Scratch Start Tig ????

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I have become very interested in TIG welding since I joined here. Seeing all of these clean and perfect TIG welds from you guys Is something I would like to work towards in the future. My question is this.... Can I set my AC/DC 225 Thunderbolt up to be used to scratch TIG weld?I know I would need an argon bottle and gauge setup and a TIG torch. I'm sure there is more I would need, but is this even feasible?BrianMiller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DCEverlast 255 EXT with water coolerH.F. 170 Mig/Flux welderKent 3h.p. 9x42 milling machineHome Built 2"x72" variable speed 2 h.p. belt grinderHome built 9" variable speed 2 h.p. disc grinder
Reply:There is a sticky that outlines how you do this. There are also youtube videos from Chucke2009 (Lanse) and weldingtipsandtricks.com (Jody). In short, yes. You will need an air cooled torch, a power lug, a bottle of argon and the usual accessories (tungstens, collets, collet bodies, etc.). Hook your stinger to the power lug and your ground to the material to be welded. set your welder for DC electrode negative. Lots of people here are doing this. quite feasible.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:That is how many started out through the years.V
Reply:That's how I tig weld with my shop machine and portable machine at home.If you ever get into industrial welding, scratch start tig is how most stainless pipe is welded.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:I ran a scratch start Tig rig on this machine for years.  Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:This is how I first learned to tig weld and did it like this for many years.Ya gotta spend money to make money!
Reply:Thanks guys! What size bottle of argon do you recommend for a set-up like this? Any preference on a tig torch?BrianMiller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DCEverlast 255 EXT with water coolerH.F. 170 Mig/Flux welderKent 3h.p. 9x42 milling machineHome Built 2"x72" variable speed 2 h.p. belt grinderHome built 9" variable speed 2 h.p. disc grinder
Reply:an 80 to 125 cf cylinder is a decent size. Big enough you don't run out right away and it's economical to fill, and small enough to be easy to transport for most people without a truck.Torch, I'd go with either a CK 130 9 series torch or a CK 150 17 series torch. The 9 size is smaller and more compact and you don't give up a lot in amperage as it's only rated 20 amps lower at 100% duty cycle than the larger 17 size torch. For hobby projects on steel under 1/8" I think the CK 130 or it's flex head counter part would be perfect. It's also less money than say the same size torch from Weldcraft that has a lower duty cycle..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I like 250-cf bottles my self. These are a good start. http://www.ebay.com/itm/140514184508...%3AMEBIDX%3AIThttp://www.ebay.com/itm/170622076947...%3AMEBIDX%3AITDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:I have a small 45cf bottle. Only good for 3 hrs of tig welding at 15cfh flow. I only use my tig to do thin metal. Anything thicker and I use stick.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:What does a 250-cf bottle of argon cost?For those of you guys that use foot pedals to stop the arc like in Jody's video. Can you post up some pictures of what you made or bought?BrianMiller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DCEverlast 255 EXT with water coolerH.F. 170 Mig/Flux welderKent 3h.p. 9x42 milling machineHome Built 2"x72" variable speed 2 h.p. belt grinderHome built 9" variable speed 2 h.p. disc grinder
Reply:I'm just a hobbyist, and have not done a whole lot of Tig projects. But here is one I did when I first got my Dynasty. Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPI'm just a hobbyist, and have not done a whole lot of Tig projects. But here is one I did when I first got my Dynasty.
Reply:Originally Posted by melsdadJust a hobbyist....I'm not buying that.
Reply:Originally Posted by melsdadWhat does a 250-cf bottle of argon cost?For those of you guys that use foot pedals to stop the arc like in Jody's video. Can you post up some pictures of what you made or bought?
Reply:I'd say a foot pedal comes in real handy when doing aluminum work. When the base metal heats up, it's nice to be able to back off the heat to control the weld.Here is an aluminum weld I made with my Tig rig, and the Everlast PowerArc 200 SMAW machine. See how the weld starts out cold, but then gets hot at the end? If I would have kept going I couldn't have handled the heat build up.  Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:I called my LWS today (airgas). They only offer 80-cf, 125-cf, and 300-cf tanks of argon. 300 size are probably to damn big and heavy for home shop hobby use...correct?A 5 year lease on either the 80 or 125 tanks is $120.00 To buy the tank is $280.00 Not sure what route to take. I'm sure long term may be better to own your own tank...or is it?BrianMiller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DCEverlast 255 EXT with water coolerH.F. 170 Mig/Flux welderKent 3h.p. 9x42 milling machineHome Built 2"x72" variable speed 2 h.p. belt grinderHome built 9" variable speed 2 h.p. disc grinder
Reply:Originally Posted by melsdadI called my LWS today (airgas). They only offer 80-cf, 125-cf, and 300-cf tanks of argon. 300 size are probably to damn big and heavy for home shop hobby use...correct?A 5 year lease on either the 80 or 125 tanks is $120.00 To buy the tank is $280.00 Not sure what route to take. I'm sure long term may be better to own your own tank...or is it?
Reply:When you buy a torch be sure that it has an on off gas valve so that you can hook the torch directly up to your flowmeter and have your gas turned on or off on demand.On the note of heat control there are several things you can do to control you heat while using scratch start and lift arc: The faster you move the cooler it stays,  The shorter your arc length the cooler it stays, The larger your tungsten the cooler it stays, The lower your amperage the cooler it stays (duh), The larger your filler material the cooler it stays.  Scratch start is awesome.  I will never use a pedal again after I learned how to control the heat other ways.  Try It!!
Reply:I don't mean to hijack the thread but those avatar photos are very distracting.  I think I'll need to get more exposed to them and then they will be less of a distraction.  Thoughts?BTW, Jef1, I did not know about those ways to control heat.  Thanks for the tips.  Now...back to distracting avatars....I really have no idea what I am doing.Two Shop Cats (not Bobcats...real cats)Miller DialArc 250 AC/DCScratch-Start TIG SetupMIG 175Plasma CutterO/A
Reply:Originally Posted by melsdadWhat does a 250-cf bottle of argon cost?For those of you guys that use foot pedals to stop the arc like in Jody's video. Can you post up some pictures of what you made or bought?
Reply:I called my LWS today (airgas). They only offer 80-cf, 125-cf, and 300-cf tanks of argon. 300 size are probably to damn big and heavy for home shop hobby use...correct?
Reply:Originally Posted by melsdadJust a hobbyist....I'm not buying that.
Reply:Originally Posted by melsdadJust a hobbyist....I'm not buying that.
Reply:Originally Posted by weldermikeHe's so full of baloneyOriginally Posted by PipelinerOf course he's a hobbyist.  Have you seen the size of his air compressor?!?!  Yep, says home hobby shop all over it!!!!!  Attachment 910031
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPHey I never said I didn't have a problem!
Reply:Originally Posted by PipelinerIt's ok little buddy, that's why we're all here.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPI like 250-cf bottles my self. These are a good start. http://www.ebay.com/itm/140514184508...%3AMEBIDX%3AIThttp://www.ebay.com/itm/170622076947...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Reply:My stinger was getting hot and I thought this was just a better way.I was going to use a 10 foot lead to the gas adapter (lug) but the dude at the MILLER_store offered to crimp the copper lug and give me some short lead. It works as expected and hasnt gotten hot yet. Maybee Im not welding enough. Attached Images
Reply:Filler, 1/16" E70s tig filler will do most stuff you need to do above 16g. If you want to do stuff thinner, then .045 or .035 E 70s tig filler, but you are most likely a long ways away from doing much below 16 ga at the moment..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Has anyone done this using a Lincoln 225/125 buzz box with success? Thanks,-Spike
Reply:Yes it can be done off the DC side of an AC/DC Lincoln buzz box. Down side to a Lincoln vs CEP's T bolt is the Lincoln has tapped settings. That limits you some what on what you can do to dial in the settings. As long as there is a tap close to what you need, there's no problem, but if tap A is too high and tap B is too low,  you can't split the difference like you can with an infinitely adjustable machine like a Tbolt or bigger Lincoln Idealarc..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by melsdadWith the torch link you posted. How do you hook it up to the stinger?
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWYes it can be done off the DC side of an AC/DC Lincoln buzz box. Down side to a Lincoln vs CEP's T bolt is the Lincoln has tapped settings. That limits you some what on what you can do to dial in the settings. As long as there is a tap close to what you need, there's no problem, but if tap A is too high and tap B is too low,  you can't split the difference like you can with an infinitely adjustable machine like a Tbolt or bigger Lincoln Idealarc.