Welders, how do they work? What it is is that I'm doing some electrolytic rust removal, and the 4amp battery charger isn't man enough for the job. It's a basic type with an ammeter on the front and the thermal overload switch is clicking on and off every 5 seconds or so.
I thought about where I might find a heavy duty transformer and the arc welder came to mind, but measuring the output voltage gave a negligible reading.
It's quite an old machine and very basic, does anybody understand why there's no measurable voltage being put out?
I'll try it in the morning anyway, one of two things will probably happen!

Or as a more sensible plan, can anyone suggest where I might find a heavy duty transformer in the 12-20volt range?

Can anyone give me details of suppliers of CO2 and argon/CO2 in the Canterbury area? (Would prefer to avoid the British Oxygen, Air Liquide-type suppliers, with their ripoff monthly rental price models.)

Thanks.

Can anyone give me details of suppliers of CO2 and argon/CO2 in the Canterbury area? (Would prefer to avoid the British Oxygen, Air Liquide-type suppliers, with their ripoff monthly rental price models.)

Thanks.

Arc welders in my understanding can be DC or AC, by winding the big knob to an appropriate point you should be able to get an appropriate output voltage but the polarity may only be correct half the time. As it will be doing 50ish Hz if AC that may explain why you can't get a reading.

You could possibly make it work with a diode from an alternator...