed it when you struck an arc!!!
it was designed for emergency use only too,,, just imagine how much gas it would use ,,,, when you have a 350ci engine running @2500 rpms to weld something,,, not very practical,,,,,,,,


ya but was a it a ARC welder or a TIG? i belive that the tig dosent require the current the arc dose

[SoCalDesertRider]

wow, that guy made a pretty good weld with that homebrew contraption!

[Kilborg]

My dad worked for a garage when I was very young and they had a old dodge wrecker... had like 400k when they were done with it (The frame was welded together spliced with swingset). Thing was a beast....Anyway at one point I'm pretty sure they had a welder running off the altenator, but I'm sure it was arc.

They bought it for 50 bucks and went out to a field to get it. Engine started up and stuff but the frame was horrible, and the body was actually on the ground. They jacked it up and used the swingset...The truck was a damn good vehicle for them considering what they ended up with. they got it with like 280k and it was like 402k when it was done.