gas lens advice

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I have a "26" tig torch which a bought recently to plug into my TB302 so i could learn (hopefully) tig.no pedal, just the essentials to start withI have one of the basic starter kits for collets and cups. 1/16, 1/8, 3/16" and 3 standard cups.I would like to change over to gas lenses as i think they are better before i collect too much standard stuff.1. is this a sensable approch?2. what would i need to get to have a basic collection of lenses? (collets, gaskets and whatever)TIAGI'm just playing around with steel 1/4" or bigger just now to get into it, but hope to do SS and Alu also when i get up to par. Down to some thin material also. (after i get a pedal)G
Reply:I'd stick with conventional parts until you learn, once a gas lens gets dirtied up, it's kinda junk. I just bought gas lenses at work, some of the other guys who try to weld already jacked them up, so I bought more and keep them locked in my desk. buy the three conventional nozzles and tips for now, switch to gas lenses after you master not contaminating the parts and tungsten if you wantoh yeah, especially if your scratch starting
Reply:I dunno! http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...ight=gas+lensehttp://www.carmenelectrode.com/archi...w-welding.htmlhttp://www.millerwelds.com/education...rticles68.htmlCity of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Thanks guy'si have nothing against the standard cups, just looking with anopen mind.Think ill carry on with what i got for now.G
Reply:i find 3/32 tungsten better than 1/16, cant imagine where you will need 1/8 and 3/16  tungsten ( more expensive too), gas cups not at all necessary for learning . when i have tried  to tig without a pedal it has been problematic..if you have the machine set high enough to get a puddle, soon the piece will get  hotter and hotter, as a newb i wasnt able to control this and it got outof hand..but for sure some excellent tiggers  do not use a foot or hand  heat control...
Reply:sorry brain fartshould have been 3/32" not 3/16
Reply:The only reason I see for using a gas lens is if you are working on extremely deep groove welds(ex: large dia. XXH Pipe or plate over 1/2").  These type of joints require extra stick-out on the tungsten and the gas lens allows for better gas coverage.  I could also see it hepling on a t-joint where you may lose a little coverage down in the joint, but other than that I would stick with the regular old collet body.  However, if you do choose to go for a gas lens, I would only get them for 1/8" and 3/32" tungsten.  I just ordered a kit from arc-zone.com for my 26 torch and I got the gas lens kit(I weld pipe for a living) so I could practice more at home.  Also, I find that starting on scratch start will give you an advantage rather than sitting at a table using a foot pedal.  All depends on what you want to be able to do with tig though.
Reply:uoyooooo ba scrucjamuti...very insulting in rumanian   go pededle yer crap elsewhere...weldors here...
Reply:if you are talking to me and insulting me in romanian because you think i am trying to "pededle" goods for someone, think again.  i offer advice from a PROFESSIONAL stand point, and if i may have referred to a company i prefer to buy things from it was because i believe they have good customer service and prompt  delivery on whatever the items maybe.  we do live and work in a free market society and everyone is entitled to their opinion, that just happens to be mine.
Reply:I use a  3/32" #6 quite a bit. The parts cost me about $12 from my LWS.Looks like this -> LINK(Before I get accused of hawking goods, the pic is for reference only and I have no relationship to seller. I buy my parts locally) I would recommend a gas lens in at least one size to give you a feel for how they work.-Matt------------------------------------------
Reply:The 3/32 is the most common size because it's operating range is from 0-150 amps.Maybe when you said 3/16 you meant 3/32.The gas lens really helps to diffuse the gas around the weld pool.If you are using the air cooled torch it is more problamatic because it requires highergas flow and makes more noise and is larger in size. If the gas lens is getting contaminated with small globs of metal it means you may be welding metal that is not clean.Without a water cooled torch and a foot pedal you will never get the control that is possible with a true dedicated TIG set up.AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:Delwelds:Weldbead was refering to a spammer that posted before you. David R removed the post. 9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:Originally Posted by Donald BranscomThe 3/32 is the most common size because it's operating range is from 0-150 amps.Maybe when you said 3/16 you meant 3/32.Welcome to five posts agoThe gas lens really helps to diffuse the gas around the weld pool.If you are using the air cooled torch it is more problamatic because it requires highergas flow and makes more noise and is larger in size....Gas lenses use lower flow rates. I don't know where you got the idea they require more flow, but that's completely false. As far as them "making more noise", I use mine with a -17 all the time and it's just as quiet as a plain cup.Without a water cooled torch and a foot pedal you will never get the control that is possible with a true dedicated TIG set up. BS - I use a "knuckleball" style grip directly on the neck of a -17 under 150 amps and heat isn't usually a problem. IMO a  -20 with a water cooler doesn't make that big a difference until you do extended length welds over 150 amps.
Reply:delwelds   no offense intended...some doofus named ouyuo was  "peededling" some crap,couldnt even tell from his post wwhat it was... and i  offered  him my thoughts on that.. i liked youir comment about getting up and away frpom the pedal . just a junkyard dog chasing a a-hole away from this good site...
Reply:thanks for letting me know, i thought you trying to run me off because it was my first post here and you thought i was trying to promote someones business.  thanks for clearing that up!  no offense taken, at least not anymore