$300 Mig Welder Rehab!

[@professionaltinkerer]

That buzz is a contactor buzzing. What is happening is the plunger is being pulled down, but the tips are not making good contact and causing the plunger to vibrate at 60 Hz. It could be the tips are bad in the contactor or the laminated plunger has lost the shading coil or has separated slightly. In either case, you will need a new main contactor as it will fail eventually. The contactor is the black cube around the center of the frame at/around 16:52.

[@dougankrum3328]

Yeah, a noisy contactor or one that doesn't close up tight...will draw excessive current and could burn up.

[@Wesshaw1996]

Go to any AC shop and get a 40 amp general purpose contactor for 20 bucks

[@adolfodelgado9361]

Raging Bull can you load a pic of....??? That have to be change

[@dadrjlrcjrcwr]

Dr Quinn season 1

[@tmbevtfd]

Can the contactor contacts be cleaned or dressed like relay contacts or for an old school example, like ignition points?

[@HandToolRescue]

It's alive! Sweet welder grind, haha.

[@dancrouch2479]

I recently got a mig for free . It was a mess it had been sitting in his shed for years.He said if you get it working you can have it.new liner,tips,wire,gas and a fuse later.happy welding.

[@tmbevtfd]

This was a great video because even though I am the preventive maintenance poster child normally, it never occurred to me to pull the covers off my old Clark MiG and do a PM or plan on replacing the gun in the future. Already found it online. I’ll also check the parts reference by other comments because mine buzzes quite a bit too, especially at max energy.

[@joebob7344]

Good score, thanks for the tip on the gas flow

[@vizvaz2656]

duuude... I'm usually not the safety inspector, but duuude... should have shortcircuted the giant cap before working on the wheel. i like your videos- it'd be shame if this was your last.

[@elliotgranstrom3296]

vizvaz the cap doesnt have mains voltage so its fine

[@dougalan5614]

Prolly just a low voltage cap for the feed motor, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be in the habit of taking precautions.

[@MrPman4768]

There is a LARGE burden resistor across this capacitor. As soon as you release the trigger on the gun the voltage goes away. This cap only has weld voltage across it when you are welding.

[@fasousa4798]

You meant mA right?

[@will5948]

I got more nervous about holding the torch tip, while pulling the trigger to feed gas (and wire, heading towards the table) with an elbow on the table and the clamp connected.

[@dougankrum3328]

every one is freakin' out on that blue capacitor...it's a filter on the welding side...30-40 volts max..and has a bleed resistor...pretty harmless...for us that actually understand electricity....

[@eduardosampoia5480]

No kidding.

[@costarich8029]

Yeah the instruction sheet specs that as a 35V 120mf cap. The manual does say to discharge the input caps before touching any parts. The manual is on millerwelds.com. www.millerwelds.com/files/owners-manuals/o218696b_aut.pdf

[@waltschannel7465]

Just found your channel. Really enjoying this and one other video, the 1910 vise resto.

[@aguilargutierrez4]

Thanks for the video always like seeing welding machines restorations

[@Dark_Knight_USA]

Greetings: The bad cord, wad of tape and frayed wire thing is a typical of careless, lazy, stupidity which I have found of many shops in the SE. Their idea is " just get it 2 work" and not perform a proper repair. Hint Ppl: a 'fix' is not a repair! I am glad 2 C a few simple repairs, pride, time and effort can deliver a nice unit. Proof some of us have pride in our work. Thx 4 Ur time and effort.

[@archangel20031]

When I start up my MIG I always flip the tension spring up on the drive roller so the wire does not feed out when the trigger is pulled and test the gas. I like to let it fill the hose to the tip before attempting to weld as I do a lot of short quick welds and if the line leaked the gas out since the last use, it will take a while for the hose to fill up pushing the air out and the pure clean gas to get out of the tip.

[@paultavres9830]

When your testing the gas solenoid loosen the tension roller so the wire doesnt feed out Once thats done set the tension by squirting the wire against a piece of wood just past slipping when the wire folds over on the wood now its ready to weld

[@jorgchildres2809]

I've been refurbishing welders for about 15 yrs. In my welding supply store. And believe it or not I have pressure washed them inside and out. I just make sure to not be to aggressive then blow them out with air and let them dry in the sun during the day for a day or two.

[@Dark_Knight_USA]

Loc?

[@archangel20031]

@16:00 those are not ugly welds, (in my opinion, or compared to flux core welds) just cut the edges back a little before you fit them together, like a "V" where they connect, and they will fill in nicely with minimal clean up.

[@jimdavey871]

As others have said, you need a new contractor. Check the coil voltage (will be written on the side where the A1 and A2 wires go, could be 24, 48 or 110v.) also check the contractor configuration, come come with normally open or normally closed contacts. Just make sure you get one exactly the same and swap it out wire for wire one at a time.

[@ww321]

Isn't that fun? I bought an old Linde welder off eBay $200 + $250 shipping . Lol I fixed everything and I'm still using it 18 years later. Thanks for the video!

[@jondeauxman]

You need to discharge that big blue jar of angry pixies before you accidentally evacuate your meat suit!

[@meowijuana2322]

Nice lol

[@holler2235]

Way to go! You can shred wire fast. Good vid….

[@archangel20031]

Coarse 13 tpi and fine 20 tpi threads for 1/2" are the standard, just go to ACE , Home Depot, Lowes or Menards as those nut thread pitches are everywhere.

[@iamrichrocker]

like the various and many comments below..i agree about that monster cap..and i am surprised you did not research this machine..or look at the manual of operation..glad you did a great job on this old warrior..but we all learn lessons from people who have been there..have fun..but be safe...

[@asherdie]

I'm surprised you know so much, but don't know what a bleed resistor is.

[@jamesadams8572]

Worked for electronics company that made edm Electrical discharge machining that uses graphite electrodes and the power supplies made just like welders only in reverse process were absolutely horrible w graphic and oils debree slide.. couldn’t get off your hands for days. Anyways we would take the trade ins outside and use degreaser and spray on everything inside the electronic cabinet w electronic boards transfoemsmers capacitors etc and then after soaking we would power wash them with a wide spray head they would come out clean as a whistle... THE KEY IS TO LET THE MACHINE DRY OUT COMPLETELY W HOT WEATHER OR WITH FANS. ONCE ITS COMPLETELY DRY A FEW DAYS YOU COULD START IT UP AND RHEY RUN LIKE NEW.!!!! Hope it helps someone jim

[@AndrewBrowner]

dont worry about the buzz just the way nature of transformers.. when you have a gas issue first thing to check would be watching the regulator needle and pulling the trigger on the gun.. if the needle doesnt drop a bit you know the solenoid valve isnt opening.. if it does drop when the triggers pulled you know theres a leak somewhere after the solenoid valve.. also you can pull the tensioner bolt off the wire so your not wasting wire while trouble shooting

[@BruceBusby]

Put the spacer behind the spool or put 2 spools on the post, that'll stop the wire angle from the spool to the feed roller

[@user-ki3yl3pc9b]

First thing what is that white stuff in thick cable. Second thing my automatic wire stripper works fine.

[@elliotgranstrom3296]

The buzz is probably the main transformer making the 50/60hz buzz. Try putting a c clamp om the main transformer core to see if it goes away. If it does you can drill some holes i the corners of the core and run some bolts thrugh to clamp the transformer plates together to stop them from vibrating

[@randybrechbiel9748]

Nice video,I just found your channel. I have my dad's old arc welder that I learned on that I'm going to restore

[@Live4Ibanez]

Cleaned up nice. That's a good find. Unsure on the buzz but hope somebody chimes in with experience about that buzz.

[@JoshPCsAndTech]

you have good taste in music

[@onemanswork9248]

Nice rehab job.

[@Douglas46461]

Great rebuild! I'm not an expert but that buzzing sound sounds like a contact plunger. Enjoyed the video very much.

[@justinprewitt245]

That’s a great find.

[@darengarber8482]

looks just like my hobart 230 ironman love mine by the way

[@willwade1101]

Welder skating, a new Olympic sport.

[@SHOWTIME070]

I have a auto arc 190 an its a great welder

[@_ohmz_electric]

That buzz is from a contactor or solenoid.

[@ronaldbruzan9646]

The reason it hummed like that is it does not know the words

[@lawrencejneuser8801]

I would have just cleaned up the splice. They sell heat shrink that size. Some day you might need that extra length of electrical cord

[@bilbobaggins2528]

every time you put your hand near that capacitor i cringed a little thinking if you touch that wrong your going to pay the price

[@MakeEverything]

billy stainthorpe I’m going to be honest here, I didn’t realize it was that dangerous. But wouldn’t it carry no charge since the machine wasn’t powered up before I was working on the inside/ while I was working on the inside?

[@bilbobaggins2528]

Make Everything capacitors always have some charge in them. but you explained that you had previously had it powered up to check the feed line ect the storage capacity in one that big could easy kill you if your not careful

[@MakeEverything]

billy stainthorpe that’s good to know, I don’t usually mess with the insides of welders, this was the first one that I’ve done that needed more than just a new liner. I will absolutely keep this in mind before I fool around with this type of machine. Thank you!

[@eflanagan1921]

@@MakeEverything Some capacitors will hold a charge for days,maybe longer now with improved tech ,watched a very careful man get knocked on his ass

[@dillwiggle2]

Doesn't the scotch brite pads dull all the paint ?

[@MakeEverything]

Dill Wiggle it dulled it down a little bit yeah, but it primarily removed the dirt and grime and overall looks way better than before. The gray and green scotch pads are pretty soft

[@markweiner4430]

Did you leave a socket inside it around 10 minutes into the video?

[@joshuadraper1534]

i keep waiting for you to get shocked by that big ass capacitor

[@weldingjunkie]

1/2 x 20 you can use a car lug nut lol. Very common. Great video but I would of left that heap where it is. Tapped settings and old electric hog. I’d rather of bought a Hobart 190 for what you paid. What made you grab this?

[@asherdie]

Not good enough for tapped settings? Must have synergistic mode?

[@weldingjunkie]

grumpybill I used tapped machines in past and I don’t love them. I’d rather Infinite controls which have been out long before any welding machine synergic programs. I like synergic settings, like the HTP as you know but even with synergic I still like to tweak up and down amp by amp. Taps Jump too far then Tig have to settle for high or low end of the tap and not by amp if that makes sense.

[@tjlovesrachel]

Welding Junkie yeahhh idk man ... my airco dip-pak 200 with all tapped voltage controls never let me down ever.... love that machine... I will never ever ever get rid of her... they just don’t build stuff with quality components like that... but I do get what your saying

[@jamesbetts4360]

I have to agree with everyone, good score, video was good I was going to chime in on the buzzing, and ask if you checked polarity with using mig wire it was a guess and probably a bad one. So safety first I thought blocking the tires or block the machine up level so it wouldn't topple on top of you. Maybe a ratchet strap on the back to the cart as a redundant safety precaution. Lastly the skate rail was a nice choice, except I was waiting for the cart to get pushed out and watch that karate chop your foot or knads. You were lucky, were you wearing steel toes I couldn't tell. Then you leaned it up right where you were sweeping. Thought it was going to crown you. what do you think a repair shop would have charged you to do the same? Conscidering risk vs reward would you say your life is worth a few hundred bucks? I know a guy who went to use a improperly wired chord on a Miller machine. He lucky to be alive, but the damage to his system was catastrophic. He will never be able to work or have any kind of normal job for the rest of his life. He was one of the best Auto body painter in my county. Sorry for the downer news flash. Still a good video, be safe , weld fast, live free.!!

[@BillyDocWalker]

You do know you can wash the inside out with simple green and water , but you must take tithe time to dry it out ; I use forced hot air for the drying at least 8 Hours

[@michaelb.5345]

Nice video

[@carlosjackson7018]

How much for old mg gun

[@user-ki3yl3pc9b]

is that copper wire that you are feeding through the machine

[@will5948]

MIG wire is often copper coated.

[@MGMakes]

Great how to buddy, just been gifted a MIG welder so have been looking for some guidance. Hope to be able to share something similar soon. 👊👊👊

[@fasousa4798]

Thats funny. My multiprocess machine also takes 5kg spools and its half the size. I guess inverter tech brought sizes down quite a bit

[@asherdie]

And shortened the life expectancy of the welder.

[@BaberJacks]

@@asherdie i wonder how long thoes new inverter machines will last. Thoes transformer machines are pretty bulletproof.

[@asherdie]

@@BaberJacks it all depends on design and parts. Inverter welders have been around for a long time in heavy industry but the cost is more than most would pay, so I'm skeptical

[@Neptune730]

Question? That small gas bottle (40cf?) you had at the start of the video. How much welding can you actually do with it? I have a Hobart Handler 140 I just got and I'm trying to figure out what size bottle to get. Could it maybe be enough to weld up a say a small size welding cart. To say fit the Hobart 140 and a small (smaller footprint then Handler 140) stick welder?

[@madjeepernh6834]

You could probably build three welding carts with that bottle. Maybe even more.

[@tjlovesrachel]

Neptune's Creations hopefully you got it all sorted out by now... but in my case ... if you have the room (I do)... just get the big boys and that’s that.

[@MatthewScott]

So.. Don't cut the wire every time you go to weld. Not needed. You cut the wire off with the cover open and wasted probably 18" of good wire. Disengage the feed roller and roll that wire back on the spool. No need to throw wire away. 1-2-3 blocks are not for drill presses. Other than that, not bad.

[@JimVincitore]

Great video! Very cool! Thank you!

[@Live4Ibanez]

Good sized welder for $300

[@keithw372]

us that made by miller? it has a spool gun attatchment like my millermatic 185, if so that a good start to weld aluminum. lol you answered my question at end of video it is made by miller

[@MakeEverything]

Yes the Auto Arcs were made by miller, from the looks of the inside of the cabinet there is a possibility to upgrade to a spool gun and switch, but id likely put a spool gun on my autoset 212 because its a little more modern.

[@keithw372]

i have a 185 from the late late 90's and it was made to add a spool gun when i saw the place for the switch on yours , it was like mine.

[@russellgnuse]

So is horbart made by miller

[@Countryboy2206]

Dont stop on corners, weld around them

[@madox76]

Buzzing = ANGRY PIXIES!!!!

[@oddjobkia]

sail life reference

[@jond1536]

"Boltr" on youtube, common saying

[@shijutkapoloshiju7699]

How much money mig 300

[@cantosoares]

Euro conection is the best.

[@tjlovesrachel]

Love my old school airco with the euro connector

[@GibClark]

👍👍👍👍

[@red93yj]

next time use a 1/2 20 lug nut on a caster shank

[@jedclampett6466]

This was painful.

[@bbell4208]

50/50 mig grind

[@shredct3118]

Did someone say wheelies?

[@calvinhandley2373]

1/2"-20 is a common size for automotive lug nuts. Next time just go to the auto parts store rather than re-threading a coarse thread nut.

[@haroldwatkins7059]

Nice video but it is 75% Argon 25% CO(2)

[@joshuamarcoux1968]

No way that came with a m10 gun

[@a-yates]

The buzzing sound is because it's a transformer machine if you get an inverter machine it won't have that noise

[@theodorebowers9737]

🙋 cooooooooool

[@hyperous]

Noisey contactor, swap it out with a new one and she'll be right!

[@The52brandon]

LOL really? You don't know what the buzzing is? It's your transformer

[@asm7050]

clon hobart ironman

[@joelund655]

You think

[@asm7050]

TWIN HOBBART IRON MAN 250

[@richardmcelligott2881]

okay, haven't read all the post but an easy gas check, release the drive wheel, put a balloon over the nozzle and see what you have.

[@sirtblairjr]

Hey Chris 😎, I'm having problems with my welder. I have a Century wire feed welder. And I can't find parts for it do you know where I can look. I've check most of internet seaches? It turns on but not run. My son got it. so (fabricator and he went through it looked at it you said it looks good but need some work). Can you or someone help me with this? Hit me up😎 Sirtbjr

[@jeffreyullrich8511]

Some century welders were made by Lincoln Electric. Perhaps check that out

[@arthurtamayo6522]

Please learn to "NORMALIZE" your audio. that means making the amplitude all the same level so we don't have to keep turning the volume up and down.

[@arthurscarscustoms1414]

Yeah, I agree. You should normalize it and repost it.

[@BillyDocWalker]

Dirty contractor magnetic iron cas mos likely by some or the crud that you blew around in there

[@TCS86]

Capacitors have a one time learning curve. You don't get a 2nd.💥Millers are terrible, over-priced machines. Built cheap for what you pay.

[@eduardosampoia5480]

I'm not so sure about that...they are pretty bulletproof.

[@ktanner11]

I have miller 35s made in 1973 still kicking. The ollder they are the less to go wrong

[@suktalxr513]

I need job I'm from India Please help sr😭