Can you lift start with HF tig?

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My friend has a HF tig setup with foot control i think it might be a miller model not sure never even seen it. Well we think he lost his foot control when cleaning out his garage moving cant find it looked up and down and he asked me can you lift start with a hf tig. I really had no idea what to say I have never really thought of it I dont see really why you wouldn't be able to but I have only been welding 5 years off and on so im far from being a expert.I still dont understand half these fancy bells and whistles on these welders as i learned on a old blue box(teacher told us the bells and whistles are nice but not everyone can afford those machines).Anyone shed some light on this subject?Im new to the forum as I have been considering purchasing a setup and want to start working again.So im a little confused at where everything in the forum is.Thanks
Reply:you can. just set it to continuous HF. the electrode will be hot and when you get it close to something that is grounded it will jump and begin to weld. It is not an ideal way to weld aluminum. I assume this is what you are wanting to do? If you just want to weld steel Im not sure how that would work. Id just use scratch start- Christian M.C3 Welding & Fabrication - CNC Plasma Cutting-Mobile Welding-Custom welding and fabwww.c3welding.com
Reply:He mainly just uses it for hobby purposes I honestly dont even know if he can weld aluminum(he got a deal on the machine is why he purchased it). Since he has moved I have not had a chance to visit its a bit of a drive. I just wasn't sure if you can scratch start on dcen or if you had to have the foot pedal or torch control. Its more of a question because of my curiosity as he will probably order a new pedal if he does not find his.
Reply:Welcome to the board!Jerry30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:the High Frequency is always on on my little Lincoln squarewave tig welder.  But I have to touch the tungsten to the work piece to start the arc because im too lazy or just havnt had the time to open it and adjust the points or fix the HF to start the arc. That's with steel, I haven't ran it with aluminum in a while, I wonder if it will stay running on aluminum now : {        thermal arc 252i  -  millermatic 350P -   miller XMT, cp300ts, 30a 22a feeders, buttload of other millers, handfull of lincolns, couple of esabs  -   Hypertherm 1250 G3