What's everyone fascination with the foot pedal?

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So i'm reading on this site, and almost every thread that mention's Tig welding, has someone suggesting the use of a foot pedal.I've been professionally welding for 4 year's, and working as a boilermaker for many more, in my time i've welded down to .7mm titanium, 24 gauge stainless sheet, various boiler tubes ect with a scratch or lift start tig without a foot pedal, in fact, i've only used them myself for welding aluminium, it seem's pretty simple to me, set your amp's, start welding, and if it's to hot, travel faster and keep the wire in the weld pool, I've welded 1 1/3 inch B3 Cro-Mo boiler tube with a 1/8th wall at 165 amp's, to pass X-ray radiography with no foot pedal, am I missing out on something by not using one? or is it just an ease thing, as with the work i do i'd never be able to use one anyway.Is the fascination with the foot pedal just a U.S thing?
Reply:i think it has to do more with what the machines come with and a fascination. Where are you from, obviously not from the U.S. ?L-tec Heliarc 306Miller 210Victor O/A rig
Reply:I agree with ttoks.The only time I use a foot pedal is when welding aluminum. For all the other type of welds I find it more of an annoyance than a convenience, especially for out of position welding.On the bench it is nice to have but when welding on site not so much.The only place I have seen foot pedals used in Europe is in airplane industry where they have some really thin stuff.In the industry productivity is tops. If you can turn up the heat and still be within the qualified heat input without defects then you are king. Hell, some times I prefer scratch start to HF. Maybe I am weird.
Reply:Maybe this will help.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:That explains everything Burpee hahaI'm in Australia
Reply:A foot pedal gives you more control over the puddle, I love mine. If scratch start and lift start works for you more power to you. It's all about preferences
Reply:Originally Posted by ttoksThat explains everything Burpee hahaI'm in Australia
Reply:I think it has a lot to do with what you learned on, my uncle learned to tig weld without a pedal and didn't want anything to do with it. I learned to tig weld with a pedal but after some experience I learned not to use it so much for most everything except aluminum.I think it's mostly personal preference.
Reply:When your inside a boiler, tying in a new bank of wall tubes, how practical is it to use a foot peddle? Not very.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Originally Posted by snoeproeWhen your inside a boiler, tying in a new bank of wall tubes, how practical is it to use a foot peddle? Not very.
Reply:Yeah, everyone in aerospace must be stu stu stupid. Two turn tables and a microphone.
Reply:Originally Posted by rlitmanPerhaps, but scratch start implies no arc on-off switch/control.  Breaking the torch away from the arc on titanium (as the OP implied) will yield unacceptable results without a trailing shield or post flow.
Reply:I couldn't imagine welding any large projects kicking around a pedal. Half the time in the real world your out of position. Ive seen guys working the pedal in their armpits and knees. I weld circles around anyone with a pedal. I run hot and fast! And if its set too hot, I go even faster. Now sitting down all day welding small parts i could justify the benefits. But i only bench weld .01% of the time.www.performancealuminumfabrication.com
Reply:that's half the battle of some of these kids coming to apprentice now a days, they come out of their college apprenticeship courses and are fed on using a pedal, the only thing I allow them to use a pedal with is of course aluminium work in the shop. once were in the plant doing pipe work or in the boiler working tubes, your "foot pedal" is your travel speed and filler manipulation!
Reply:Originally Posted by rlitmanPerhaps, but scratch start implies no arc on-off switch/control.  Breaking the torch away from the arc on titanium (as the OP implied) will yield unacceptable results without a trailing shield or post flow.
Reply:Almost everything that I tig weld sits on the bench - foot control is awesome No screwing around finding good amp ranges, just set a max amperage and weld.I recently bought a torch switch for my old beastie to zip tie on my torch. I think it will be a great addition for when a foot control is too cumbersome.I'm still in the beginning of tig learning, I weld steel and aluminum for random jobs where tig makes sense.Just started working with stainless and it looks like a foot control may not be as needed like with aluminum.So for the original question - it seems to be a mix of personal preference and job requirements.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:Why are some people so concerned with what others do or prefer?Pedal or no pedal?Pulse or no pulse?Tig, MIG, or Stick?Oxy/Fuel or Plasma?Butter or Vegemite?It doesn't matter as all have their place and people have their preferences. All this snobbery of, "That's not how I do it." or, "X Process is the only way to weld" is just a bunch of bull.http://all-a-cart.comWelding Cart Kits and accessories
Reply:Originally Posted by ZTFabWhy are some people so concerned with what others do or prefer?Pedal or no pedal?Pulse or no pulse?Tig, MIG, or Stick?Oxy/Fuel or Plasma?Butter or Vegemite?It doesn't matter as all have their place and people have their preferences. All this snobbery of, "That's not how I do it." or, "X Process is the only way to weld" is just a bunch of bull.
Reply:There are a thousand different ways to get the same results as far as x ray and testing goes, but in certain welding fields weld appearance goes along with a job. According to the O/P he said just keep the wire in the puddle and speed and fill is all you need to worry about. Well that's great if your welding boiler tubes and pipe and all you need to do is lay wire. Not everybody is a pipe or tube welder. So opinions should be kept to themselves or choose your words differently on your approach to a question. If you wanna question who's method is better how about my opinion. You should be as well rounded as possible and be comfortable in all fields of welding. If you were and not just a tube or pipe welder there would be no question at hand then. You would already know and understand when where and why. So regardless of what your buddy's tell you boilermakers and pipe welders are not gods gift to the welding world. They're only good at what they do. It's a big world out there guys so chill and be a little open minded. Mike Bauer Local 5 Boilermakers NY! Funny right...there ya go. I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Originally Posted by weldermikeThere are a thousand different ways to get the same results as far as x ray and testing goes, but in certain welding fields weld appearance goes along with a job. According to the O/P he said just keep the wire in the puddle and speed and fill is all you need to worry about. Well that's great if your welding boiler tubes and pipe and all you need to do is lay wire. Not everybody is a pipe or tube welder. So opinions should be kept to themselves or choose your words differently on your approach to a question. If you wanna question who's method is better how about my opinion. You should be as well rounded as possible and be comfortable in all fields of welding. If you were and not just a tube or pipe welder there would be no question at hand then. You would already know and understand when where and why. So regardless of what your buddy's tell you boilermakers and pipe welders are not gods gift to the welding world. They're only good at what they do. It's a big world out there guys so chill and be a little open minded. Mike Bauer Local 5 Boilermakers NY! Funny right...there ya go.
Reply:The OPs original question was "why is everyone so fascinated with foot peddles"? And "is he missing something not using one"? I think it was well covered here.In my shop at home I tig on the bench a fair bit. However, when I was workin in the mill, I tig welded out in the plant, out of position far more than I did on the bench in the shop. That's where scratch or lift start is far superior. In my opinion it also makes you a far better welder in the long run.The only time I used a foot peddle at the mill was if i had some aluminum to do which was not very often. We did have a monster Miller Syncrowave 500 with a water cooled torch and peddle. It was obviously strictly a shop machine only. But out in the field I preferred the Miller XMT with lift or scratch start and a tig torch with a gas valve and no peddle.I've been certified in pressure pipe via tig and stick along with structural stick and wire.Last edited by snoeproe; 04-19-2014 at 04:50 PM.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Originally Posted by snoeproeThe OPs original question was "why is everyone so fascinated with foot peddles"? And "is he missing something not using one"?
Reply:Yeah I agree with Z Fab.....Do what works for you....I happen to have situations during a Part assembly that require more Amps and rather stop and reset my weld current I have a pedal to step on and get it er done. Time is money for production job shop welding and I LIKE MONEY.....Other than that its a cosmetic deal and much easier for me anyway.....Like the cordless pedal I just paid 600 bucks for.....Did I really really need it?probably not ......(  Dont tell my wife )    Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Originally Posted by travisc454I couldn't imagine welding any large projects kicking around a pedal. Half the time in the real world your out of position. Ive seen guys working the pedal in their armpits and knees. I weld circles around anyone with a pedal. I run hot and fast! And if its set too hot, I go even faster. Now sitting down all day welding small parts i could justify the benefits. But i only bench weld .01% of the time.
Reply:Originally Posted by snoeproeYour post shows us you have little to no experience scratch start tig welding. Why can't you have a post flow when your using a tig torch with a gas valve on it?Most likely my older age but I like EASY......Easy is much better for me than cheaper....When i was a young guy I could Jump through circles and stand on my head with  the best of them.....Now at 66 EASY is the way to go for me....You want to tig weld with Panel settings then by all means thats what you should do.........I my self would install a finger Amptrol if it was an out of position issue   Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Originally Posted by ZTFab...but predicated as an unnecessary "fascination".He states that he has used one in the past but can't do so in his current job(s) so it's not a question of lacking the experience and not understanding the basis of it's functionality but more of a, "well I can weld without one, why can't you?" type of question.
Reply:Originally Posted by B_C[SIZE=3.I my self would install a finger Amptrol if it was an out of position issue [/SIZE]
Reply:Originally Posted by ttoksI think snoeproe is closer to the money, I specifically asked in a way to get people to respond, but the questions is genuine, I've never used a pedal for steel work, or aluminium on site, only ever used a pedal in a workshop on a bench, from people responses that seams to be fairly on the money.Although it doies have me concerned when newby's jump on the site asking which welder to buy, and in almost every thread someone say's "buy something with a pedal, it's easier!", where as i'd be suggesting a newby buy a standard inverter caddy stick/tig machine to see if they're into welding before spending money they don't need to spend, but maybe I was missing something? i didn't know.So I'm asking, what am I missing out on, sorry if I offended you by asking, but it was just a question,
Reply:You would suggest a scratch start or lift start machine because it's what your used to, I would suggest a pedal because it's what I am used to. No one is right or wrong in this discussion it is all just preference. At the end of a day, what matters is was the job finished? was it welded properly to code, spec, x-ray etc. If the answer is yes then all is good. It's all relative.Lets all smile and have a beerMillermatic 211Miller Syncrowave 350lx with cooler and tigrunner Thermal Dynamics cutmaster 811955 National Cylinder Gas O/A setup with original patina
Reply:This threads akin to a mental self-licking ice cream cone.  F'n DO what works for YOU.  Pedal, No pedal.  Handswitch, No handswitch.  Scratch/Lift, No scratch/lift.  To each his/her own.  The pros, who earn a living by welding and fabricating, have provided salient advice on why/when a foot pedal makes sense.  Guess Voltaire was right, "common sense is not so common."  ZTFab, weldermike, and B_C, you cats rock.  Keep grind'n "Discovery is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought" - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Reply:I can and do weld without a remote often. I find that I can weld hotter/faster and make it look better with a foot pedal. Lets me have more amperage where I can use it to run fast and still back off the amperage if I get close to an edge.When I'm teaching someone to tig I like for them to learn without a pedal, so that they have to control the heat with speed/ arc length and set the amperage where it should be for different materials.Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonNa. No one is offended. It is just the WeldingWeb way to air out a subject. My only concern with liftarc is breaking the arc when yanking the torch back and wrecking the stop. Perhaps that is why pedals are suggested for alum, IDK.In the least I think remote contactor is a must for post flow. Remote current control is just icing on the cake.I sit down at any table and my foot is looking for a pedal.
Reply:Originally Posted by That Guy ThereYou would suggest a scratch start or lift start machine because it's what your used to, I would suggest a pedal because it's what I am used to. No one is right or wrong in this discussion it is all just preference. At the end of a day, what matters is was the job finished? was it welded properly to code, spec, x-ray etc. If the answer is yes then all is good. It's all relative.Lets all smile and have a beer
Reply:Which is better?  Ford, Chevrolet, (or dodge-VW-etc. whatever)Which do YOU prefer?  Ford, Chevrolet, (or dodge-VW-etc. whatever)Why do you have one over the other?This pretty much is what it breaks down to.
Reply:On a construction site, pretty much all you're going to get is a Tig rig. If you can't deal with it, you don't stay! Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Just like any thing else, all three (foot, finger or lift) have their place. That's why there are three. Well, four if you count the new self feeding wire tig gizmo. I personally use all three. Foot control at the bench, finger control for long fabrications (hand rails or trusses) and lift arc for pipe. I learned with a foot pedal in school and self taught the other two. You do what you gotta do...
Reply:Originally Posted by machavisJust like any thing else, all three (foot, finger or lift) have their place. That's why there are three. Well, four if you count the new self feeding wire tig gizmo. I personally use all three. Foot control at the bench, finger control for long fabrications (hand rails or trusses) and lift arc for pipe. I learned with a foot pedal in school and self taught the other two. You do what you gotta do...
Reply:Originally Posted by cornemuseWhich is better?  Ford, Chevrolet, (or dodge-VW-etc. whatever)Which do YOU prefer?  Ford, Chevrolet, (or dodge-VW-etc. whatever)Why do you have one over the other?This pretty much is what it breaks down to.
Reply:I have to ask:Clutch or brake?Lincoln Square Wave 175Snap On Mig 220Oxy/AccNu-Tec PCA58 Plasma CutterLots of other stuffSome hammers, too
Reply:Originally Posted by DragfluidI have to ask:Clutch or brake?
Reply:Originally Posted by ZTFabWhy are some people so concerned with what others do or prefer?Pedal or no pedal?Pulse or no pulse?Tig, MIG, or Stick?Oxy/Fuel or Plasma?Butter or Vegemite?It doesn't matter as all have their place and people have their preferences. All this snobbery of, "That's not how I do it." or, "X Process is the only way to weld" is just a bunch of bull.
Reply:What's everybodies 'fascination' with a foot pedal?If you claim to be a welder and can't even fathom how being able to adjust the current while welding would be beneficial, you're either not a very smart person or you're a forum troll....Welding/Fab Pics: www.UtahWeld.com
Reply:Hmmmmmm FINGER CONTROL........Hahahahaha sounds like Road rage to me.....  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/i...YNhlHDrWHjaNNA  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Big difference between sitting at a bench working on something shiny and laying on your side doing 3" of weld.  Most boilermaker work is done 2 people to a tube each doing quarter passes tangent to front.  Remotes are still nearby, just don't actively use them during welding.  Adjust it for different gap, fill or cap as needed.   Only time an active remote might be considered is that first time on a strange machine you have to light up in the tangent and you squeeze your cheeks hoping your heat's in the ballpark.
Reply:Originally Posted by MikeGyverWhat's everybodies 'fascination' with a foot pedal?If you claim to be a welder and can't even fathom how being able to adjust the current while welding would be beneficial, you're either not a very smart person or you're a forum troll....
Reply:If you want good aesthetics, sorry but the foot pedal is the only way to go. I'll have to agree with MikeGyver when he states that adjusting the current is beneficial.....because it is.Miller Dynasty 200Millermatic 211Instagram?.... find me @ WELD_MEDIC
Reply:ttok, my reply is to ask what your fascination with two handed TIG is? I mean why bother with some antiquated old one hand rod and one hand torch method of welding?  I use a programmable power supply, tap the trigger to start, (no pedal), the pre purge floods to covers the high freq initiation, then I add heat, one pot lower in this photo, then as the heat comes up and the bridge/stringer forms, add wire, the program pulses the start up rate- then ramps up to the 'run' and if the net heat is a little to high or low, then I drop amp and wire- pots under my thumb on the torch.When completed, ramp down, back out -no arc core, ramp down second tap on trigger power supply program begins down slope and finally backs out to resid' arc and cooling of puddle so the final is the same as the initial puddle, and then drops out with the post purge timer running to cool last puddle an tungsten.Doesn't everybody?3/8" to 3/8" single pass, your TIG welds look this (cold wire feed) smooth don't they?  I mean- well,  you don't allow the stress raisers of puddle ridges- do you?  What's your fascination with ridges in a puddle?Maybe you can understand why I ask:  "What's your fascination with the antiquated old fashioned TIG welding"?I think the fascination for the pedal is the obvious- that aspect of the tool helps to accomplish the work that these many welders have to do- but most often gain is in fixed position work. Out of position work, pipe or tubes or tube plate work is also helped by having a pot/slider/control on the torch body. You asked what you're missing here? I think its simple; You are missing the need for that level of control in your welds at your skill level.  OK?Tools are just tools, this forum explores them; that's the fascination with the pedal.  I thought the question was like asking "What's the fascination with a gear shift, I just floor it and use the steering wheel to go where I want; first gear gets me where I want to go."I didn't take offense- but I did think you were just trolling the Forum, and my example of reverse trolling will probably be unwelcome? I'm being rude intentionally - in response.Newbies sure do ask questions that seem to indicate they may be a danger to their own shops if not their bank balance, but.... many of them have come here to learn and gone on to become extremely fine welders, and many other are on their way. If a pedal will, in opinion of lots of the others here, shorten their learning curve for a wide variety of welds- what's not to like?I find that the most accomplished welders here seem to be about the most patient with the low hour welders so if you've welded a long time, it seems more of contribution in the spirit of the Forum to offer a post of two about the in's and out's of your work's extensive experience: than posting rhetorical questions about others' limitations being overcome by refinements (pedals) in their control circuits as they gain the arc time you may have already gained.If someone is in the trades where there is enough of one type of weld (boiler/HE/tube & shell/Pipe/Nukie/whatever) to allow them to specialize- more power to you.But some of us have a few more types, positions, material matches, weld preps, and other changes in their work, so I think that its fine to weld one way where you might have one or two joints types; but....  there is another world out there?  Folks in my part of the trade consider anyone who doesn't control every puddle - just inexperienced.  You could say we're fascinated with arc control circuits- (?)   but we'd invite you to try to do the plural dozen different welds here without that control.(hint)   Ain't happen'n.Pedal/slider- pulse vs no pulse- programmable vs fixed output- inverter or transformer:  I don't care what it takes I'd use a fighter pilot's heads up helmet display if that would make my welds better- I'd blood mind meld with the bleeding power supply if I could.  fascination indeed!     Do what it takes to put down the best weld you can.  It's about the weld not the welder, or the parts of the welding power supply's output controls.Rant off.Cheers,Kevin MorinKenai, AK
Reply:Originally Posted by OldSparksBig difference between sitting at a bench working on something shiny and laying on your side doing 3" of weld.  Most boilermaker work is done 2 people to a tube each doing quarter passes tangent to front.  Remotes are still nearby, just don't actively use them during welding.  Adjust it for different gap, fill or cap as needed.   Only time an active remote might be considered is that first time on a strange machine you have to light up in the tangent and you squeeze your cheeks hoping your heat's in the ballpark.