Hey guys, found this old machine on a pick recently. I know this is really a thread for Garagejournal but I am not registered over there yet. I believe it is a machine intended for removing broken studs, taps, drillbits, etc. It appears to be complete but of course the rubber stuff is a little worse for wear. I gather this device is to be chucked in a drill press, lathe or mill. I guess how it works is the electrode is electromagnetically vibrated and scratches against the work piece at a very high speed to create an arc that obliterates whatever it touches (like broken studs, bits or taps). It looks like water is supposed to be pumped through it as coolant. Against my better judgment I powered it up and the electromagnetic********* seems to work but it didn't spark when I touched the ground cable to the electrode. I did not want to turn the dials all the way up just in case. How can I safely test and diagnose this machine? Is the coolant required to start the arc? Is it even worth*****ing with? It seems like it might be pretty useful.
Air was my first thought, but it looks like it's a water-based coolant. Electro Arc sells a formula you're supposed to mix 20:1 with water. The coolant's purpose is to help control the arc and to wash the***** out. I guess I just need to chuck it up in my drill press and try to burn a hole in something.
Use full leathers, gloves a # 10 minimum lens in your hood. I'm pretty sure I remember seeing that very machine in one of the old Flash Gordon movies being used by "Emperor Ming the Merciless" in an attempt to destroy Earth, abduct Dale Arden and kill Flash and the Professor all in one fell swoop. Or, was it one swell foop?
Step 1: Check life and property insurances are all in order and paid up to date. Step 2: Restock first aid kit and update personal safety equipment. Step 3: Decide on "fire-up day" and notify emergency services of date and time. I'm not sure what to do after this. You are on your own. Update us if you are still able. Video would be good. But seriously man...... DO IT CAREFULLY..... You did mention 'arc' and 'water' in the same breath....
Hell...get someone to turn it on and twist the knobs. Just stand back , out of there reach , and watch the show.
You know how a welder will blow holes in the piece if it’s turned up too hot? This device does that on purpose. The electrode is vibrated at a high speed, I think to keep it from sticking to the piece.
Were I used to work we had a Metal Disintegrator Machine (MDM) out in a back corner of the shop. Only a handful of guys knew how to run it, but did a nice job burning out taps. They ran coolant, the same as machining water-based coolant, to keep the part they were trying to save from warping and getting to hot. Here is a link to an article from 1947. Ten ways to use a metal disintegrator. https://electroarc.com/10-ways-you-can-use-electro-arc-metal-disintegrators/ This one is a modern version, similar to the one @trevorsworth https://electroarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ExtractAll-X2-spec.pdf
Thanks, I'm getting a clearer picture of how to run this machine. How cool is that??? The second article was real helpful as it shows all the peripheral equipment that should go with it.
Hi, Electro Arc purchased Jiffy tool in 1968. You are not getting an arc because the dial is at "0" which is essentially off. This model needs a pump and motor for the coolant, it appears to be missing the chuck lock nut on the disintegrating head as well. Please note if you do test this machine the electrode should not make contact with the work piece and you must use coolant or water to prevent the electrode from becoming hot enough to melt the fixture.. I am attaching some promotions that include the Jiffy model A-1 for your reference.
Thanks!! I did have the power dial on a higher setting when I had it powered up but I set it back to zero after shut down as I am in the habit of doing with my welders. I had just been trying to get it to spark to see if the transformer was operational but didn't have any luck. So there should be an external water pump to feed coolant into the disintegrating head? Can I gravity feed it?
Yes, you can get an external pump and motor, the required specs are on the A-1 spec sheet. You could gravity feed it in a drill press. We do have a manual and parts lists for this model if you need further****istance.
Both would be very helpful, I have every intention of getting this machine up and running & doing it properly. I guess you work for Electro-Arc? It's really awesome that yall still support this machine.
I do work for Electro Arc. Most machines like this are obsolete, we don't sell parts for them anymore. Please send me an email marketing@electroarc.com Thanks!
Will do, thank you! Looking through some of this material I realize the coolant pump for the disintegrator & the hand cart is in the garage at the place I got this from. We were not sure what the pump was for as it was stuffed back in a cabinet. I will be going back this Sunday to get it and some other equipment.
How cool is this. You buy an old piece of machinery. The manufacturer has changed hands, and the kit is no longer made. You post on the HAMB looking for information. The new manufacturer somehow finds out, joins the HAMB and reaches out offering tech support. Thankyou Carrin - this is the kind of behaviour that many of us remember, and definitely appreciate. Cheers, Harv
Just what I was thinking. An extremely kind gesture to reach out especially knowing I'm not a serious customer... just a tinkerer playing with some old equipment. Not to mention the quality of recordkeeping, able to reach back to the fifties for equipment you didn't even produce! Now I'm anxious to pick up the rest of the kit this Sunday.
Thanks, I am glad could help, these machines aren't very well known. There are a lot of converted machines out there too. Electro Arc purchased Elox in 1981 and Uni-Tek in 2004.
Thanks for the reference to Elox! When I worked in Die Design at an Alcoa extrusion mill in the late '60's, the die shop used the Elox for cutting patterns in the hardened die blocks. Now I can better relate to the OP's machine. Awesome equipment!
@Carrin Harris. You can make your images larger by hitting the "full image"*****on before hitting the "post reply"*****on. Thanks for joining us here and for all of the help. See below.....Don.
Hello, @Carrin Harris, and welcome to the HAMB from beautiful downtown Cleveland, TN. Thanks for taking the time to inform @trevorsworth and all the rest of us about this machine. There's been many a time when a member finds something unusual, and we do the "20 Question" guessing game about what it's use is. The question I'm curious about is how you found us? I noticed your age in your profile, so you fit right in with a large percentage of our group. Please don't be a stranger.
Damn, Don, your brain is right up to speed today. Of course, I'm not meaning to imply that it's not working to full capacity at all times.
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