Robert Bodell wrote:

I built a homemade AC/DC welder. I used some big 400 amp 250 volt
diodes for the full wave bridge to get the DC.
http://www.geocities.com/robert_bodell/welder.html

It welds with a 1/16 to 5/32 rod fine and does stainless great too

I heard that there was plans someplace that you could use an arc to
get the HF necessary to weld aluminum with.

You really need AC to weld aluminum. Do you have a TIG torch? There's
no way to weld aluminum without it, unless you do it in a glove box
filled with argon.


I am not sure of this is before the transformer, after the transformer
and before the diodes or after the diodes and in the welding leads.


There are ways to add an HF system to a stick welder. Basically, you build
a heavy-duty Tesla coil, with a neon sign transformer, spark gaps and an
air-core resonant transformer. The secondary of the transformer is just
a few
turns of welding cable around the Tesla coil. There should be plans
somewhere
on the net for such a thing. If you are not very competent with REALLY
dangerous electrical gear, this could be a real hazard. It also will
likely wipe
out any TV or radio reception for blocks.

Jon