Ideas needed!

[oneKone]

hi,

i recently picked up a decommissioned mig welder from a mate. he said for some reason the case and handle was missing but the internals are all still good. so it got me thinking.... what could i use these cores for? i'm thinking as an inductor for a boost converter?  being a mig welder it would just be a big step down transformer with most likely a 12-40v output at 80 amps. 

[Hydron]

From the picture those cores look like laminated steel. If they are designed for 50/60Hz then you won't be able to run them at the higher frequencies used in a switchmode (e.g. buck or boost) converter without huge losses in the cores.
Someone might have other suggestions for use though.

[AndreiRS]

Well that's what he said. Works ok till only 400hz if I remember. Why not use it as a mig welder?

[oneKone]

@Hydron
I didn't even think about that. I just saw a big core and got excited!

@AndreiRS
I don't think I could justify the parts cost to get it running again, as well as I have a few other welders.

[Mads Barnkob]

As you sit with 50 Hz parts it is hard to really reinvent it outside its original purpose.

One useful purpose, if you do not want a old welder, could be a spot welder for building prototype enclosure.

I actually also googled and found this from a welder manufacturer: https://www.everlastgenerators.com/blog/top-10-things-do-old-welder

[oneKone]

Haha mads... I think I could use number 5 as an option! I think I'll see how much current the transformation draws when connected to mains, if it's not a lot I might just use it as a power supply if I get into high power zvs drivers

[RocketScienceSmurf]

Why not just convert it to a high current PSU? They can be very useful for driving induction circuits among other things. If it's a three phase transformer you would get a pretty low ripple voltage.

[MRMILSTAR]

You might be able to use it as a ballast for a SGTC HV transformer.