Tig off of vantage

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I have been getting a lot of calls lately on Tig jobs, and have been referring them to another guy. I have been doing a lot of reading on here and have decided that I might as well get rigged up for tig and try to learn it.There are a few hundred if not thousand threads on here about How to tig - I've got a lot of reading to do on that part of it - but for the moment I just need some input on what all to buyI have a vantage 500 in the truck - I have seen that i can either get a hand or foot amptrol - which is preferred and why?  I mostly anticipate this will be out in the field, and am not planning on aluminoominum for a good while yet.I also will need a torch of some sort - LWS said I can buy hose/cable by the foot and gave me about a dozen options on different torches, straight out of a catalog with no real imput on any of them.My machine is supposed to do lift start tig, which i understand is just a little easier than scratch start - and being a DC machine its really only for steelI have a flow meter and 7-8 bottles leased, I just swap for whatever the gas de jour is.What else do i need to make this work?  tungstens, filler rods(can I use regular welding electrodes for practice with the flux knocked off?)When any government, or any church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, "This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know," the end result is tyranny and oppression, no matter how holy the motives.
Reply:If your work is in the field, I recommend getting a air cooled tig setup... No foot control. 100 feet argon hose... A power block so you can use quick connects... A new argon GAUGE ( flowmeters should be left in the shop)... For torch, I use the 17f flex red head by weldcraft... Ummmm and stock up on parts like gas lenses( jumbo) collets(1/8) cups(10-12) ummm im sure I missed a lot
Reply:I dont recommend using stick rods to practice tig, but if you really wanted to you could clean up some 7018 up with emery cloth or scotch pad. Ive had to do it before to get out of a bind. Lol. You could pick up 10 lbs of er70s-6/2 for about 30 bucks +/-  ,if I remember correctly... some places sell by the pound also. What type of work will you be doing? Pipe?Last edited by Coaltrain; 06-18-2012 at 10:50 PM.
Reply:mostly pipe it seems but really wont know untill I get it up and going.You said no foot control, so are you saying just run it where i set it or get the hand amptrol?When any government, or any church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, "This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know," the end result is tyranny and oppression, no matter how holy the motives.
Reply:If you have a remote, thats all you need. You wont be able to work that foot control if your head over heels wedged inbetween pipe in the rack. I dont know what kind of pipe work you do but I would practice till you can weld it up with your eyes closed, then do it all over with your weak hand.... It will help you in the long run.
Reply:SRO,Sounds like you've done your homework and understand what it's going to take to get up to speed on tig welding.Other's opinions may vary, but I feel "learning tig" on an engine drive is a tough way to go.  Not only is it noisy, but the cost of fuel is a big factor.  Learning tig is a time consuming venture as it not only requires knowledge of the process, but it simply takes time to develop the "motor skills" to become proficient.Picking up a used Miller or Lincoln, transformer based, tig welder (Lincoln 175/225 or a Miller Sync 180/200) may be a better course of action.  Then, once you have the basics down, you could sell the welder for nearly what you paid for it.  With the cost of fuel today, I think you'd be far ahead of the game.Just one person's opinion.  Didn't cost anything, so it may not be worth much.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Thanks for the advice, right now I am 'between shops" - and gonna be that way for a while it looks like.  I just sold my old gin and the new building I was getting is now apparently owned by the IRS.  Ive got a couple old tombstones and the lincolnstein for electric, but dont have anywhere to run  them at the moment.  The vantage is a diesel hog for sure, but its my only option right now.Its a shame all y'all tig artists are on the wrong side of the line, I would give more than a couple cases of Shiner just to sit and watch a few hundred feet weld go down.When any government, or any church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, "This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know," the end result is tyranny and oppression, no matter how holy the motives.
Reply:SRO, what about a local Community college?  I was just down in Dallas a few weeks ago and saw a really nice welding program and instructor at a school on the north side of Dallas.Find a local program and call the instructor.  See if you can take an introductory TIG course.  Doing this at a local CC will likely be cheaper than the diesel for your vantage.  Plus you'll have someone to help you get rolling and point out subtle errors.  All this without having to buy any equipment.  If you're lucky you'll get to try some various torches and machines, and develop a feel for what you like in a TIG arc. Originally Posted by SRO1911Thanks for the advice, right now I am 'between shops" - and gonna be that way for a while it looks like.  I just sold my old gin and the new building I was getting is now apparently owned by the IRS.  Ive got a couple old tombstones and the lincolnstein for electric, but dont have anywhere to run  them at the moment.  The vantage is a diesel hog for sure, but its my only option right now.Its a shame all y'all tig artists are on the wrong side of the line, I would give more than a couple cases of Shiner just to sit and watch a few hundred feet weld go down.
Reply:I have thought about it, but our local CC only offers a very occasional Tig class and that is for students who have already gone through their smaw/fcaw program.I could do their whole program but the time/money are just not available right now.Thanks for all the advice,   I am about to head to midland - I have been told that with all the welders going broke out that way the pawn shops are packed with any and every welding related anything you can imagine. With a little luck I can get most of what I need.When any government, or any church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, "This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know," the end result is tyranny and oppression, no matter how holy the motives.