Beginner tig questions

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I have done alot of stick welding and want to start using my machine for tig. I stopped by my local Gas Products & Supply and plan on going back next weekend to get set up for tigHere is my list:>125 size argon bottle>Argon regulator or flowmeter w/hose>Tungsten>Filler Rods>17 series accessory kitThis is just to get started, they had a bunch more stuff that has me seeing my paychecks disappearing rapidly.Am I missing anything?I saw the square offset lamp project and have some .125" square stainless tubing laying around for practice. Is there a rule for tungsten and filler size vs. material thickness? I have a 17 series torch but think a smaller one would be nice for welding on the inside of the tubes so that list might add a 9 series torch and accessory kit.Thanks, ChrisLast edited by Chris T.; 05-19-2013 at 04:30 PM.TOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:go to the miller webpage and look under resources for the TIG handbook.  It will be of good use.Be prepared to either change the fitting at the back of that machine, or the fitting on one end of the argon hose. 1st on WeldingWeb to have a scrolling sig! HTP Invertig 400HTP Invertig 221HTP ProPulse 300HTP ProPulse 200 x2HTP ProPulse 220MTSHTP Inverarc 200TLP HTP Microcut 875SC
Reply:Do you have a helmet that works for tig? And perhaps some thin gloves as well? Acetone for cleaning?
Reply:Oscar, I did not even know that was on their site. Just printed it out. That gas fitting is a 9/16" thread and a post on this forum says that a "B" oxygen fitting will work.Pete, I have a cheap auto-dark hood but I dont trust it for doing tig. I feel better purchasing a fixed shade hood for now unitl I get better at welding and buy a 4 sensor tig rated hood. That fixed shade might be a PITA doing small delicate work but I'll see how it goes. I do have gloves and cleaning items on my list too.TOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:For the 17, get the shorty consumable conversion and the short gas lens kit.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:Hope your torch has a valve on it unless your machine has a gas solenoid.  Depending on the style of your 17, you will need an adapter if it's a single cable torch.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Thanks for the help, Originally Posted by Drf255Hope your torch has a valve on it unless your machine has a gas solenoid. Depending on the style of your 17, you will need an adapter if it's a single cable torch.
Reply:Originally Posted by Chris T.Thanks for the help, It does have a solenoid. I think the trigger on the torch activates the arc and gas but I'm not 100% sure as I have not used it yet. 3pc cable power/gas/control switch Are you talking about the button looking back cap? If so the torch came with a long and short cap.I have been looking at different types of tungsten. What is a good grade to get for a small inverter machine? No radioactive tungsten please.
Reply:FYI they dont make "radioactive" tungsten anymore. That doesnt mean you can go sticking it in your mouth though.
Reply:Originally Posted by BirdFYI they dont make "radioactive" tungsten anymore. That doesnt mean you can go sticking it in your mouth though.
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonDid Airgas tell you that?FYI, yes "they" do.
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonDid Airgas tell you that?FYI, yes "they" do.
Reply:Originally Posted by BirdNo airgas didnt tell me that. The last 3+ years being in and out of nuclear plants have told me that. This has been brought up almost every time at meetings since we are all required to have meters on us and people think their tungsten will set them off.I am allowed 5000 rems...where a pregnant women is allowed 500.One isotope of thoriated material has a half life of 1.8 trillion years. Now i know your saying "well the tungsten is thoriated, and based on what you just said it must be radioactive!" Thats incorrect. Tungsten is 2% thoriated and is actually stable. Even if you have the old **** which people claimed to be radioactive; it would be a minute fraction of what you actually get from living daily life. Ive never had my hands on that stuff and wasnt tig welding at the time so can speak on it.I am suppose to use (SI) now but still learning to remember the conversions from rad's to rem's to SV'sAnyways for those that arent around radioactive crap and their units of radiation exposure...1 rad = 1 rem unit of absorbed dose is the "rad" Since today we use (SI) you should know that 100rem's is equal to 1SVReading on a pack of tungsten comes out to about 800 microrads. 800 microrads is equal to .0008 rads. Everytime you fly on a plane above 6000 feet you are exposed to 2 rem's on average. As you can probly tell by now this is why 2% tungsten is considered stable and NOT radioactive. Lick it, swallow it, touch it, do whatever. At the end of the day you will not be glowing green.Just because i have 10 posts doesnt mean ive been scratching my *** for the past 10 years. At least post some facts or details if your going to post saying that my information is incorrect!
Reply:Not quite what i was trying to get across.Thorium is RADIOACTIVE...yes, i am agreeing with you on that.2% thorium tungsten is NOT RADIOACTIVE but a STABLE material. The plane fact was added to show you that we dont go around daily life saying "well this is radioactive and half the **** over there is also radioactive."Research how much stuff around us has radioactive materials in it. That doesnt mean that we all run around with our heads cut off announcing it like people do with tungsten.Watches, clocks, smoke detectors, FOOD, ceramics, glass, fertilizer, cell phones, blue tooth devices, those are literally just a few. The amounts in these are so small they are considered STABLE!Get my point?
Reply:Bird - I think I'm starting to see what you are getting at.When you said they don't make radioactive tungsten anymore - you meant they don't call it radioactive anymore?Still the same 2% thoriated tungsten though.Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:According to what im told the compounds that were once used in 2% thoriated are different than what is used today. Like i said before i was not around that stuff and have no experience and little knowledge on it.Todays levels in 2% are so low its not to be considered radioactive. Thats why i said in my first post that radioactive tungsten is no longer produced by anyone! Like stated above your exposed to more radiation on one plane ride than you are to a whole years worth of tig welding.I know the above knowledge and facts will not stop this debate. BUT, for those of you who read this....If you ever need to work in a nuclear plant tig welding something they will check your boxes and tools before you leave. They will ask if you believe anything is at risk for showing up as radioactive. DONT mention your tungsten is said to be radioactive. It will be a huge mess and you will walk out of there a very embarrassed man. I dont know how many times ive walked through the radiation monitors leaving work with more than one pack of 2% in my pocket and have yet to set off the monitor...neither has my cell phone which is way more radioactive.When i read that warning on tungsten being radioactive all i see is someone covering their *** since everyone today is sue happy. Everything today has a warning label. Reading warning labels is so 2001...everyone knows that.Last edited by Bird; 05-20-2013 at 01:57 PM.
Reply:Oh Geeshhhhhh here we go yet again with all this radiation jazz...READ THIS!http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=13220...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:That data is considered useless. It says right at the bottom he had to calculate thoriated tungsten himself.Im not calculating anything. Im telling you facts and proof from stuff i encounter everyday. Im not calling anybody here stupid or uneducated. Im telling you what i know.
Reply:Originally Posted by BirdThat data is considered useless. It says right at the bottom he had to calculate thoriated tungsten himself.Im not calculating anything. Im telling you facts and proof from stuff i encounter everyday. Im not calling anybody here stupid or uneducated. Im telling you what i know.
Reply:i never could get a good bead using those filaments..they kept falling out of the torch..
Reply:I like the way thoriated performs and have enough of them to last most of my life.By the calculations I should only lose about 8 seconds off my life Dave J.Last edited by MinnesotaDave; 05-20-2013 at 05:21 PM.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterI always knew there was nothing wrong with 2%...At one class I had a member that is a scientist..He had a geiger counter with him..Put it right next to the grinding wheel while I was sharpening 2% and it showed NOTHING.Then he put it next to one of those filaments you use in a Coleman Propane Lantern.Ya know the white thing that looks like a little basket????Then it was off the charts!Think about that for awhile....zap!
Reply:Originally Posted by BirdSo why is that a sticky then? The information is not accurate. Your providing somewhat false information to people here.
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonThat is great news!!!!  So what you are saying is that it is radioactive but in insignificant amounts. I agree with you on that. Here is a warning sheet from Diamond Ground Products on the subject. http://www.diamondground.com/warning.html"Thorium is a RADIOACTIVE alloy used in tungsten electrodes to assist in arc starting. Although companies involved in welding have been using thoriated electrodes for many years, the industry is becoming more mindful of their potential health hazards. The following are notes, warnings, and recommendations form various organizations on the use of thoriated tungsten welding electrodesAmerican Welding Society: "Thorium is RADIOACTIVE and may present hazardous by external and internal exposure. If alternatives are technically feasible, they should be used.""...if welding is to be performed in confined spaces for prolonged periods of time or if electrode grinding dust might be ingested, special precautions relative to ventilation should be considered. The user should consult appropriate safety personnel."Standard Manufacturer's Warning: "Thorium dioxide is a naturally occurring RADIOACTIVE element. It is an alpha emitter and, as such, its primary hazard lie in inhalation of dust/fumes." "Thorium dioxide has been identified as a carcinogen by the NTP and IARC." (These quotes are from Osram Sylvania MSDS sheets).The Welding Institute: Thorium is a RADIOACTIVE element. The HSWE has recommended to factory inspectors that , where thoriated tungsten electrodes are not necessary, users should be encouraged to look for alternatives.Cancer Assessment: Thorium dioxide has been identified as a carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program and International Agency for Research on Cancer."
Reply:It is important to understand that there are 3 kinds of radioactivity.Alpha, beta and gamma particles. Alpha are basically helium atoms with a lot of energy.Beta are high energy electrons.Gamma are photons with an even greater amount of energy.Thorium gives off alpha particles, these are very low energy and cannot penetrate your skin. As the top layer of your skin is death anyway, any mutations the radiation causes to the DNA in these cells don't matter.Further, when you remove the thorium, the alpha radiation is gone. This whole story changes when you inhale thorium dust. Your lungs are full of living tissue and the deep pockets of your lungs can retain dust forever. So if you inhale thorium dust, your lungs can be exposed to (tiny) amounts of alpha radiation for pretty much eternity.When this thorium dust emits alpha particles, there is a slight change these will hit the DNA in a neighboring living cell. Then if the alpha particle reaches the DNA there is an even smaller chance that it actually causes a mutation. Even when that mutation happens, there is only a small chance that this mutation causes uncontrolled cell division (=cancer). So chances are small, but real. Watch out with dust!