Well,my trusty old Miller "tombstone" welder decided to crap out the other day--I tried a new extention cord before condemming the welder,but it made no difference--I was hoping the cord was junk,since it was Romex left outdoors and had some spots damaged..It is strange it worked ok the last time I used it-- it trips the curcuit breaker instantly now when I turn it on!--only thing I did out of the norm was to turn the amperage up higher than I usually do to weld a thick bumper made of channel iron,last time I used it!--..putting the adjustment back to 75 amps where I normally use it had no effect... 
I even took off the case of the welder to inspect the wiring inside(not an easy job,on a 40 year old welder with all the screws painted over 20 times!
)..I could see nothing wrong inside at all,the transformer looked fine,no "burnt" smell,and no bare,burnt,or dissconnected wires anywhere..but the minite I turn the switch on I hear a HMMT! and the curcuit breaker trips instantly. --the outlet works my 220V air compressor fine,so I doubt its the breaker..just my crap luck!
The switch in the welder LOOKS ok,but I didn't want to mess with 220V ,jumping wires on it!
I suppose it MIGHT be the switch,but Its so old,I guess anything could have croaked!--I was suprised to see it had no fan to cool the transformer(never did evidently!)--its a huge 150lb monster,so I guess its time to send it to the crusher and buy a newer arc welder... 
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My friend scored a Miller "Thunderbolt" AC/DC welder at a swap meet in may for TEN BUCKS,because its cord was damaged!--I'm going to ask him if I can buy it off him--he never used it,never even fixed the cord!...I cant live for long without a welder or torches!
--like having no arms or hands after you get used to having both! 
But I doubt he will want to part with the welder.. 
...Guess its one more think I'll have to look for at the swap meets coming up--IF I can even afford to go!..the way things are going here,if I dont sell my C10 soon,I'm going to have to apply for welfare or something..seems nobody wants to hire a burnt out 47 year old former parts counterman/lawnmower mechanic that has an elderly mother to look after...Without torches or a welder,its damm near impossible to fix ANYTHING here in the rust belt..and make any money-- 
I even took off the case of the welder to inspect the wiring inside(not an easy job,on a 40 year old welder with all the screws painted over 20 times!
)..I could see nothing wrong inside at all,the transformer looked fine,no "burnt" smell,and no bare,burnt,or dissconnected wires anywhere..but the minite I turn the switch on I hear a HMMT! and the curcuit breaker trips instantly. --the outlet works my 220V air compressor fine,so I doubt its the breaker..just my crap luck! The switch in the welder LOOKS ok,but I didn't want to mess with 220V ,jumping wires on it!
I suppose it MIGHT be the switch,but Its so old,I guess anything could have croaked!--I was suprised to see it had no fan to cool the transformer(never did evidently!)--its a huge 150lb monster,so I guess its time to send it to the crusher and buy a newer arc welder... --My friend scored a Miller "Thunderbolt" AC/DC welder at a swap meet in may for TEN BUCKS,because its cord was damaged!--I'm going to ask him if I can buy it off him--he never used it,never even fixed the cord!...I cant live for long without a welder or torches!
--like having no arms or hands after you get used to having both! But I doubt he will want to part with the welder.. ...Guess its one more think I'll have to look for at the swap meets coming up--IF I can even afford to go!..the way things are going here,if I dont sell my C10 soon,I'm going to have to apply for welfare or something..seems nobody wants to hire a burnt out 47 year old former parts counterman/lawnmower mechanic that has an elderly mother to look after...Without torches or a welder,its damm near impossible to fix ANYTHING here in the rust belt..and make any money--
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