Holding and feeding filler wire with your hands.

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I'm trying to find out if there are any hand operated devices that make feeding filler wire a little easier while doing O/A welding and TIG welding when you're manually feeding filler wire with your hand.  I'm thinking that a clicker, or something that holds the wire and has a wheel you turn that rolls/feeds the wire rather than tring to slide it in your hands...PsychoKart
Reply:PsychoKart,  There is a company that makes a motorized wirefeeder for tig welding. You hold it like a soldering iron and press the thumb switch and the feed rollers feed the filler through. The problem is it costs close to $1000.00. I've seen it in one of my catalogs but don't remember which one . I'll try to find out who makes it.Bruce
Reply:I remember reading about one of these in an older welding manual.  Unfortunately, I don't know where the manual is right now.  Perhaps you could adapt a set of drive wheels from a junked mig welder to some kind of hand-operated device with a thumbwheel.  Just a suggestion.
Reply:What's the matter with your hand? Anyways,the device you speak of is available at Cyberweld.com for $46. I remember using one for a short time -might help you avoid a restart or enable you to use up a short stub of filler wire w/o burning up your glove-just something else to lose
Reply:Originally Posted by TinmanPsychoKart,  There is a company that makes a motorized wirefeeder for tig welding. You hold it like a soldering iron and press the thumb switch and the feed rollers feed the filler through. The problem is it costs close to $1000.00. I've seen it in one of my catalogs but don't remember which one . I'll try to find out who makes it.
Reply:Originally Posted by erich636What's the matter with your hand? Anyways,the device you speak of is available at Cyberweld.com for $46. I remember using one for a short time -might help you avoid a restart or enable you to use up a short stub of filler wire w/o burning up your glove-just something else to lose
Reply:Originally Posted by erich636What's the matter with your hand? Anyways,the device you speak of is available at Cyberweld.com for $46. I remember using one for a short time -might help you avoid a restart or enable you to use up a short stub of filler wire w/o burning up your glove-just something else to lose
Reply:enlpck,  The feeder that I saw did not use a roll of wire. It was like the manual one that PsychoKart showed only it was hooked up to a control that could adjust wire feed speed. It used standard 3' filler.Bruce
Reply:I picked up a new "TIG-PEN" at a local welding store for $30... It feels really nice and smooth. I'll try it out tonight and see if it improves my O/A welding.PsychoKart
Reply:PsychoKart,  Just wondering how you like the Tig-Pen? I have nerve damages in my left elbow and hand and this little tool would make things much easier for me. I too feel like I'm all thumbs somedays.Bruce
Reply:I thought the TIG-PEN would solve all of my problems but it didn't.. I'm doing O/A welding and I still shake causing my filler rod to stick to my work a lot.. I thought that maybe having the TIG-PEN and being able to smoothly feed in wire would prevent me from shaking but it didn't.. I think bare hand feeding is probably best, but I just haven't "got" it yet...PsychoKart
Reply:Another problem I think I have.....I think I get mesmerised while O/A welding and I loose track of what I'm doing... I stop focusing on the weld pool and everything gets blurry... I don't have any vision problems, but it's almost like I get hypnotised or something when I'm welding...  I try and snap out of it, but It's usually too late..  Does this happen to other people too?PsychoKart