axlechorus Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 Dear All, Acting as a mobile trollied chicane in the garage I have an old Oxford Arc Welder weighs an absolute Ton. Welding range is between 20 to 180 Amps and seems to all be there though it will need new cables and probably a re-wire of the plug I understand it to have been working prior to being placed in storage by the person who gave it to me. Looking around these do seem to be rather desireable both as welders & to send to the scrap man for the Copper inside them. So I'm wondering what to do with it whether I will get more money selling it as a Welder that needs new wiring or breaking it for the Copper and taking that to the scrap man. Any thoughts? Ta Ryck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguevogue Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 Stripping the copper out is the most profitable way to scrap it, however, you will have to deal with oil to get to the windings. Most profitable I expect is selling on eBay, certainly less agro. Or you could keep it and use it, they are very satisfying to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axlechorus Posted December 27, 2012 Author Share Posted December 27, 2012 Yes thats what I am not so keen on, considering how much it weighs there has to be a good amount of oil in there. Does anyone know how much value of copper is in there though? Prices on Ebay seem very variable, does anyone know what it really is worth as a fair price? I somehow think its a bit to powerful for what I am going to need in all fairness and not the most mobile. Ta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveturnbull Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 I sold one of these on eBay a while ago for about £80 I seem to recall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smego Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 Makew a bonfire and burn it, gets rid of the oil ;-) and leaves the copper ready fo rselling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pat_pending Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 Probably best not to burn it, the oil will be fairly toxic. It either needs to be properly scrapped or used/sold. Old arc welders like that are great to use with the right rods and a bit of practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pat_pending Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 oops double post ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguevogue Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 The trouble is that the copper is wound around an iron core, it isn't just a handy lump in a box covered in oil. In order to get the copper out in a form that is clean enough to sell as copper scrap (clean, bright and free from contamination of other metals) the input is generally not worth it. If you burn it it will have soot on it, if you don't it will have lacquer on it. Our scrap man doesn't disassemble stuff like that, he weighs it as mixed metals. It isn't too powerful for what you need you said yourself it goes down to 20 amps. This is a case for "they don't make em like they used to". However, if you don't use it then get rid, my choice would be eBay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguevogue Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 The trouble is that the copper is wound around an iron core, it isn't just a handy lump in a box covered in oil. In order to get the copper out in a form that is clean enough to sell as copper scrap (clean, bright and free from contamination of other metals) the input is generally not worth it. If you burn it it will have soot on it, if you don't it will have lacquer on it. Our scrap man doesn't disassemble stuff like that, he weighs it as mixed metals. It isn't too powerful for what you need you said yourself it goes down to 20 amps. This is a case for "they don't make em like they used to". However, if you don't use it then get rid, my choice would be eBay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtyninety Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Theyre fantastic welders, I presume it the same as our oxford that you can wire to single phase OR three phase. I have seen smaller welders than this sell for 200+ at farm sales, maybe because they're good welders, or because the scrap men know theyre value. (5+ scrap men at every farm sale, pushes the price of old landrovers and vehicles up like mad) We still use a 150amp Oxford, infact i learnt to weld with it. Fantastic welder, has much longer duty cycle than new jap welders. It would be ludicrous to scrap it IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtyninety Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Double post.... i presume the forums is having problems!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christophers1247 Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 i would keep it they are great welders work good with most rods 7018 or 6013 even hard facing rods. get a good set of heavy duty leads and your in business i presume its 3 phase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguevogue Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 Totally by the by but....... eBay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lincsoldbird Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Far to good a kit to scrap, there is to much good kit being scrapped these days. Soon all we will have will be throw away chinese rubbish. I have one I got new in 1978 don,t use it much now, but great when I need to. Put it on wheels if its not then they move easly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axlechorus Posted January 5, 2013 Author Share Posted January 5, 2013 Many thanks for all your replies and apologises for my later reply (the forum wasn't posting as we know and then I was away). I think from all your posts that it is worth keeping and consequently it has been wheeled into the back corner of the garage for future use. Apart from the cables what else would I require to get the welder going/service it before use? Also does anyone know where I can find a manual on how to use the welder and also I think one of the control knobs is missing as others on ebay seem to have 3 and I only have 2 on this one. Best Wishes Ryck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 Your missing knob isn't a control but instead a cable connection point from what I can see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 Some pictures inside one here if you are curious http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=26254 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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