OT Battery Welder

Caryc

Well-known Member
On an episode of Alaskan Bush People, one of the guys wired two 12 volt batteries together and was able to arc weld with it.

I kind of don't believe it myself but has anyone ever tried it? I found it kind of strange they he got the batteries out of old junked vehicles. How did they still have that much power left in them?

If one had two fully charged batteries and tried that, how long would the arcing power last for using a welding rod?
 
I once welded a wrench across the two terminals of a battery.
It was NOT a pretty weld! ;)
I have heard of people doing it. Seems to be a popular topic
on the rock crawling Jeep forums. I've never tried it myself.
 
(quoted from post at 19:35:14 09/15/18) I once welded a wrench across the two terminals of a battery.
It was NOT a pretty weld! ;)
I have heard of people doing it. Seems to be a popular topic
on the rock crawling Jeep forums. I've never tried it myself.

I am always leery any time I have to do anything concerning a battery since my nephew had one blow up on him. I was nearby and it sounded like a shotgun blast.
 
(quoted from post at 19:27:04 09/15/18) On an episode of Alaskan Bush People, one of the guys wired two 12 volt batteries together and was able to arc weld with it.

I kind of don't believe it myself but has anyone ever tried it? I found it kind of strange they he got the batteries out of old junked vehicles. How did they still have that much power left in them?

If one had two fully charged batteries and tried that, how long would the arcing power last for using a welding rod?

This is an old technique, Alaskan Bush people did not invent it. There are lots out there you can get to do it but basically you’ll need two car batteries jumper cables and leads for a stick welder. It does work! Many guys who are really into off-roading will take the kit with them in case they bust a suspension bracket or something critical they can weld it on the trail and make it back home.
 

Here’s one kit.

http://www.trailweld.com

These kits have been around since the mid 90s at least, that’s when I bought my first Jeep and began reading every off road magazine I could find.
 
(quoted from post at 19:27:04 09/15/18) On an episode of Alaskan Bush People, one of the guys wired two 12 volt batteries together and was able to arc weld with it.

I kind of don't believe it myself but has anyone ever tried it? I found it kind of strange they he got the batteries out of old junked vehicles. How did they still have that much power left in them?

If one had two fully charged batteries and tried that, how long would the arcing power last for using a welding rod?

This is an old technique, Alaskan Bush people did not invent it. There are lots out there you can get to do it but basically you’ll need two car batteries jumper cables and leads for a stick welder. It does work! Many guys who are really into off-roading will take the kit with them in case they bust a suspension bracket or something critical they can weld it on the trail and make it back home.
 
(quoted from post at 20:18:33 09/15/18)
(quoted from post at 19:27:04 09/15/18) On an episode of Alaskan Bush People, one of the guys wired two 12 volt batteries together and was able to arc weld with it.

I kind of don't believe it myself but has anyone ever tried it? I found it kind of strange they he got the batteries out of old junked vehicles. How did they still have that much power left in them?

If one had two fully charged batteries and tried that, how long would the arcing power last for using a welding rod?

This is an old technique, Alaskan Bush people did not invent it. There are lots out there you can get to do it but basically you’ll need two car batteries jumper cables and leads for a stick welder. It does work! Many guys who are really into off-roading will take the kit with them in case they bust a suspension bracket or something critical they can weld it on the trail and make it back home.

Does it work with one battery? Most vehicles do not have two batteries. I don't know about off road vehicles.
 
MacGuyver welded a connecting rod that had broke using a battery and a coin as an electrode.
I saw it on TV, so it had to be true.LOL
Richard in NW SC
 
(quoted from post at 01:31:01 09/16/18)
(quoted from post at 20:18:33 09/15/18)
(quoted from post at 19:27:04 09/15/18) On an episode of Alaskan Bush People, one of the guys wired two 12 volt batteries together and was able to arc weld with it.

I kind of don't believe it myself but has anyone ever tried it? I found it kind of strange they he got the batteries out of old junked vehicles. How did they still have that much power left in them?

If one had two fully charged batteries and tried that, how long would the arcing power last for using a welding rod?

This is an old technique, Alaskan Bush people did not invent it. There are lots out there you can get to do it but basically you’ll need two car batteries jumper cables and leads for a stick welder. It does work! Many guys who are really into off-roading will take the kit with them in case they bust a suspension bracket or something critical they can weld it on the trail and make it back home.

Does it work with one battery? Most vehicles do not have two batteries. I don't know about off road vehicles.
elders I have experience with have around 20 to 40 volts OC voltage, so my expectation is that 12v is on low side for starting & sustaining a good arc.
 
I remember that Macgyver, it wouldn't work on toady's coins..... Too much zinc, not enough nickle.
 

You would have to have an electric motor condenser in the circuit to help get the arc started. A person can make a welder like this on a tractor. A 100 amp alternator would have to be used to make the welder weld at that amperage. I've thought about building one on a tractor, but I'm not sure about how it should be wired.
 
I seen it done when I was in Vietnam in the motor pool a guy was welding something don't recall what any more, using the batteries in a Duce and a half but military vehicles are 24 volt so that would be a plus, never seen it done since
GB in MN
 

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