Welding using car batteries

[chuckybob]

http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/06/emergency_welding_using_automo.html

anyone ever tried this? im wondering about the battery life and death factors.

[blunttech]

never tried it but i was in haiti for 2 weeks and saw idiots scaling power poles and tapping into them to weld wrought iron furniture on the side of the road. theyd sell the shit right there. i was amazed at the balls of these guys.

[der affe]

wow that sounds like a good way to hurt yourself. they are arc welding, not the most easy thing to do for the uninitiated/ inexperenced welder. if you stuck your rod and go to a dead short the is no way to stop the amperage from flowing...scarry! did you read that it was for use in an emergancy? if you were stuck out in the boonies 4 wheeling i can see it as a way to get back home, but that is it! if you need to weld something either buy a mig (easiest to weld with, and actually put down a good weld) or take it to someone with experence!
greg

[Ryan Stewart]

I'd want long leads to get the hell away from those batteries.

[yozsi]

MacGyver did this (in episode 6) with a portable generator and some 50 cent pieces.

LOL, Classic!

[FJ40]

Yeah its a pretty common four wheeling fix, but it is certainly less than ideal, and should only be used when youre in serious need of a welder. I wouldnt exactly call it a substitute for a real welder.

[b*saint]

Haha so ghetto. You can make your own welder at home way easier. 120v primary and get some #1 wire and make the secondary 12 volt homemade transformer. You could draw 100 amps no sweat with that.