The other day I welded something (not important) and as I had the welder on, I had pulled the ground and slung it over my bottle and as the clamp touched the welder, I saw a spark jump...I thought that's odd. Today, while tacking i a panel, the welder was splattering something fierce...I had my gloves off because I was buttwelding and using my finger as a guide to make sure things were lined up...and I started getting "bit" by the voltage like AC was running back through the ground to my panel. Figured someone here has had this happen before and may shed some advice Will check in and bump the thread for a bit to keep it seen... Yes, welding on an on topic truck...'early production '42 Ford pickup.
Sounds like the gun needs a liner. The wire travels through a liner inside the gun cable, they need replacement from time to time, take the gun apart and check the nozzle, see if some slag is touching and arcing the gun.
I put a new liner in it a few years back (this welder doesn't see a lot of use...maybe a 1/2 roll has run through it) Good tip on looking at the nozzle, will pull it apart tomorrow...searching the 'net, seems machine may not be well grounded. Thanks
I have a Millermatic 35 too. In addition to what others have said about checking the liner, I would check the twist ground connection at the welder front panel and check the ground cable to twist in connector interface. Let us know when you fix it OK? I'm interested in what you find in case mine does it.
Well, in case anyone was wondering...after cleaning, tightening, and blowing out the welder, plus verifying grounds from my service to the welder and so on, I clamped on to some scrap, welded great, no issues, held the work in my hand, no bites. Clamped on to the pickup, laid a spot...no issue, moved to another one, welder started splattering and I was getting bit kinda like an electric fence charger... Damn. Tried out another spot...fine, went to another...splatter and bites. WTF? Then realized where I was getting splatter and bites was next to the magnets I had on edge...the ones I use are about 2 inches by 5 inches and 3/4 inch thick...and where I was getting bit/splatter was where I had the magnets on edge...i/e not laying flat down. I'm assuming that with the magnet right next to the guns nozzle, something in the magnetic field was messing with the DC coming from the welder, and I dunno, maybe trying to reverse the polarity during the weld. Well, all happy in MM35 world tonight
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