Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

A full-fledged welding machine can be assembled from four microwave ovens. Finding them in our time is not difficult, models may differ. The design is not complicated; there is no need to disassemble the transformer cores. Such a homemade welder is quite capable of providing a current of 200 A, which is excellent enough to maintain a stable arc.

Needed to assemble the device


  • Four transformers from microwave ovens.
  • A wire with an external diameter of 7 mm, with an internal diameter of 4.5 mm (16 sq. mm.) - 13 meters.
  • Network cable 1.5 sq. mm. - 2 meters.
  • Electrode holder and ground clamp.

Manufacturing of welding machine


We disassemble microwave ovens and remove transformers from them. You won't need any more of them. On average, each transformer has a power of 800-1000 W. All of them are step-up, which means the secondary winding has a larger number of turns. It's usually at the top, but there are exceptions, so keep that in mind.
Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

We cut it down with a grinder on both sides. This can also be done with a hand hacksaw.
Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

On the one hand and on the other.
Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

To remove the central part we will use a drill.Drill a hole and knock out the remaining wire. Also between these two massive windings there is also a third one. It consists of several turns and serves to heat the magnetron cathode. We remove it too, it is not needed.
Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

Transformers are prepared for further winding. But before that, I recommend checking the resistance of all windings - it should be approximately equal for all four. And it wouldn’t hurt to also check for a short to the core, you never know...
This way we will be on the safe side and check whether we have damaged the windings due to mechanical impact. Or if someone did this before us, if you found these microwaves in an unknown condition.
Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

Let's take a wire 16 squares and approximately 13 meters long.
Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

With this wire we wind the windings on all transformers sequentially and in the same direction. There should be a total of 32 turns, 8 for each transformer.
Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

There should be about a meter of wire ends left for connecting the clamp and holder. We arrange the transformers in the form of a square.
Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

We connect all network windings parallel to each other. The most important thing is to connect everything correctly, otherwise the transformers will work out of phase.
Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

We plug it into the network. We measure the voltage at the output. It should be approximately equal to 30-32 V. If it is radically different, check that all windings are turned on.
Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

We check the short circuit current with a clamp-on ammeter. Of course, it is problematic to measure it, since the wire heats up sharply, but the device shows 326 A. The current when the arc burns will naturally be less.
Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

The welding machine is almost ready. Let's take a wooden plank and screw all the transformers to it with self-tapping screws.
Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

We will make a carrying handle from a round stick and thick steel wire.
Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

We will attach the purchased electrode holder and grounding clamp to the output wires of the secondary winding. And we will attach a power plug to the input of the primary windings.
Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

Welding machine testing


Take electrode three
Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

Let's try to weld a piece of thick steel to a steel corner.
Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

The arc burns quite stably.
Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

Everything was welded well.
Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

We weld two thick steel studs.
Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

I'm not a professional welder, so it didn't turn out quite smooth. The main thing is that everything works properly.
Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

Welding machine made of four microwave ovens

This welding machine does not have current adjustment, there are other disadvantages, but it is suitable for home use. Bye! See you again!

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Comments (4)
  1. Sergey K
    #1 Sergey K Visitors 29 May 2018 18:28
    6
    The homemade product is a little late in time, about 15-20 years... Nowadays, inverter welders cost from 50 bucks! And this includes wires, albeit short ones, holders and clamps, and most importantly, the ability to adjust the welding current. And reliability, well, will probably be at this level crafts.
  2. Stainless steel
    #2 Stainless steel Guests 10 September 2019 11:16
    0
    To get 4 transformers from microwaves you have to at least live in a garbage dump...
  3. Zheka
    #3 Zheka Guests March 9, 2021 12:07
    0
    If you wanted to achieve current in the secondary, you forgot about the primary. Isn’t 1.5 sq. not enough? mm for connecting the primary? If you cook in alternating mode, arcing is better at about 60 V.
  4. Vitaly
    #4 Vitaly Guests 28 November 2021 16:10
    0
    If you apply mains power to the 220-volt winding, then in a couple of minutes the trance will boil.