Niiice....

admin

So for the last ten years or so all I have had to weld with was a little lincoln 115V flux core...little repairs and whatnot..and not very good ones..I just acquired a (very) used Miller Maxstar  mostly because as soon as I get the rest of the gear together I want to learn to TIG..but can use the SMAW function until then..plus a buddy of mine is probably going to give me an old diesel driven welder...brand unknown as yet..Anyway..I pulled my first stick bead in 20 years or so tonight...5/32 7018, 100A low OCV, in 1/8 mild steel, DCEP....not quite a stack of dimes like some of you pros are putting out, but certainly not some of the crap I have to look at in the mom and pop contractor oriented Navy maintenance system I'm currently stuck in...forgot how satisfying it is. Guess I'll work on getting a plasma cutter next...I suck with a torch.Time to head to the shipbreakers salvage for some stuff to play with. Anyone have a recommendation for a not expensive TIG torch which does not suck?Already have a regulator.
Reply:If you actually like the stick performance of the little Maxstar you will LOVE it with tig. I have one and the only stick I run with it is 6011.  It really seams to be a tig machine, the lift start runs great and it has a very stable smooth arc.  Look around carefully for a torch, I had to replace my stock weldcraft WP17, cross threaded the cap on the back...My local welding store wanted $150 for a new weldcraft torch body, but only $25 for an aftermarket one... I do support US manufactures as much as I can but they had the cheapo on the shelf and it would have been 2 days for the weldcraft.... which likely would have been Chinese anyway.
Reply:Thanks...I don't really have a clue about the performance yet, only ran four beads I will pick up some easier starting rod when I get a chance..6011 like you say or maybe 7014...sometimes I can pick that stuff up for nothing...ship repair, they throw alot of perfectly good rod out..and i ain't that proud...That and I haven't welded anything together with it...I'll do a bunch of research before I pick up a good torch...I have the HF bs torch..figured on using it as a scratch start toy with the engine drive when I get it...i'll likely play with that for a bit before i buy a good one..not that I am expecting great results from it...just something to play with..gotta get the cash together for an argon bottle too...
Reply:Unless you plan on working w/ mainly stainless and aluminum, I'd get the O/A torch first. More versatile than a plas IMHO,                                         MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:Originally Posted by mla2ofusUnless you plan on working w/ mainly stainless and aluminum, I'd get the O/A torch first. More versatile than a plas IMHO,                                         Mike