Been there; Seen that

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Just in for lunch and while this is probably just another case of "new to me", I thought you all might find it interesting; a Zena welder? A fellow at the feed store had one in his pick up and said he'd been using it on the Tejon Ranch for years. It's 420 square miles and has any number of out structures spread across it with no electricity and he swears by this welder. Though you all might find it interesting.http://www.zena.net/
Reply:New to you. There have been various commercial and home-brew welders based on tweaked alternators for years. Scott welders come to mind, and ESAB even badged an engine drive one once upon a time.  They come up on Craigslist on occasion. Some of the small Burco MOSA welders are or were similar, I believe. May be more inverter based now."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Ahh, never mind. Just searched and found a thread from a couple years back but I thought it was interesting anyway.
Reply:I'd like to have a small engine-drive one."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Still-and-all, pretty cool for someone like me who's just understanding the processes.
Reply:Originally Posted by tackitI wonder if it's possible to build a portable welding/generator unit that is powered by a vehicle's drive wheel. Park a vehicle's drive wheel on a set of rollers that drive a V belt that goes to an alternator's pulley.
Reply:Why not?"USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Yep, Yep, Yep! Seen those... most with disastrous results. Always PILOT ERROR though!!! How is it back there, Mike; Cold and sleet or snow?
Reply:Originally Posted by jlamesYep, Yep, Yep! Seen those... most with disastrous results. Always PILOT ERROR though!!! How is it back there, Mike; Cold and sleet or snow?
Reply:Originally Posted by tackitI've seen them before but I can't remember how much work was involved in mounting one to the engine.  It would be nice to have one for off road emergency repairs.
Reply:You guys are really gonna get hit this year I think, Mike. We're getting it here and we're in SoCal. Had snow night before last and the critters are in the cinder block already over night when it hits mid-20s. Jim Colt said NH was down to Zero the other night. Yeah, I know; welding forum but it's like we're all family!!! As to the welder I saw, Southpaw did bring one like it to Weld-o-Rama2 only it was battery powered. Pretty neat. I'm starting to see what you all see in old equipment and restoration.
Reply:Yeah Jon I think it's gonna be a bad one this year man. I just know it. I had days in October this year where it was in the teens and complete white outs with 40mph winds. And when the temps would go up the wind never left. And it's still going on! I'm back at the work apartment till Friday, and all week long i'm getting heavy wind and heavy snow advisories on my phone for my area. I'm by the finger lakes, and just the lake effect snow is bad enough, but these storms and wind coming out of the west wont quit man. I know it's gonna be a bad winter. I run a lot of trail cameras to keep tabs on the deer heard, and they are gone brother, gone! They are all down on the river bottoms out of the wind and in the pines guaranteed. When the wild animals flee town, it raises a eyebrow! Get ready! I'm not religious by any meens, i'm catholic but not practicing, but Audra is, and she tells me god is angry at the world. You know what bud! I think she's on to something!I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Originally Posted by weldermikeYeah Jon I think it's gonna be a bad one this year man. I just know it. I had days in October this year where it was in the teens and complete white outs with 40mph winds. And when the temps would go up the wind never left. And it's still going on! I'm back at the work apartment till Friday, and all week long i'm getting heavy wind and heavy snow advisories on my phone for my area. I'm by the finger lakes, and just the lake effect snow is bad enough, but these storms and wind coming out of the west wont quit man. I know it's gonna be a bad winter. I run a lot of trail cameras to keep tabs on the deer heard, and they are gone brother, gone! They are all down on the river bottoms out of the wind and in the pines guaranteed. When the wild animals flee town, it raises a eyebrow! Get ready! I'm not religious by any meens, i'm catholic but not practicing, but Audra is, and she tells me god is angry at the world. You know what bud! I think she's on to something!
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1AH MAN ! That sounds like REAL KEYSTONE LIGHT weather to me. Now you can do those  ''INSIDE'' 12 OUNCE CURLS !  Have a nice THANKSGIVING !!Stay warm and keep those arrow tips sharp !
Reply:Originally Posted by Mick120Sorry mate, have to chime in....86 here today and, forecast 93 tomorrow.Stay warm and enjoy your holiday, I'll be sweating over hot steel......