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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
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    Revesby - Sydney Australia
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    Default EMF "Pilot" Arc Welder

    Some scrap from my factory neighbour's car park:
    IMG_0628.jpg IMG_0624.jpg IMG_0625.jpg IMG_0626.jpg IMG_0627.jpg



    Opening it up was quite interesting:
    IMG_0629.jpg IMG_0630.jpg IMG_0631.jpg IMG_0632.jpgIMG_0633.jpg
    as the triple spark gap thingy, slide out rotate handles, and resistance elements, were unexpected. I thought it would use transformer taps!



    This was last used for AC TIG. Its owner said the high frequency thingy was very nice for striking an arc.
    Sadly, I can't fit another big transformer welder – especially one that has been sitting in the rain for 3 years – so I am stripping it. Will keep some parts (ceramic insulators, switch selectors) as keepsakes:
    IMG_0634.jpg


    The cabinet itself if a good height for a small machine/welding/grinding bench. I was also thinking the resistance elements could be wired up as a motor brake, but it would need a big box to put them in.



    P.S. Beware, when stripping old gear like this. Two asbestos panels in it: EMF "Pilot" Arc Welder-img_0637-jpg
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by nigelpearson; 9th Apr 2020 at 12:28 PM. Reason: freakin broken image attachments

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Sydney
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    395

    Default

    I use one of these in my shed.
    So much grunt, easy for a mug welder like me to get good peno all the time.
    I had the earlier model with the exposed contacts but thought I’d update for the later Art Deco style when Boatbuilding TAFE at Meadowbank was relocated and trimmed.
    I had a few of the Tig AC/DC top boxes but when I got my big old Tig moved them on.

    I can’t remember the details but these were first made here in Oz in 1922.
    EMF are the inventors wife’s initials.

    I took one up to Brissy a few years back to a college teacher who chased them as the girls found it easier to strike an arc on the HF rather than touch and have the rod stick to the job.
    You can feel the tingle through your boots when using HF so I’d say OHS has put the kybosch on kids using them nowadaze.
    H.
    Jimcracks for the rich and/or wealthy. (aka GKB '88)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    adelaide
    Posts
    91

    Default

    asbestos and high probability of of the capacitors having PCB's as well

    My father still welds with one i think its older as it has a squarer case and the blade switches are exposed, unfortunately the "HF" no longer works but still welds really well, he bought his from an auction at GMH Woodville when that was winding down in the 1980's

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2011
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    Murray Bridge S Aust.
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    I used to have a couple of them, great for TIGing aluminium, and with the ac/dc converter for stainless too. The pilot section were/are getting harder to find. They had a nickname of Pie warmer, put you lunch on top at about 9.30 and by lunchtime it was ready to eat, great for drying damp rods too.
    Had a chance to get one recently, the bloke chopped it up for scrap as I got there, it had the converter with it also.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    NSW
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    586

    Default

    They look cool.
    But electrically, they sound like a bad deal! What did power cost in 1920 anyway?!

  6. #6
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    Dec 2007
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    Sydney
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    Interesting point as a mate explained to me,whenever they are plugged in and switched on they are drawing a lot of power whether you’re welding or it’s just warming your pies.
    H.
    Jimcracks for the rich and/or wealthy. (aka GKB '88)

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
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    Mallacoota,VIC,Australia
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    Default

    We use to use one at work a bit older than that one though. It's still there actually along with a broken one out in the side shed, I retired it off when I bought the business and just use the Unimig 315 for Tig welding now. They are a great welder though and commonly known as a Pie Warmer. What we found though probably in the couple of years before I bought the business was that it was interfering with our Computer and some programs seemed to cope better than others. Out of interest is there anyone else that using these Welders experiencing computer interference ?.
    All The Best steran50 Stewart

    The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at once.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Healesville
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    2,129

    Default pie warmer

    Here is mine doing it's thing at smoko.....
    Attached Images Attached Images

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
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    York, North Yorkshire UK
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    Hi Stewart,

    Quote Originally Posted by steran50 View Post
    They are a great welder though and commonly known as a Pie Warmer. What we found though probably in the couple of years before I bought the business was that it was interfering with our Computer and some programs seemed to cope better than others. Out of interest is there anyone else that using these Welders experiencing computer interference ?.
    Reminds me of a problem that I had to deal with quite some time ago at a factory making bricks ! They had some enormous machines on site that made bricks by grinding and forming the ground material into bricks ready for firing.

    These machines would stop and start on a regular basis causing massive voltage dips in the power line. Not surprising since the factory was at the end of a long 11Kv line with its own substation on the plant. The nominal 250 volts AC would dip down to around 90 to 100 volts when these things started up causing computers to crash and lights to dim.

    The problem was solved by installing a 25 Kw 440 volt three phase motor generator. It cost them a fortune to buy and install. But what else can you do when you are a mile and a half from the main substation.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  10. #10
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    Murray Bridge S Aust.
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    Quote Originally Posted by steran50 View Post
    Out of interest is there anyone else that using these Welders experiencing computer interference ?.
    I used to use mine before computers came out, so can't comment on that one, but I know they played merry hell on the radios. Blokes I had working for me used to listen to some crap music, so I'd switch the welder on for a while.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  11. #11
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    Revesby - Sydney Australia
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BaronJ View Post
    AC would dip down to around 90 to 100 volts when these things started up causing computers to crash

    Laptops. Laptops are the answer. Built in UPS

  12. #12
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    Sorry BJ, no pics, cameras weren't around then
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
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    York, North Yorkshire UK
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    Hi Kryn,

    Ignore it ! I clicked on the wrong Icon. The system wont let you take them back. Sorry
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  14. #14
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    Sep 2006
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    I don't think it was a voltage drop as we had really good power going into the building and nothing else was being used. The problem seemed to develop over time. As we never used to have any issues, but as we replaced computers the problem got worse. It would effect the computer in different ways sometimes it would freeze, jump the mouse around or it would effect it when your typing. I do know that the welding lead insulation was getting a bit sad as it had a couple small areas of exposed wire. I did wonder whether or not, because of the small areas of exposed wire that somehow it may have been connecting to the ground earth somehow. If we welded with the high frequency turned off it was fine and the welder itself worked fine either way. Anyway I was just curious about it.
    All The Best steran50 Stewart

    The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at once.

  15. #15
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    Apr 2012
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    Healesville
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    I think Stewart is correct, the pilot arc on my welder has not worked for a least 30 years and i never have had probs with radio interferance.

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