Pipe Thawing ?

[nfinch86]

Has anyone used their engine drive to thaw frozen underground water pipes ?
If so how did you go about it ?

Norm

[MinnesotaDave]

I've not done it myself - but I came across this instruction for use with a pipe thaw "fuse" (basically just made sure you didn't pull too many amps)

[nfinch86]

Pipe Thawing ?

Thanks,
I was wondering if I should run my engine-drive on AC or DC. either way was going to start at 100 amps. & see how that worked to start with.

Norm

[BD1]

The old LINCOLN TOMBSTONE buzz box welder had a setting for pipe thawing. It was 75 amps with a circle around the 75.

[gnforge]

Pipe Thawing ?

Have a good friend that is retired welder. He spent one or two winters mostly thawing water lines in the 70's.
He explained how they did it but I don't feel comfortable explaining a procedure I've never done myself.
One thing he told me was never max your Michine out. He said he never went over 75% on a thaw job and never burnt a engine drive up.
There was a coworker that hated thawing out water lines, he would max Michine out and let it run for hours, he burnt up two engine drives in one winter. Pretty expensive for the owner.
Sorry can't help.

[MinnesotaDave]

Have a good friend that is retired welder. He spent one or two winters mostly thawing water lines in the 70's.
He explained how they did it but I don't feel comfortable explaining a procedure I've never done myself.
One thing he told me was never max your Michine out. He said he never went over 75% on a thaw job and never burnt a engine drive up.
There was a coworker that hated thawing out water lines, he would max Michine out and let it run for hours, he burnt up two engine drives in one winter. Pretty expensive for the owner.
Sorry can't help.

I have an SA250 in the shop that they melted the main armature because they cranked up the amps and the fine amperage dial.

Like the directions say, keep the fine current knob low.

From what everyone tells me, just be patient - it takes a while.

[nfinch86]

OK , Thanks guys !

I'm going to run on DC+ @ 100 amps- fine tuning low.
He said I'll need 200ft. of cable, I have over 300 so no probs.
He had it done 30yrs. ago & he said it took about an hour .

Norm

[cruizer]

E

With a pure dc machine like a SA200, giver, your going to smoke pretty much any other unit, new machines will sence a dead short, drop power in half, then shut off the output. Other older machines will merely nuke themselves. A 300d and such will blow the solder out of its rotor, nifty and real expensive.

[nfinch86]

With a pure dc machine like a SA200, giver, your going to smoke pretty much any other unit, new machines will sence a dead short, drop power in half, then shut off the output. Other older machines will merely nuke themselves. A 300d and such will blow the solder out of its rotor, nifty and real expensive.

Cruizer,
Even if I keep Low @ about 75 amps ?????

Norm

[Railmen]

Don't do it....

Yes it has been done for years but it's hard on machines. Now a little machine like your ranger will not like it at all. And those boards are very expensive, Schnurr will charge you thru the AS$.

There is products that are made for thawing pipe, we had one in the refinery, as for doing it with a welder solder melts at a low temperature that waters lines leak after that, and if anything major happens your insurance will not cover you doing that type of work........

I know it been really cold here, the wife's new van even had the heater core freeze up Thursday night, let's just say it was a cold ride home.....

Railmen

[Railmen]

Like this.......
https://www.ridgid.com/ca/en/kt190-kt200-pipe-thawers

Railmen

[nfinch86]

I changed my mind, I'm Not going to do it !!!!!!!!

Way Too Risky - Either burn his house down or destroy my Lincoln Ranger !

Norm

[gnforge]

Pipe Thawing ?

Well finally happened, local water Co. call this morning they want me to come out Monday and thaw frozen water line. Grrr.
I have older Big 40 D. 1988 That should do job.
Cruizer what you think will that welder handle it?
I Also told them wolnt even think about it unless my insurance co authorizes it and there ins co authorizes it. Seriously don't think either will indorse it.
We were -26 deg. the other morning. Monday am. to be -10 deg.

[Cgotto6]

Holy smokes, you guys are gettin pounded by the cold and here in Seattle we just had a short stretch of record setting 60-65. Hope you guys get some relief soon!

[aametalmaster]

Holy smokes, you guys are gettin pounded by the cold and here in Seattle we just had a short stretch of record setting 60-65. Hope you guys get some relief soon!

My daughter and hubby just left Ohio and the cold to relocate to Seattle..Bob