Got a free new welder any one got experience with dialarc hf

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Well I scored a free new welder from a friend who used it all of about 8 times. And small projects at that! It's a dialarc hf 250 with a miller matic wc-2 weld control box and a spool matic-2 gun. And a dry tig line with a model rfc-23a foot pedal. I'm just wondering how to set it up for mild steel tig? I've done a lot of mig and stick but lack on the tig side. Eventually I'd like to use it to do alum. But I don't have much of it to do any thing with. So if u guys could help me out with suggestions of filler rod, tungsten, and weld setting I would be very thankful. By the way I have done tig before back when I was in school so I know a little bit but haven't done enough since rember it the little stuff. I'll post pics of the new set up when I get on the desktop.Last edited by chevyrig; 04-20-2014 at 04:20 PM.trailblazer 302 spoolmatic 25a with wc-24thermal arc 161s tig rigmillermatic 200dialarc 250 hf tig rig with spool gun and boxand wanting more......
Reply:You got a Dialarc 250 for free?? That's awesome. I have one too. You will need a bottle of 100% Argon, some 2% thoriated tungsten, filler can be ER70S or 309 stainless for mild steel. Set the machine up on DCEN, heat depends on thickness of material being welded. 1973 Lincoln SA 200, Already replaced shunt coils, Idle board (SOLD)1984 Miller Dialarc 250HF, Miller water cooler, 250 AMP water cooled torch, you know the worx.
Reply:heres the picstrailblazer 302 spoolmatic 25a with wc-24thermal arc 161s tig rigmillermatic 200dialarc 250 hf tig rig with spool gun and boxand wanting more......
Reply:yep free didnt have to do a thing for it yet lol. now most my stuff will be 1/4 inch at first till i get more use to it and then ill venture uptrailblazer 302 spoolmatic 25a with wc-24thermal arc 161s tig rigmillermatic 200dialarc 250 hf tig rig with spool gun and boxand wanting more......
Reply:I forgot to add that you need to flip all three switches at the bottom up for tig welding. The HF switch is on start only for mild steel and stainless. It's on all the time for aluminum which would be flipped down. Here's mine. 1973 Lincoln SA 200, Already replaced shunt coils, Idle board (SOLD)1984 Miller Dialarc 250HF, Miller water cooler, 250 AMP water cooled torch, you know the worx.
Reply:nice yea he used it for alum but he for got what all he had to do to set it up for welding lol u can tell how much he used it lol he didnt have the cart so he made or repurposed  that one. lol now i use pure argon for steel right?trailblazer 302 spoolmatic 25a with wc-24thermal arc 161s tig rigmillermatic 200dialarc 250 hf tig rig with spool gun and boxand wanting more......
Reply:For tig you will use pure argon for everything unless you try a trimix for different alloys like stainless etc. however you can tig almost everything with pure argon.1973 Lincoln SA 200, Already replaced shunt coils, Idle board (SOLD)1984 Miller Dialarc 250HF, Miller water cooler, 250 AMP water cooled torch, you know the worx.
Reply:I'm pretty sure I hate both of you...GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.
Reply:sweet i got to get a tank for it and a longer plug for it and im gona start playing with it i cant wait.trailblazer 302 spoolmatic 25a with wc-24thermal arc 161s tig rigmillermatic 200dialarc 250 hf tig rig with spool gun and boxand wanting more......
Reply:why would that be?  Originally Posted by GravelI'm pretty sure I hate both of you...
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Nice rig.One thing, if you want to use the spool gun, NEVER and I mean NEVER run it using AC current with high frequency!!!!!!That isn't really the correct weld control for the spool gun, but it'll work ok. I've seen more than a few ppl think that in order to MIG weld aluminum with a CC TIG machine, they need to turn on the high frequency.It'll immediately fry the electronics in the gun & possibly the control too.DC + NO HF!!!! & go to town if you wanna try it. Straight argon is all you need for AL MIG & TIG. Helium mixes for exotics, etc but you'll likely never need it. Great machine & great deal on it too
Reply:The reason he gave it to you free is because it isn't any good. I tell you what, I'll let you unload it on me and I'll even give you $50.00 to boot! You can't beat that type of generosity!!!Hobart 125 EZHobart Handler 140Everlast STH 160Generic 210 Amp Welder/GeneratorHobart Air Force 500i plasma cutterChinese 50 amp plasma cutter! Youtube Channel : Henrymac100
Reply:Lol I've already had offers to take it off my hands ha. But I think I'll keep it 50$ is tempting. but I'm sure I'll make more than that with it once I get good with tig. I've already got some projects I'd like to tackle with it + the wife came up with stuff too. Her thinking was a free welder more money to buy materal to build me stuff and stuff for her to sell lol.
Reply:Originally Posted by GravelI'm pretty sure I hate both of you...
Reply:You certainly fell into a pile and came out smellin' like a rose on that one chevyrig.Gravel, I might be able to help you out on a peddle but I've got to go out to the shop and check.  I know the last one I have needs a micro switch but I can't remember which value resistor it has.  You need the 15ohm version or the RFC-23A.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:I used to own Tuscany's rig. I am able to say that though it is old school, 60HZ, 50/50 balance, it is a great machine.
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55Gravel, I might be able to help you out on a peddle but I've got to go out to the shop and check.  I know the last one I have needs a micro switch but I can't remember which value resistor it has.  You need the 15ohm version or the RFC-23A.
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55You certainly fell into a pile and came out smellin' like a rose on that one chevyrig.Gravel, I might be able to help you out on a peddle but I've got to go out to the shop and check.  I know the last one I have needs a micro switch but I can't remember which value resistor it has.  You need the 15ohm version or the RFC-23A.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Get that control from Duane. I prolly have a resistor for it someplace.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749I may be acquiring a nice S'Wave 250 and an A/BP 330 here soon. Details to follow
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749I may. I'll have to dig around. I have a pedal I got from Tozzi that I was gonna rebuild at some point, but I might have extra parts.I may be acquiring a nice S'Wave 250 and an A/BP 330 here soon. Details to follow
Reply:http://www.millerwelds.com/om/o826v_mil.pdf12/3 will be good for the amperage control cable up to 100' and 16/2 will be fine for the contactor control beyond that.  50' and under you can use 14/3 for amperage control.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Yeah, these server power cords are pretty thick. If I can find some braided heat resistant cover I'll add that on top.Thinking about blasting and painting before putting it all together.  . Hopefully I can do the same for the machine someday, I just don't have a cabinet big enough for it and hate blasting outside.GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.