Unthawing Pipes - Heating Parts - Other Uses?

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I have read some vague references in the past about using your welder to unthaw frozen pipes or heat metal parts to make them easier to remove.-  how are these things done and is it safe, I'm guessing it needs to be set to AC?-  what other uses are there aside from welding metals?Thanks,Matt
Reply:years ago lincoln electric had a box (linc thaw?) that was hooked to the welder and the pipe. ridgid makes one also.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:The old lincoln tombstone welders had a circle around one of the settings as indicator for "thaw" setting.DB
Reply:Originally Posted by labparamourThe old lincoln tombstone welders had a circle around one of the settings as indicator for "thaw" setting.DB
Reply:Originally Posted by mattsseI have read some vague references in the past about using your welder to unthaw frozen pipes or heat metal parts to make them easier to remove.-  how are these things done and is it safe, I'm guessing it needs to be set to AC?-  what other uses are there aside from welding metals?Thanks,Matt
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1Yes, the circle was on 75 amp setting. Attachment 1174891As for other uses buy a engine drive and you have a generator. The cheap import ones are great door stops .
Reply:theres a few different threads on this subject. I was interested in this about a month ago and all I did was just search.  Yes you can do it, and there was even literature on older welders for how to do it.   But, also quite a few people, including a firefighter have posted in the past of plenty of cases of people burning houses down trying to do this.   I personally wouldn't do it, unless the pipe was underground and not within something that could burn down.Dynasty 200DX   (2014)Millermatic 211 (2015)Optrel 864   (2014)Smith Medium duty MBA 30510 (Xmas 2014)Tennsmith 16ga 4ft finger brake (2015)Trailblazer 325 EFI and excel Thermal dynamics Cutmaster 82Miller maxtron 450
Reply:The easiest way to "unthaw" a pipe is to wait till it gets really cold out.My name's not Jim....
Reply:Originally Posted by outdoorttheres a few different threads on this subject. I was interested in this about a month ago and all I did was just search.  Yes you can do it, and there was even literature on older welders for how to do it.   But, also quite a few people, including a firefighter have posted in the past of plenty of cases of people burning houses down trying to do this.   I personally wouldn't do it, unless the pipe was underground and not within something that could burn down.
Reply:I did a lot of it in my youth. I have a Twentieth Century 295 amp AC welder with 100% duty cycle. My town had a small municipal water system serving 200 houses scattered over two towns. Nearly all houses were supplied with galvanized steel pipe. It is necessary to disconnect the water pipe as it enters the house. This serves to isolate the frozen underground water pipe from the home's electrical grounding system. Connect the stinger lead to the pipe where it leaves the cellar wall. The ground lead must connect to the other end of the pipe. Sometimes this meant the curb stop, sometimes, a neighbor's house, or hydrant. Also separate the pipe at the neighbor's point of entry. With galvanized pipe it needs little heat. Copper pipe needs much more amperage, I'm concerned about the safety of thawing copper. My town replaced main line with plastic, and connected older drop lines to houses with short sections of K copper. Connecting to this series circuit of copper, and steel often results in burning the compression connector that includes rubber. Plastic main eliminates the chance to connect at a neighbor's.These days I use PEX tubing, and warm water fed into the pipe.In any case, welder thawing is dangerous. Do it wrong, something burns down.Last edited by Willie B; 08-01-2015 at 08:59 PM.An optimist is usually wrong, and when the unexpected happens is unprepared. A pessimist is usually right, when wrong, is delighted, and well prepared.
Reply:I'm an electrician. I've never actually seen a building burn down from thawing water. I have seen a dozen cases of cables burned up, typically water heater, refrigerator, dishwasher, boiler, garbage disposal, hot tub, etc. Anything with water connection, and electricity.An optimist is usually wrong, and when the unexpected happens is unprepared. A pessimist is usually right, when wrong, is delighted, and well prepared.
Reply:Thank you all for the comments, it sound like something I definitely don't want to try.  It's interesting though and it makes sense that this would have been useful back in the day.  Sounds a bit too risky now though unless under very specific circumstances these days.  Probably best to avoid it all together.Matt