A.O. Smith A3000

[Mad Jack]

I'm new around here, but thought I'd jump right in with a request for a little help. Several years ago, I bought an old A.O. Smith TIG machine off a guy for pretty cheap. When I bought it, it was supposed to be a working unit that had been sitting inside for several years. At $300, I figured if it was a total loss, I could strip the copper out of it, scrap the copper, and get most of my money back.

Anyway, I'm just now getting around to checking the thing over, and have replaced the original electrical wire connections from the machine to the pedal, and have gotten a collet, tungsten, cup, and tail cap for the torch.

My request is for a manual or any information about this machine. In a couple of days, I plan to plug the thing in and turn it on from about 10 feet away using a long broom handle...

[Mad Jack]

OK, found out a bit about my TIG: I contacted AO Smith, who are still in business manufacturing electric motors and water heaters. They said that their welding division was purchased by ESAB in the early 1960's, and that they had no archived information.

So, I contacted ESAB. They said that ESAB had purchased Airco, and that perhaps Airco had purchased AO Smith's welding division prior to ESAB's purchase of Airco, but at any rate, had no information about my welder. The rep that emailed me back from ESAB did give me contact info for a couple of companies in SoCal that specialize in the repair and maintenance of older machines. I contacted one of them, and was told that my TIG machine is actually a label machine manufactured by a company called P&H. Anyway, for $12.75, they'll send me a manual. I'm sending out a check today...

[Mad Jack]

From the current P&H Comapny's website (they now manufacture minig equipment):

Q. I have a P&H welding machine that needs maintenance or repair. What is my best course of action for this situation?
The P&H Welding business, along with all the technical engineering drawings and documents supporting the line, was sold in 1968. The firm that bought the P&H Welding business later on discontinued this product line.

Should your P&H Welding equipment require service support, we suggest contacting a local or regional welding equipment service support provider, one of whom might be willing to retro-fit old P&H Welding machines with modern components in order to restore them to working order.

The company that has the manual can be found at www.arcowelder.com

I hope this helps anyone that comes across one of these in the future...

[vipermanz]

cool, it's amazing sometimes how many companies are owned by others

[HWooldridge]

Try Ebay for a manual. If you don't find one for sale, try asking some of the literature sellers. They can often find a rare treasure through their networks.

[Mad Jack]

cool, it's amazing sometimes how many companies are owned by others

Boy, that's a fact. I was amazed to find out how many other companies fall under the General Motors umbrella, or the Ford umbrella, etc. I never (until recently) thought it would happen in the tool industry...

[Mad Jack]

Try Ebay for a manual. If you don't find one for sale, try asking some of the literature sellers. They can often find a rare treasure through their networks.

Tried that a while back. I even called a few of the welder repair places nearby, and while I didn't get laughed at per se, I was under the impression that I would be looked upon as the proverbial "sucker" for buying this machine.

I have a couple acquaintances that buy and sell used books and had them keep an eye out for me, but I had no luck there, either.

eBay shows a few different models of A.O. Smith welder every once in a while, but that's pretty much all I found there.

I was really relieved that I did find the one shop that does have my manual. They're close enough; I may just go and get it on Monday.

In visiting my local welding shops yesterday in a failed search for aluminum gas welding flux, I did ask how much the new TIG machines were going for. I got a (best from the two) quote of $1691.23 out-the-door for a Miller Syncrowave 180 SD (#907 055), and a rough estimate of $4100.00 for a Syncrowave 250 DX TIGRunner (#903 765). They're looking awfully attractive...

Interesting to note that the welding shops around here really don't seem to know a lot about gas welding aluminum in general. According to both shops, there's no such animal as aluminum welding flux (both kept trying to sell me brazing flux), and I was told to be sure and use a cobalt lens.

[SC19881]

Hi Mad Jack,

I was reading your thread and in response to aluminum welding flux, try this site www.tinmantech.com

I do not mean to speak poorly of your local welding shops regarding Aluminum gas welding, but how do they think airplanes were welded during WWII!!!

Hope this helps,

Seth

[HWooldridge]

I welded aluminum back in the 70's with oxyfuel. The rods were precoated with flux and had to be kept in an oven until just prior to use. That meant take one rod from the oven and use it, then go get another. The flux was highly hygroscopic and sucked water like a sponge. If you laid a rod down on a slab, it would have a puddle of water around it in a few minutes. An older trick is to use plain old 20 Mule Team borax. You heat the end of the bare rod a bit and stick it in the borax, which will adhere to the rod - then get to welding.