Where to TIG?

admin

I'm working on a TIG setup. The thing is, I've read that TIG isn't for outside work because of the wind blowing away shielding gas. So I have three options.1.- Weld outside and hope for no wind.2.- Weld in the garage. An ok idea, but there are some flammables (paints and such, no gas/oil). It also houses the cars and the workbench is right up against the wall of the house. And there's only drywall there, no other shielding from heat/ sparks.3.- my favorite idea is the basement. I have a metal table there, there are concrete walls, but no external ventilation. That's the only downside. What do you guys think I should do.-AlexSears/Craftsman 230A Buzzy BoxSears/Craftsman 180A Buzzy BoxChicago Electric 80A InverterALL STICK...ALL THE TIME!I spent a lot of time with the square peg and round hole.
Reply:Originally Posted by ArcSpark96I'm working on a TIG setup. The thing is, I've read that TIG isn't for outside work because of the wind blowing away shielding gas. So I have three options.1.- Weld outside and hope for no wind.2.- Weld in the garage. An ok idea, but there are some flammables (paints and such, no gas/oil). It also houses the cars and the workbench is right up against the wall of the house. And there's only drywall there, no other shielding from heat/ sparks.3.- my favorite idea is the basement. I have a metal table there, there are concrete walls, but no external ventilation. That's the only downside. What do you guys think I should do.
Reply:Just a thought from another newbie welder. I've got so little experience that you should take this with a single grain of salt.I've done a little 110v flux core, a little stick, cut a little with oxy fuel, and a little ac and dc tig.DC tig especially is dangerously clean and quiet. So much so that it could lull a new welder into thinking it's ok to do it between a propane tank, can of gasoline, and next to a mapp gas torch all while wearing a tank top with shorts and a helmet. To me it was so nice, clean, and quiet that it was like nothing could ever go wrong. Not that I have any scary stories to tell but I was initially floored that I could weld and hear the radio and have a conversation while lighting up the tig on some steel.Thousands of degrees of heat is still thousands of degrees of heat!To quote a local company.... "SAFETY IS NO ACCIDENT"**I hate to be the safety police but still it's worth being said**Last edited by that'll_buff_out; 02-12-2012 at 10:43 PM.How do you know the blacksmith's dog? When you hollar at him he makes a bolt for the door!
Reply:Originally Posted by that'll_buff_outJust a thought from another newbie welder. I've got so little experience that you should take this with a single grain of salt.I've done a little 110v flux core, a little stick, cut a little with oxy fuel, and a little ac and dc tig.DC tig especially is dangerously clean and quiet. So much so that it could lull a new welder into thinking it's ok to do it between a propane tank, can of gasoline, and next to a mapp gas torch all while wearing a tank top with shorts and a helmet. To me it was so nice, clean, and quiet that it was like nothing could ever go wrong. Not that I have any scary stories to tell but I was initially floored that I could weld and hear the radio and have a conversation while lighting up the tig on some steel.Thousands of degrees of heat is still thousands of degrees of heat!To quote a local company.... "SAFETY IS NO ACCIDENT"**I hate to be the safety police but still it's worth being said**
Reply:i weld tig outside everyday at work...just use a wind block, like a tarp
Reply:Hello ArcSpark96, you can tig outside rather easily so long as, like you said, you take wind/breezes into consideration. Here are a couple of examples of outside "Tig". Best regards, Allan Attached Imagesaevald
Reply:[QUOTE=that'll_buff_out;797851]Just a thought from another newbie welder. [SIZE="5"]I'Thousands of degrees of heat is still thousands of degrees of heat!well...a ten thousand degree arc doesnt hold much heat..a small charcoal fire holds more heat at lower temperature..
Reply:I had te same problem.  Stick and mig are certainly outside.  For TIG, my setup is laughable.  I use a large Lifetime brand pastic folding table with a piece of 3/4" ply on top of it.  I made a ground plate form 1/4" steel and welded a piece of 1/4" rod to the longer end of it.  I host the pate on top of the ply every time which Is a PIA, but it all folds away.  The rod hangs off the table and I clamp the work lead to it.  Definitely Sanford and Son, but I don't have the room for a full size welding table, even a foldable one.  It's comfortable and works well.  If you are aware of your surroundings, you can definitely tig in the garage.  I would worry that the basement isn't as easy to monitor before something happens, and you may build something that's too big to get out of it.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum