Lotos WS200 DC TIG Practice

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Third time using this thing, it's been in my shop collecting dust for about a year.  Didn't use the pedal, just scratch started.  Any critique would be great!   Attached ImagesThermalArc 181i | Lotos WS200
Reply:looks good to me. except the one dirty spot.SqWave 200Millermatic 190Airco 200 ACHypertherm PM45Boice-Crane Band SawVictor O/A
Reply:so your using scratch start, how do you stop your arc? when I use my Lincoln RT I have to pull away quickly to stop the arc, and then I put the torch back over the stopping point to try and help with some gas, lol it actually restarted the arc one time from about 2in away good thing I have an AD helmet and it was still downlooks good to me though, I see that you use the TA 181i, do you have the tig torch for it? I do for mine, it works pretty good for me kinda sucks cause everyonce in awhile I will forget the gas valve and pssshhh tungsten gone lol
Reply:It has a solenoid and a switch on the torch for on/off.  Actually works pretty wellThermalArc 181i | Lotos WS200
Reply:Originally Posted by chevydylso your using scratch start, how do you stop your arc? when I use my Lincoln RT I have to pull away quickly to stop the arc, and then I put the torch back over the stopping point to try and help with some gas, lol it actually restarted the arc one time from about 2in away good thing I have an AD helmet and it was still downlooks good to me though, I see that you use the TA 181i, do you have the tig torch for it? I do for mine, it works pretty good for me kinda sucks cause everyonce in awhile I will forget the gas valve and pssshhh tungsten gone lol
Reply:right, kinda a pain with the valve, whats your method to scratch start, I have tried two that I know of, well 3, one is a scratch lol, works good, another is to flip the filler rod in between the tungsten and the base metal, works ok seems to get my tungsten dirtier, the other is to light up on some bronze thrust washers from an Ariel natural gas compressor....I like that method when your doing thin metals, like the good ol razor blade trick allows you to maintain your arc and slowly bring the heat to the metal to be welded, the pieces I have are like 5/16in thick, good to have those type of things around they worked well when I was welding on some stainless, helped keep it from sugaring on the backsideMiller Syncrowave 210 w/CK FlexLoc 150  3/6/14ESAB PCM 1125 Plasma CutterAtlas 12x36 LatheACER 9x42 3hp millHarig 612 Surface GrinderDRINK Machine              welding&fabrication
Reply:I've just been clicking the trigger on then just touch the piece and it fires up.  Once it's nice and hot it seems like you just need to get close to the work with the trigger engaged and the arc pops onThermalArc 181i | Lotos WS200
Reply:I really need to hook up the lotos foot pedal that came with it.  I weld all day every day so I'll put some hours on this machine to give it a better review on reliability.  If it dies oh wellThermalArc 181i | Lotos WS200
Reply:that almost sounds like lift start not scratch start....like the 181i where u can set the tungsten on the work, push the switch and lift and your tiggin  the ol Lincoln u gotta get an arc going like you would a stick electrode lil drag across the work, harder  on ac alum...Miller Syncrowave 210 w/CK FlexLoc 150  3/6/14ESAB PCM 1125 Plasma CutterAtlas 12x36 LatheACER 9x42 3hp millHarig 612 Surface GrinderDRINK Machine              welding&fabrication
Reply:Quite possibly...need to use the pedal soon thoughThermalArc 181i | Lotos WS200
Reply:see that brown color at the edge on that one side? not what you want to see, not sure if that is a gas coverage issue, or you just didn't clean the metal that well. I grind the scale off then hit it with a flapper to make it mirror, then an acetone wipedown....I also use gas lenses, HUGE difference in gas coverage, also in those weird spots try using tinfoil to make like a dam to keep the gas from blowing away, it well help to keep argon in that area betterMiller Syncrowave 210 w/CK FlexLoc 150  3/6/14ESAB PCM 1125 Plasma CutterAtlas 12x36 LatheACER 9x42 3hp millHarig 612 Surface GrinderDRINK Machine              welding&fabrication
Reply:Hit it with a flapper but no acetoneThermalArc 181i | Lotos WS200
Reply:looks good though bro, I love the look of a weaved tig bead, kinda similar to the look of when you walk the cupMiller Syncrowave 210 w/CK FlexLoc 150  3/6/14ESAB PCM 1125 Plasma CutterAtlas 12x36 LatheACER 9x42 3hp millHarig 612 Surface GrinderDRINK Machine              welding&fabrication
Reply:Originally Posted by zeus_r6Quite possibly...need to use the pedal soon though
Reply:Originally Posted by RaulAm I wrong thinking that this weld looks a little cold and wondering about penetration?
Reply:Originally Posted by zeus_r6The weld bites into the plate so I would assume it's got good penetration.  Correct me if I'm wrong
Reply:it looks like to me that he did a weave pattern, but was a little short on filler, ive made that same exact looking weld on 3/16 fillet weld, using a 3/32 rod, shoulda had a 1/8th rod or pushed more rod into the puddleMiller Syncrowave 210 w/CK FlexLoc 150  3/6/14ESAB PCM 1125 Plasma CutterAtlas 12x36 LatheACER 9x42 3hp millHarig 612 Surface GrinderDRINK Machine              welding&fabrication
Reply:I did two passes on itThermalArc 181i | Lotos WS200
Reply:The plate is 1/4" and the pipe is 3/4 sch 40ThermalArc 181i | Lotos WS200
Reply:Originally Posted by zeus_r6The plate is 1/4" and the pipe is 3/4 sch 40