My new TIG machine came in yesterday..

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I work on a boat, and I don't get off until Tuesday. So I am pumped!My wife told me the shipping box looked to be in good condition.I can't wait to use it. I can stick weld pretty good. Well enough to get by. I have to tell you, I never TIG welded before in my life. I don't even know how to start it up or anything. So it's going to be a new world for me.So any super noob tips would be great.Millermatic 211PowerPlasma 50s
Reply:Good luck with your new machine, have a blast with it.Tig welding is almost mesmerizing. The control that you have over the weld is unbelievable.My word of advice is not to get upset when your welds look nothing like some of the great welders that are on this site. The control that these guys have when welding is amazing.I hope that with your new machine nobody gets to say I told you so. You other post of why a manufacturer is so hated may come back to haunt you. I had kind of looked at Neverlast and forums like this one changed my mind.Miller Diversion 180Lincoln Mig Pak 5000 HDHypertherm 45Uni-Spotter Stud WelderOxy Set-up with Harris TorchMiller 30FX Arc StationMiller Elite - Hockey Canada Helmet
Reply:I have never tig welded myself either.  But this is what I do know, sure I will be corrected on some of it.If you have gas welded the idea is similar.  Torch and rod.With a TIG set the machine somewhat like a Mig would set or an Arc/Stick.  But you have a foot contorl (some have hand) that makes a fine adjustment to the voltage/amerage.  This is important to control the puddle, at the end of the weld when it's hot you start to bring the power down to get a consistent and "pretty" finish.Just play around with it and have fun.
Reply:Originally Posted by Tundra08Good luck with your new machine, have a blast with it.Tig welding is almost mesmerizing. The control that you have over the weld is unbelievable.My word of advice is not to get upset when your welds look nothing like some of the great welders that are on this site. The control that these guys have when welding is amazing.I hope that with your new machine nobody gets to say I told you so. You other post of why a manufacturer is so hated may come back to haunt you. I had kind of looked at Neverlast and forums like this one changed my mind.
Reply:Did you buy a tig just for fun or do you have projects in mind?....Miller Dynasty 200Millermatic 211Instagram?.... find me @ WELD_MEDIC
Reply:Originally Posted by tig_21Did you buy a tig just for fun or do you have projects in mind?....
Reply:How do you start the arc on a TIG? with the pedal of switch on the torch?Millermatic 211PowerPlasma 50s
Reply:Both, depending on your configuration. You can set it up so the switch on the torch controls everything, or you can use the foot pedal to control it.The foot pedal is pretty self explanatory as far as how it works. The switch has two popular modes 2T and 4T. 2T is also pretty simple. When you press the button, the machine starts the arc. When you let off the button, it stops the arc. 2T also has the added benefit of upslope and downslope, usually measured in seconds. So, you press the button, the machine will start the arc, then it will ramp the current up to the current setting in the number of seconds you specify in upslope. The current will stay at your current setting as long as you are holding the button. When you let off of the button, this same process repeats in reverse from set current to 0 over the time period you set for downslope.4T is can be even neater. Here, you press and hold the button. The machine will start the arc, and will output whatever current you have set for your start amps (if you have that control, some of them have a pre-defined current). It will stay at that current with the arc started until you let off the button. When you let off the button, it will ramp up to your set current over the upslope time period you set. The arc will stay lit even though you are not pressing the button. When you press the button and hold yet again, the machine will ramp the current back down to your end amps (again sometimes this is adjustable, sometimes it isn't) over your downslope time period. It will stay at the end amps until you let off the button again. When you let off the button, the arc goes out. That's it!Last edited by Zmechanic; 04-27-2012 at 03:27 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by 225I work on a boat, and I don't get off until Tuesday. So I am pumped!My wife told me the shipping box looked to be in good condition.I can't wait to use it. I can stick weld pretty good. Well enough to get by. I have to tell you, I never TIG welded before in my life. I don't even know how to start it up or anything. So it's going to be a new world for me.So any super noob tips would be great.
Reply:Thank you. That was the kind of answer I was looking for...Millermatic 211PowerPlasma 50s
Reply:Originally Posted by Fat BastardWhat did you buy?
Reply:Originally Posted by 225Everlast powerTIG200DX
Reply:Originally Posted by LlundbergGood luck and enjoy it. A character called sundown will be along shortly to call you "dumbazz newbie you don't know what you're talking about". That is customary for anyone new and especially someone who bought anything made in China (he has personal issues but no need to take notice, he is not a welder himself). Enjoy and stay with it.
Reply:Originally Posted by LarryOWhy don't you give it a rest?Im sick of your dumbazz comments.  Your cloging up the board with BS.Also i would listen to Sundown's advice all day over your BS.
Reply:'Cos i like to read all.Why put you on the ignore?  You may actually contribute to this forum one day and i may actually learn something from you. .....and no, im not SD, but i'd prefer to meet him over a beer than you.
Reply:Originally Posted by LarryO'Cos i like to read all.Why put you on the ignore?  You may actually contribute to this forum one day and i may actually learn something from you. .....and no, im not SD, but i'd prefer to meet him over a beer than you.
Reply:Originally Posted by LlundbergOK. Point taken, I'll turn it down.
Reply:Originally Posted by LlundbergGood luck and enjoy it. A character called sundown will be along shortly to call you "dumbazz newbie you don't know what you're talking about". That is customary for anyone new and especially someone who bought anything made in China (he has personal issues but no need to take notice, he is not a welder himself). Enjoy and stay with it.
Reply:Originally Posted by 225I work on a boat, and I don't get off until Tuesday. So I am pumped!My wife told me the shipping box looked to be in good condition.I can't wait to use it. I can stick weld pretty good. Well enough to get by. I have to tell you, I never TIG welded before in my life. I don't even know how to start it up or anything. So it's going to be a new world for me.So any super noob tips would be great.
Reply:Thanks guys, and gotta love forum drama. I am a welder. Was by trade for a few years. Building boats before I started running them. Still certified in structural stick welding. Doubt I could pass a pipe test still. Never touched tig though. I've seen it done. I used to watch a guy do it a lot years ago. I know I can do it, just didn't know where to start.Millermatic 211PowerPlasma 50s
Reply:Millermatic 211PowerPlasma 50s
Reply:Good luck with the new tig machine. I seen a funny video how this guy took a sledge hammer to a Longevity/Everlast machine, I couldn'nt stop laughing. I heard good stuff and bad stuff about these machines. Let me know if you like your machine after you get it perkalating! For the price I would have to try it too.I bought a Thermal arc ARCMASTER 185 back in 09 for $1600.00. floor model no pedal.What I got with it: Regulator, welding tungsten/cup kit, stick/whip weld adaptor ,tig torch (Abitig 26) and manuel with 3 year warranty. I also purchased it mostly for hobby and small nick knack welding for mself, I also purchased a small metal break/shear roller for small hobby projects. I saved myself and friends money repairing broken parts. As of now, I never had one problem with my Thermalarc. I am very satisfied. I took time to read and understand it's functions and apply it to it's specific uses which is awesome! I did buy a Lotus foot pedal  off of EBAY for $69 and converted to fit ARCMASTER185. Works great!Good luck!THE OLDER I GET! THE  SMARTER MY DAD WAS!Thermal Arc 185 inverter Tig welderABITIG 26  tig torchLotus foot pedalLincoln 225 stick welderClark 185SG Mig spoolgunwelderVictor torch/regulatorsHF36" shear,bender,roller.
Reply:Originally Posted by 225
Reply:3000 hpAlbum: http://imgur.com/a/Urzpt#0Millermatic 211PowerPlasma 50s
Reply:Originally Posted by 2253000 hpAlbum: http://imgur.com/a/Urzpt#0Since you have experience welding, you shouldn't have any problem adjusting to TIG (except now there will be a lack of spatter and your cloths will look cleaner.)There are a couple of videos on the Internet that are pretty good in getting you started.  The best I've seen for clarity is HTP's one on TIG.  Covell makes a decent one as well.  The HTP one has some of the clearest picture of the puddle you'll find anywhere.You'll find the biggest challange is typically not the torch but feeding the filler.   Not to worry, there are videos on techniques for that as well.  Youtube.The Miller packet is a good one, but Lincoln also has TIG welding packet.   ESAB as well,but I would say ESAB is more like a power point presentation.  Not sure were I got mine from Lincoln, I think my LWS gave it to me 15 years ago or so.  The documentation you get from Lincoln and Miller are as good as any other written source.  No need to look further.Con Fuse!Miller Dynasty 350Millermatic 350P-Spoolmatic 30AMiller Multimatic 200Hypertherm PowerMax 1000G3Miller Maxstar 200DX
Reply:Hope you can get hold of an argon tank for the weekend. If not you are still out of luck with the welder. Maybe your wife can go by the LWS and get a small 40 /80 cuft tank for you. Didn't see anyone else mention that your welder is just the welder no tank, it may have hose an regulator in the box if not you will need them too. I assume you already have welding head shield and gloves.  Also you will need a supply of tungsten electrodes to do much.
Reply:Originally Posted by 2253000 hpAlbum: http://imgur.com/a/Urzpt#0