Tool Talk

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Aunt Phil on June 03, 2015, 10:57:03 PM

Title: Forgot I had this stashed
Post by: Aunt Phil on June 03, 2015, 10:57:03 PM

Now I gotta wonder if the Department of War will come after me for having it.

Honest, I pulled it off a pile headed for the scrapper 20 years back. 

Pretty sure it needs new leads too.

Title: Re: Forgot I had this stashed
Post by: skipskip on June 04, 2015, 09:29:09 AM

It's a welder??

Title: Re: Forgot I had this stashed
Post by: Aunt Phil on June 04, 2015, 12:07:57 PM

Not a welder, very similar power unit but much lower amperage.

It's an electric Arc engraver.  This machine is still made with an electronic power unit, which has a use life of a few years, this oldie is still going and has to be early World War II vintage.  Hopefully I can find more information on it on the WWW.

Title: Re: Forgot I had this stashed
Post by: HeelSpur on June 04, 2015, 02:01:46 PM

 :embarrassed:


Looks dangerous to me.

Title: Re: Forgot I had this stashed
Post by: johnsironsanctuary on June 04, 2015, 04:35:30 PM

WOW!! Now you too can screw up collector tools for future owners. Seriously, nifty score.

Title: Re: Forgot I had this stashed
Post by: Aunt Phil on June 04, 2015, 10:04:27 PM

Quote from: johnsironsanctuary on June 04, 2015, 04:35:30 PM

WOW!! Now you too can screw up collector tools for future owners. Seriously, nifty score.

I'll make you the same offer I make everybody when it comes to marking tools.
You replace mine that grow legs and walk off, and I won't mark my tools.

Mine were born to work, not sit around and look pretty.

Title: Re: Forgot I had this stashed
Post by: JoeCB on June 06, 2015, 02:10:56 PM

I too have a similar old school arc engraver. I don't have much need for engraving things, However I have used it as a mini EDM to disintegrate small broken off taps. It works, a little slow but saved the day.

Joe B       

Title: Re: Forgot I had this stashed
Post by: Aunt Phil on June 07, 2015, 02:24:46 AM

Quote from: JoeCB on June 06, 2015, 02:10:56 PM

I too have a similar old school arc engraver. I don't have much need for engraving things, However I have used it as a mini EDM to disintegrate small broken off taps. It works, a little slow but saved the day.

Joe B     

Joe that idea fascinates me.  I did have some experience years back with a machine called a Tap Disintigrator that used a vibrating hollow copper electrode with kerosene flowing through it to eat taps in their hole, and have considered using a TIG machine to attempt the same task. 
The engraver power supply may be closer to the power unit on the Disintigrator, low voltage and high amperage.
I  did a little quick Amprobe testing today and found the engraver will produce over 200 amps at less than 2 volts running full out.

What do you use as an electrode to destroy taps?  Are you running any flush/cooling liquid?

Title: Re: Forgot I had this stashed
Post by: JoeCB on June 08, 2015, 03:33:58 PM

I used a piece of TIG tungsten rod. But I suppose that just about anything would work. Now, understand that I'm dealing with small taps, #6 - # 8. If you have a broken 3/4 - 10 stuck in a solid block... lot's of luck.

Joe B

Title: Re: Forgot I had this stashed
Post by: Aunt Phil on June 08, 2015, 10:29:20 PM

3/4 would be a walk in the park, plenty of room to weld it out.  Taps shrink a lot when you run a pass down the flute, same system we use for removing sleeves from Diesels, compressors and valves. 

I'm currently thinking the power unit is very similar to the old Weller 300 watt soldering gun, all kinds of amperage with low voltage.