Worth the $$$???

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well after working on a SUPER RUSH job fixing some VERY VERY expensive stage pieces for a touring rock show this weekend i managed to pretty much smoke my old weld craft tig torch.  Running wide open full out with the old ideal arc 300 turned to 11 on max didnt suit it well.  The torch body is disintegrating and warped the head is distorted and after 18 hours and finishing the final weld i was so out of it when i tossed the torch aside the tungsten landed right on one of the water lines With All that outta the way im looking at getting a weldcraft WP-225-25 flex neck torch with the interchangeable heads.  Is it worth the extra $$$ Vs a standard tig torch.   I can see where it would be handy as hell to be able to switch the angle on the torch head from time to time and job to job.   I made MORE than enough money on the repair that i can splurge a little but don't want to waste money i don't have to.On the upside i re found my gas lens setup and forgot how much better i liked it vs the regular tig cup.  Till i broke it and had to go back Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Originally Posted by Dualiewell after working on a SUPER RUSH job With All that outta the way im looking at getting a weldcraft WP-225-25 flex neck torch with the interchangeable heads.  Is it worth the extra $$$ Vs a standard tig torch.   I can see where it would be handy as hell to be able to switch the angle on the torch head from time to time and job to job.   I made MORE than enough money on the repair that i can splurge a little but don't want to waste money i don't have to.On the upside i re found my gas lens setup and forgot how much better i liked it vs the regular tig cup.  Till i broke it and had to go back
Reply:Originally Posted by Dualiewell after working on a SUPER RUSH job fixing some VERY VERY expensive stage pieces for a touring rock show this weekend i managed to pretty much smoke my old weld craft tig torch.  Running wide open full out with the old ideal arc 300 turned to 11 on max didnt suit it well.  The torch body is disintegrating and warped the head is distorted and after 18 hours and finishing the final weld i was so out of it when i tossed the torch aside the tungsten landed right on one of the water lines With All that outta the way im looking at getting a weldcraft WP-225-25 flex neck torch with the interchangeable heads.  Is it worth the extra $$$ Vs a standard tig torch.   I can see where it would be handy as hell to be able to switch the angle on the torch head from time to time and job to job.   I made MORE than enough money on the repair that i can splurge a little but don't want to waste money i don't have to.On the upside i re found my gas lens setup and forgot how much better i liked it vs the regular tig cup.  Till i broke it and had to go back
Reply:I've used the CK flex head a fair amount, bending the copper lines, without fatiguing thecopper (but eventually that will happen). Then I switched to the flex loc,and have never regretted it. The flex loc shown below, doesn't get the same amountof liquid cooling that a 'normal' torch does, so I will air cool it in, as needed, which is not a biggie. The joint eventually wears out, requiring torch head replacement--I'm almost readyto change out to my fourth head in 12 years. Torches are consumable items-too.Being able to quickly reposition the electrode angle just plain makes life easier,especially when the weldment is cooking-hot.CK also offers optional silicon-jacketed leads, for power, gas and coolanton these torches. These connected via threaded, NOT SAFETY-WIRED,connections, do not leak and are significantly more durable than the PVC. The silicone jacketed hose leads are extremely comfortable to deal with, compared to the PVCespecially in cold weather.Some people value ergometrics, ease and efficiency of operation and some do not--'cheaper is always better', 'the way it was dun 40 years ago is good enough', etc.'   I don't regret using inverter TIGS, MIGS, $4-500 auto darkeninghelmets, gas lenses, etc.--these items don't cost me money-they make me money.Below is the #20 flex loc with #7 gas lens cup, inside aircraft air box.(oOOPS, I forgot-- according to some members,we're not supposed to weld on a/c components, evenunder an IA's supervision and sign off--despite what the FAA sez)http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php...1&d=1253750343 Attached ImagesBlackbird
Reply:Originally Posted by dave powelsonSome people value ergometrics, ease and efficiency of operation and some do not--'cheaper is always better', 'the way it was dun 40 years ago is good enough', etc.'  http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php...1&d=1253750343
Reply:This is the particular one i have my eye on.  http://www.weldcraft.com/products/wp-series/wp-225/   seems a bit more user friendly than the one you posted Dave.     I think i might run into problems with the one you posted as even with the considerable amount of pre-heat i put into the weldment i still managed to smoke the torch overworking it,  the water in the Bernard cooler even got to over 125+ deg.Also this was the first time i have fired it up in 3 months.   I wish i could get the damn cobramatic II dialed in and working better.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Originally Posted by DualieThis is the particular one i have my eye on.  http://www.weldcraft.com/products/wp-series/wp-225/   seems a bit more user friendly than the one you posted Dave.     I think i might run into problems with the one you posted as even with the considerable amount of pre-heat i put into the weldment i still managed to smoke the torch overworking it,  the water in the Bernard cooler even got to over 125+ deg.Also this was the first time i have fired it up in 3 months.   I wish i could get the damn cobramatic II dialed in and working better.
Reply:Dave, how does that work for you with contamination running 100% penetration, zero cleaning on the balance control?   Also, what frequency do you run when run that combination, or was that what you were referring to when you said '20 CPS'?MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by DesertRider33Dave, how does that work for you with contamination running 100% penetration, zero cleaning on the balance control?   Also, what frequency do you run when run that combination, or was that what you were referring to when you said '20 CPS'?
Reply:Thanks for that explanation.  Do you think I can do something like that with my TA185?  It has adjustable freq and balance like the TA300, just less output and duty cycle and single phase only.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Well hopefully i will get my stuff together and either get my cobramatic 2 running right soon,  or just drop the hammer on an integrated push pull pulsed mig setup.   Unfortunately since we don't manufacture anything in this country any more my business has had to evolve.  Less than 10% of my work could even be done with the tig.   Most of the welding we do now is with 0.072 Flux core or 0.052 ultracore 71C.   Hell i don't think i have had even had a forming job in 2 months.   This particular job was a money is NO object, time critical project, my cobramatic is giving me fits so it was to the trusty TIG i went.  I think its the first time in maybe 4+ months that i went for the tig machine.  Most of the time if i go for the tig its usually for stainless.  I have had access to the Lincoln square waves and the Huge miller syncrowave in the past and they are sweet running machines i just cant justify laying out the coin for them.  although i did make enough on this one job to cover a new Syncrowave 350 in this economy the money is much better spent elsewhere.I appreciate the input from everyone!Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Originally Posted by DesertRider33Thanks for that explanation.  Do you think I can do something like that with my TA185?  It has adjustable freq and balance like the TA300, just less output and duty cycle and single phase only.
Reply:Originally Posted by dave powelsonTry it!-lowest ac frequency setting, fully unbalanced for max heat, sharp point on thoriatedor ceriated (which I now like better), HF start and run on, NO PULSE. I've never run a TA 185, so let me know, please.(If you like this setup, then consider using the largest size ground cabling youcan fit into the dinse connectors--to help that ground carry the unbalanced power.I had to do this with my machine, and clean/rework all the power cable connectionsin the tweco disconnects--to avoid excessively hot ground cable.I can provide details as to how this is done, for cool ground cables.)
Reply:Originally Posted by DualieWell hopefully i will get my stuff together and either get my cobramatic 2 running right soon,  or just drop the hammer on an integrated push pull pulsed mig setup.   Unfortunately since we don't manufacture anything in this country any more my business has had to evolve.  Less than 10% of my work could even be done with the tig.   Most of the welding we do now is with 0.072 Flux core or 0.052 ultracore 71C.   Hell i don't think i have had even had a forming job in 2 months.   This particular job was a money is NO object, time critical project, my cobramatic is giving me fits so it was to the trusty TIG i went.  I think its the first time in maybe 4+ months that i went for the tig machine.  Most of the time if i go for the tig its usually for stainless.  I have had access to the Lincoln square waves and the Huge miller syncrowave in the past and they are sweet running machines i just cant justify laying out the coin for them.  although i did make enough on this one job to cover a new Syncrowave 350 in this economy the money is much better spent elsewhere.I appreciate the input from everyone!
Reply:Originally Posted by DesertRider33Duallie, are you using that complicated MK mig pulse machine we talked about before with a thousand controls on it?   If you want to use one of my MK Pulse+ pulsers you're welcome to.  2 settings, on-time and off-time, that's it.  We used them sucessfully every day for years in my old job before we got the new 350P's.  Real easy hook-up, no remote cable, just the hot and ground leads from the power source, using Dinse connectors.  Works with any CV machine.  I got 3 of them here just hanging around doing nothing.
Reply:If I didn't already have machines that do the same thing, I would wanna demo one of the C300's and see how it works.  Seems it would be a real convenient machine for mobile use if it works good.The tank sounds like a good job to keep ya busy for a bit.  Hope you win the bid!  MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:The C300 was a nice machine, once you got it dialed in and everything was synergetic it was a one dial operation,  the way they rep explained it was a "heat" setting Turing it up turned up the heat and let you move faster, turning it down made the arc colder.I didn't demo it on aluminum just stainless steel.  it laid a damn nice bead, was it worth the price they were wanting for it?   Not in my opinion, but im just a basic fab shop and erector that goes with the tide.  It might have made me some money on a job i did but the VI-400's still made me a damn decent profit on the job.So far the only mig power source that really WOW 'ed me was the Miller Pipe pro with RMD.   laying down a root pass with that machine was TOO easy.  just seemed like you would point the arc there and the weld would just stay where you put it.Crossing my fingers on this tank job though.   I forgot how different these marine drawings were from structural's.  Its a totally different style of making prints.Its a bid im putting together for them to add to their larger scope of work.   SO if they get the job i GOT the job.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Thanks for that info on the C300.  Sounds like it operates like the 350P.  Turning up the wire speed causes the machine to automaticaly adjust the voltage accordingly so once you have the other settings dialed in, it's a one-knob adjustment to change heat/material thickness and maintain the same arc characteristics.  Works good on the 350P.Good luck with the job!MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op