Tig on the cheap.

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Sorry if this was already discussed than please shoot me a link and disregard.I am looking to get a really down and dirty simple tig setup for just incase stuff. I want to use the machines I already have as power supply's and dont really want any bells or whistles. I understand most if not all things involved and have tig welded a bunch before. My main question is for aluminum welding. I know its AC for the cleaning properties, etc. But will any normal ac arc welder do? I know it wont have any bells or whistles and I will have to scratch start and need more amps, etc. But will it work on the machines I have listed in my signature? and what would be the best(probably the tombstone for arc stability and variable settings?). Would there be a problem running this setup off the weldanpower?I also plan on trying the forney industries 100 amp inverter arc welder as a power supply and maybe even 2 in parallel as read on the forums. But that doesnt really apply to my main question. Just seems worth getting as just incase type thing.
Reply:nosg
Reply:You will need to buy a high frequency box to be able use one of your arc welders for AC tig.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Something like this? Coupled with a power supply? http://store.cyberweld.com/hfhigfreqarc.htmlI read aluminum AC TIG can be done without HF over about 80-100amps.
Reply:Yes, the HF251 is what you would need.  However, by the time you buy the HF box and torch, you've spent almost as much as one of the lesser expensive ac/dc tigs, such as an EconoTIG or Diversion 165 or 180 and with the real tig, you can use a pedal and control the current and contactor, which you won't be able to do with an HF box and your buzz box.  I don't know if your engine drive has remote capability or not.I've never heard of anyone tig'ing in AC from a transformer machine without high frequency, regardless of any 80-100 amp limit.  I suppose if I wanted to try an exercize in futility, I could turn off the HF on my Dialarc and try to tig with it in AC, but I think it would be just a waste of effort to learn what we already know...MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:You can build a HF arc starter/stabilizer for much cheaper than the HF251 is going to cost you, personally I'd probably be more concerned with adding a pedal than HF but if you need to weld aluminum you're going to need both.I built an arc starter/stabilizer using a hotsy ignitor as a HF source, racing ignition wire as my primary, #6 welding wire as my secondary, tungsten for my spark gap, light dimmer to control how much HF and a couple of 30 kva 500 pf doorknob caps.  Here's what I loosely based my design off of:http://www.casano.com/projects/hfstart/index.html
Reply:Thx for the info guys. I was looking into building my own. The site you gave me is perfect all I really came across was old forum discussions. I guess I just have some thinking to do now.
Reply:Originally Posted by SkeluhtorThx for the info guys. I was looking into building my own. The site you gave me is perfect all I really came across was old forum discussions. I guess I just have some thinking to do now.