bush welding

You need 2 batteries to give sufficient voltage and some way of protecting your eyes from the light which will do damage - sun glasses are not enough. If you just take a piece of glass from a welding mask you can usually rig up some holder like a piece of cardboard. Jumper leads will work though a proper hand tool is better. A leather glove is always useful to have welding, winching, hot exhaust, pulling grass out from under a hot engine etc.

If you have never done welding before practice at home and get tips from someone who can. Fairly easy when you get the knack.

alastair

mikeyprop3
These two web sites will give you all the info needed

Doug

www.northrichmond.ws/page4.html

Site Link

If you can strike a ark and run a weld you should not have too much problem using two batteries for the power.

To get started two heavy duty batteries (start batteries not deep cycle), need to be removed from the vehicle. It is safer to have the batteries out of the vehicles and close to what has to be fixed.

A heavy cable is attached to the positive of one battery and to the negative of the second battery. Heavy cables, jumper leads are alright, are attached to the remaining post on the batteries. The positive lead goes to the work piece and the negative lead has the welding rod.

Gloves should be worn and a face shield. The standard face shield is too big to pack so I use a paper plate with section cut out to fit the darken glass. The glass is taped into place and paper plate held in front of your eyes.

2mm rods are good but I don't go any bigger than 3mm rods plus I have off cuts of steel that I can use to patch or repair broken things. I once rebuilt a front spring hanger for a 75 series on top of Mt Blue Rag using steel off cuts that I had.

The clamps on the end of the jumper leads are alright but I have leads that have battery clamps on the end just like what is used on battery leads. They make a better connection to the battery.

Bush welding is no more complicated than that, but try it at home before you leave.

Wayne

Check this link as well - shows the real mcCoy...
check this out

Grrr!!!

While it depends on what you're welding, I've found in limited experience welding a trailer axle and a suspension control arm that three batteries works better than 2. We take some leads made up for the job, use a jumper lead for the earth, and use an arc welding handpiece and 2.5mm rods. I take a normal welding facemask. With 24volts, you may not have enough. With 36 volts, you can weld (and blow holes in) anything. Some fencing wire or a longer thinner wire may help to limit current.

Two batteries will work but three batteries is heaps better.

Keep your welding rods very dry, do not let them absorb moisture by storing in a damp place. If you can leave the rods in the sun for a while before use that would be good - it does make a difference.

If you want to travel prepared for everything then make a couple of small link cables to join the batteries together. As already mentioned, genuine battery terminal connectors are best for the battery links and you can use jumper leads for the welding cables.

re bush welding...been there and done that...we broke both the main leaf springs on the camper trailer and let the axle out the back of it 2 years ago in Rudall River...always carried the necessary eqipment for years and that was the first time I have had to use it....very easy welding with two batteries...might want three for thicker metal...take the batteries out of the vehicle regardless of whether or not the repair job is the vehicle or not

Reason for that rule is that the vehicles are negative earth and for DC welding and smooth easy arc you want earth positive...batteries out simply ensure that there is no chance of anything stuffing up

carry the dark welding glass wrapped in toilet paper in a tin...use a cereal packet as a mask and tape the glass in after cutting a hole...perfect mask

suggest you carry some 2.5mm Weldall type rods as these will literally weld all although GP will work

our jumper leads are actually home made from welding lead size cable...no voltage drop at all welding or jump starting...use them to join the batteries in series and just carry one special lead with handpiece attached and the other end compatible with the battery terminal.

PS have just purchased an American 24 V mig welding handpiece..hopefully wont need it..I am told it can give 40mins welding out of 2 batteries in series...we will see

Awesome reading, I have some heavy cable which I might make up into a welding rig.

Luckily I already have a 24v import, with a 3rd aux battery...so plenty of potential power. Methinks i'd better try it in the backyard first tho.

Question - Is there any potential damage to the batteries from short spurts of welding? Ie is it an emergency procedure only or can it be used when needed without unnecessary battery harm.

Regards

Jeff

I never knew all this was possible!! Plenty of experience with an ordinary stick welder, but this is great news for me. Thanks to all who have posted.

Does anyone know whether sealed lead acid batteries (AGM) can be used? Would I set off an Australia-wide terrorism alert if I tried to weld with these?