Start here.
http://www.millerwelds.com/om/o116j_mil.pdf

 

Tbolts are nice machines. $20 is a steal for an AC stick welder. Those old transformer stick machines are tanks. Not much to really go wrong with them except maybe the switch. I'd replace and bad cables, open up the cover and blow it out and make sure there are no mouse nests inside or chewed wires and you should be good to go.

AC stick machines occasionally get a bad rap. True they aren't as smooth as DC capable units, but they are inexpensive and will take care of what the average hobbyist usually needs to do, At worst, you can always find someone who will buy it later for what you paid for it, if not more in your case, if you later want to upgrade.

7014 would be a good choice in rods to use on it. They are easy to use and run quite well on AC. 6011 would be another good choice, They don't make as pretty a weld as 7014 does and some have a bit more trouble picking up the knack to running them. 6013 is also another good choice, though some have a bit more issues running them than they do with 7014.


Take a minute and up date your profile with your location so we know where you are located. You might be surprised to find someone local from here who can help you learn. It also helps when looking for things.

 

Thanks guys for the info. The style number is U-1-A-2. Any suggestions on a good online store to get a new power cable?

 

I started out 44 years ago with an Airco version made by Miller. You have a stout machine that will do almost anything you need. Check around for an 8/3 power cable and a NEMA 6-50 plug. You can go longer than the factory cord. BTW, your photo links don't work.

 

 

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That is an early T'bolt. My Airco was the same configuration, made in 1970. A few years later, Miller turned them up on the end and went to aluminum transformers. Yours is most likely copper, and worth holding on to.

 

I should say the power cable is there, and the wires are fine, it's just that the rubber exterior has dry rot.

 

Get you some 3/4" or 1" heat shrink tube and cover the power cord. It will cover the cracks and slow the rotting.

 

A New Joisey guy! I worked in Sommerville and Boonton for years. Lived in Sparta and Freedon mostly, but did a stint in Peapack-Gladstone. . Familiar with Morristown.

 

I had one exactly like that - kind of noisy but worked excellent.

Run a 50 amp wire and breaker - very standard stuff.

 

Would that be 6-3 or 8-3 romex for a 3 ft run? My panel is in the garage.

 

Either would work. Since we are only talking 3' I'd just go with 6-3 since the additional cost is negligible.

 

Romex doesn't count the ground, so you only need 6-2. 6-3 will work if you can't find 6-2, just tape off the ends of the white wire since you won't need it.

 

I'm running an 80s thunderbolt AC/DC on a 50amp breaker, made a new chord for it that's about 20 ft long, I actually just ran it almost non stop last night at 130-150amps burning 1/2" plate for about 4 hours, it didn't care at all! I've run it for 10 hrs straight before with about 10 min break every hour with no issues, almost nothing has gone wrong with it for the past 15 years!

Like everyone already said, you've got yourself an old work horse! $25 is a great deal.

 

Copper Wound will probably run smoother than its later Aluminum wound cousins.
Rub the green corrosion off from the plug blades before plugging it into your newly installed outlet!
This will prevent corrosion hotspots.
Nice Machine for $20!