Budget $ for Scratch Start Tig

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I have a Hobart AC/DC StickMate, and have become comfortable with 6011, 6013, and 7014.  I do not claim to be good, but I am no longer embarrased to have somebody see something I have put together.  I have found that some of the things I have tried to weld were as thin or thinner than the rod diameter. With my increased knowledge and new confidence, I would like to try Tig welding. I have learned from this forum that TIG welding can be done with my StickMate. I will need to aquire a TIG torch wth a valve, an Argon bottle, and an adapter. My question; what size budget should I plan to allocate for usable equiptment?I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:I have tigged with my stickmate, and its pretty good at it. You need a torch off of ebay $75~And an HTP Flowmeter off ebay $26~And then about $100 to spend at airgas for the required fittings, tank of argon exchange, power lug, etc. Id plan to budget about $300 to get rolling. Sometimes you see a lightly used tig setup come up here on the classifides which you could buy lightly used from someone who upgraded and get good stuff pretty cheap, and then just change the fittings, etc. I made a video about it, I hope it helps you [Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:Donald Branscom has a 17 posted for sale...
Reply:Lanse & welds4dThank you for your responses.  Enjoyed the video, it is helpful.  Belated Happy Birthday wishes.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:Originally Posted by welds4dDonald Branscom has a 17 posted for sale...
Reply:If you goto airgas and tell them u want a air cooled 25 foot torch u can get a better deal on a radnor one then 75$ just my .02c a 17 is the series of tig torch.I forgot how to change this.
Reply:Originally Posted by LawsonWeldingLLCIf you goto airgas and tell them u want a air cooled 25 foot torch u can get a better deal on a radnor one then 75$ just my .02c a 17 is the series of tig torch.
Reply:Starting with the tank of argon, you can go out looking for the smallest tank you can own or go in acting like a person who intends on opening an account and lease the biggest tank available a 336 cubic foot one.  Some places let you lease by the month and I found one which doesn't like paperwork and 5 years for $150 or buy a tank.  On my 336 tank I think it costs less than twice of the cost for 80 cubic foot on an owner tank for the gas inside.  Best I can tell they (and they keep merging) have a lot of latitude in what price category you fit in.So you need the tank, a flow meter/regulator, a hose to get from the flowmeter to the power lug, a power cord to get from the power lug to the torch and the torch.  If the torch is water cooled you need two other hoses which are just basically hollow plastic with fittings.  Water goes through the power cord and the gas gets to one of the hollow hoses.The 17 type air cooled torches get hot to hold and the power cable can get hot as well.  I find them very limited.  There are ways to use total loss water cooling which will allow you to practice to the extent limited by your duty cycle.  Either one with a knob to do the gas or a device similar to a gas saver for oxy fuel torch you hang it on.  The smaller water cooled torches like the 20 series are very flexible and still will do whatever the air cooled 17 ones will.  The 18 series ones use lots of the same consumables as the 17 but are the water cooled ones.Not sure the point of a 25 foot power cable on an air cooled torch with a knob or other device to turn the gas off,  use welding lead and hose.  12 or 12.5 feet especially if you are cheap minded.  I am sure for $150 beyond the gas bottle I could figure out a few different possibilities.  Of course you need some tungsten rods collets gas lens or diffuser thing and a grinder.franLast edited by fran...k.; 07-22-2011 at 04:13 PM.
Reply:Thanks everybody who has replied, you have all been helpful.  Now that I am aware of what is involved, I can wait.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:Keep an eye out for helium cylinders on Craigslist. Many LWS will swap those for argon. Worked for me!
Reply:Originally Posted by farmallKeep an eye out for helium cylinders on Craigslist. Many LWS will swap those for argon. Worked for me!
Reply:Originally Posted by LawsonWeldingLLCIf you goto airgas and tell them u want a air cooled 25 foot torch u can get a better deal on a radnor one then 75$ just my .02c a 17 is the series of tig torch.
Reply:Originally Posted by welds4dDonald Branscom has a 17 posted for sale...
Reply:I too am doing this and actually hope to do if for less than $80 total minus bottle and regulator.I have a bottle that I rarely use with my Mig (use mostly fluxcore wire).  I am going to run the bottle empty and then refill with 100% Argon and use the Mig regulator that I already have.  On the rare occasion that I want to use solid wire with the wire feeder I will use the argon with it too  As others have already recommended, I would go with the #17 tig torch with the valve for your Stickmate.  (I will be hooking to an equivalent older model Miller Thunderbolt)a)  Just purchased a New Old Stock L-Tec model 17 torch with valve and 1 piece hose and power cable from Ebay for $50 and that included Shipping - received it yesterday.  The Liquidator had 4 more so I am sure he will post again.  (That said, there are other brands on there all the time for $65-$75, Count on spending $125 at LWS if you go that route). b)  I still need a power block adaptor $8 on ebayc)  collet clamp  $5d)  collet body 0.99 to 4.95e) and a cermaic gass diffuser $3.75f)  and of course tungstens In short $80 is going to be doable for me.Last edited by rankrank1; 07-22-2011 at 07:52 PM.
Reply:The canonical scratch start thread with pics:http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=38106
Reply:Originally Posted by rankrank1I have a bottle that I rarely use with my Mig (use mostly fluxcore wire).  I am going to run the bottle empty and then refill with 100% Argon and use the Mig regulator that I already have.  On the rare occasion that I want to use solid wire with the wire feeder I will use the argon with it too.
Reply:I watched that YOUTUBE video and I have to say it was boring on content, but I LOVE the enthusiasm that kid has. I mean, yeahaw around every corner. I am being serious. He really was having fun and that's what kept me watching. I wish I was so excited about stuff still. Good for him.And scratch start is not my bag. He seems to like it. HF, as he said he is used to, is way better.Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWFYI 100% argon will not give you acceptable results with solid wire on steel. It's what you use to do alum mig. You really do need the added CO2 to get solid wire mig to run correctly. Do a search on this and you will find it's been covered fairly extensively here because guys want to do exactly what you want to do. Switching gas back and forth is however a workable solution, especially if it's a small cylinder. I did this at first when I bought my spoolgun to do alum. I'd just sacrifice whatever was left in the cylinder when I needed to swap gases. That or find as many around to projects to burn up whatever was left in the cylinder.
Reply:BTW you do not have to go to Airgas to get your supplies, I live in the middle of nowhere selling the authentic branded CK 17 under 100 bucks. If you have a local welding distributor do not forget about him. Airgas is like Walmart for welding imoho.Last edited by Bronco Junky; 07-22-2011 at 10:48 PM.Reason: spelling
Reply:A very big thank you to everyone who has contributed to answering my question.  I appreciate the all time and effort you devoted to increasing my education.I will start looking for a tank, torch, regulator, flow meter, and adaptor.  Because I am retired and a "hobby welder" I have time to spend looking. I certainly appreciate everybodies contributions.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:I bought this for way under the prices quoted...It's a 17FV torch & it's used and it had 4 different kinds of tape wrapped around it. The handle seems to be the only damaged part (slightly cracked). I bought it because I wanted the leather cover for my Plasma cutter.The plus side was a usable torch w/connector (after I removed that pile of tape) for later use with my big welders.I suspect it was used in a fabrication setting that required the layers of 'insulation' as well as the leather cover. I do more damage to my Plasma leads and wanted to cover them before I damage them. Tig is a future learning curve,but even then I won't need to protect the lead so much...I also bought a new Southweld 9SV torch for under $40 ... So if you look there are deals if you're not in a big hurry. Attached Images