Tried a HF TIG welder today

admin

So I went to a buddy's house and he had a HF Tig welder. I kind of had the reaction that is normal for us here on this website. I was not knocking it, but I just didn't have any faith in it. So he plugged it in and I took it for a spin. First impression was "This torch sucks." but I stayed with it. I wasn't using filler and just manipulated the torch for an autogenous weld. The joint wasn't perfect and I had a few spots where the gap was too wide to join. But all in all, I was surprised at it was really no harder to weld with it even though it had not current control. The torch button is just on or off. The place where I missed the foot pedal was at the end of the weld. I didn't move backwards to end my weld and I left a crater. It had hi freq. It wasn't a Cadillac of TIG, but it was a decent arc. Stable as could be.Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:Yup, that was my first TIG right there---that actual one that I sold to your buddy.  You're right about the [lack of] foot pedal.  I quickly realized the limitations of that machine for the thin-wall exhaust tubing I was going to do, which is why I ended up letting it sit and got another TIG with footpedal.  Good thing is that he can add a footpedal if he's good with electronics and can follow the instructions in a thread posted here years ago.Last edited by Oscar; 02-25-2013 at 01:16 AM.
Reply:you can weld any kind of material of any thickness all day long without an amp control device the trickiest is copper but you just don't weld copper every day...aluminium parts with with no amp control Attached Images--------------------------------------------------------------www.becmotors.nlyup, I quit welding.. joined welder anonymous
Reply:Originally Posted by DonoharmI can weld any kind of material of any thickness all day long without an amp control device the trickiest is copper but you just don't weld copper every day...aluminium parts with with no amp control
Reply:I'm sure you can too :P Just change travel speed instead of amps...for end craters you have "down slope" settingI only used a pedal once and... it wasn't pretty--------------------------------------------------------------www.becmotors.nlyup, I quit welding.. joined welder anonymous
Reply:I started TIG last year with scratch start only and no pedal using my arc welder (and an old Forney for aluminum).  It was workable, but not ideal.   Welding 0.060" aluminum was not much fun.I am very pleased with my 1963 Airco with foot pedal - the control during the slight variations in fit-up is great!  Consider me a convert to foot controls 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:Originally Posted by DonoharmI'm sure you can too :P Just change travel speed instead of amps...for end craters you have "down slope" settingI only used a pedal once and... it wasn't pretty
Reply:Yep. That unit had no settings except on or off and amps. No pre or post flow. No up or down slope. Not even a built in downslope which should be a standard with a machine with no pedal option!Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:Originally Posted by Joker11Yep. That unit had no settings except on or off and amps. No pre or post flow. No up or down slope. Not even a built in downslope which should be a standard with a machine with no pedal option!
Reply:Originally Posted by Joker11So I went to a buddy's house and he had a HF Tig welder. I kind of had the reaction that is normal for us here on this website. I was not knocking it, but I just didn't have any faith in it. So he plugged it in and I took it for a spin. First impression was "This torch sucks." but I stayed with it. I wasn't using filler and just manipulated the torch for an autogenous weld. The joint wasn't perfect and I had a few spots where the gap was too wide to join. But all in all, I was surprised at it was really no harder to weld with it even though it had not current control. The torch button is just on or off. The place where I missed the foot pedal was at the end of the weld. I didn't move backwards to end my weld and I left a crater. It had hi freq. It wasn't a Cadillac of TIG, but it was a decent arc. Stable as could be.