Working on neglected skills: welding
My father teaches me the fine art of welding when I was young. He ran a shipyard but was a great welder himself. Over the years, I lost interest. Then I became involved in the ownership of a classic car workshop and from there, my welding skills went downhill even more: there was always someone around who's a better welder than I am!
On January 1st, new owners (the mechanics) became the new owners and I'd promised myself to stay away from the shop until May, June or perhaps longer. Just to be sure that they don't feel it as a: "He's looking/judging!" That opened the idea of working on neglected skills: welding. The workshop had (and has) Kemppi welding equipment. Mig/mag, Tig, even brazing. But that's far to expensive for a modest guy like me! So I went out for a cheaper alternative. But... I didn't want to buy a Mig machine that's built in a country far, far away. So I narrowed it down to a limited number of brands. In no special order: Lincoln (US made I think), Cebora (Italian) and good-old German-made Elektra Beckum.
There's a catch: the Elektra B. used to be 100% German, but after 2004, Metabo took over. And shifted the production to Shanghai. So, I wanted a pre 2004 machine! Searching online on Dutch sites finally pointed me to a guy in the eastern part of the country. He refurbishes Elektra Beckum machines. So today I went over to see him and his collection of welders. Long story short: he had one for sale. 1999 and totally restored, including new circuit boards and a new relay (the weak thing on most welding machines).
60 kilos of German Engineering. The Tiger Tank of welding.
A few weeks back, I did a refresh welding course and I liked it. A lot, I tell you. All I'd learned came back. And today I told the seller the story of my welding life. He's a retired welder and he started where my father had left off, 50 yrs ago. And where last month's welding course had left off. So instead of 'only buying a welder', I was given a crash course welding! I had a fantastic afternoon, sitting in a garage, welding pieces of iron together!
At the end of the afternoon, I went home with a welder in the back of the Honda. Totally happy with my refurbished purchase and the new(ish) skillset. And for all welders here: the seller had one tip. Remove the cover of your welder from time to time and gently blow off (compressed air) the dust and grime that's stacked in the machine. Most problems are related to dirt and dust).
An Ar/CO2 bottle is next on the menu. He didn't have a fully loaded bottle. But that's not too difficult to find.
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