Tig with a AC machine?

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Ok, I have NEVER Tig welded, dont know squat about it.  But some of the stuff I have been reading leads me to believe I can use my 230 amp AC stick welder with a TIG torch and regulator to TIG weld.  Is this correct?!?Century Quick Fix  wire welder, Century Infanite Disc Stick welder, Lincoln Pro-Mig 175, Oxy Acetaline torches.
Reply:I don't know; if so, you will need a high frequency start box, and a switch/ pedal, and a solenoid for the gas, or a valve on the torch.Let's see what guys who have that machine say. Anyone???And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:Hello Birddog1148, as Rojodiablo said, you can, providing you have a high-frequency box. As a bare minimum you will need the high-frequency box/generator, a tig torch with a manual gas control valve, a bottle of argon, and a regulator. AC current is commonly used for GTAW welding of aluminum and magnesium, the high-frequency is required to keep the arc going while the current is passing from DC+ to DC- and back to DC+, this transitional point is at zero current, by having the high-frequency included in the arc it keeps the arc from extinguishing during this transitional phase. The high-frequency will also provide arc starting without touching the tungsten to the work, simply holding it close to the work piece will initiate the arc. In the simple form, you would adjust your amperage to where you thought that it should be(this might require some experimentation in either an upward or downward setting), turn the shielding gas on with the manual valve on the torch, and then bring the torch close to the workpiece until the arc initiated itself. Once the arc started you would wait until you felt the puddle was of sufficient size and then start adding rod and progressing with the weld in a similar fashion as you would when gas welding. When you are ready to terminate the weld you would cease to add filler and quickly snap the torch away to stop the arc and the bring it back to the weld just far enough away to prevent reignition of the arc and still provide shielding for a few moments or so and then remove the torch and shut off the shielding gas with the valve. If the tungsten discolors excessively or turns black you will need to keep the valve open for a bit longer to keep this from happening. If you end up with a high-frequency generator that has gas control incorporated into it, or has a contactor assembly some of these instructions wouldn't apply and you would need to do things differently. A bit for your consideration. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:great response, allan, i learned a lot from it, thanks .
Reply:Birddog1148, You got to learn how to tig weld. It is the cleanest and strongest welding you can do. The only drawback is it is also the slowest welding you can do. I tig weld things that I could mig because it keeps me in practice. When you learn to tig weld you can weld things you never though you could. Like weld two soda cans togather or weld the point of a needle to a 1" steel plate. 85% of all welds on a airplaine are tig welds 15% are mig welds like seat frames that are not structural. All nascar frames and rollcages are tig welded. Well if you have a chance to try tig welding do it onces you do you will have a tig in your shop.Last edited by mechanic416; 03-07-2010 at 02:42 PM.
Reply:Well I plan on taking a Tig class this year, taking Mig now to improve my technique and get a certificate, I have been stick and wire welding since '87.  I think I will pinch pennies and get one of the longevity units.  I would like to start fixing boat props, It would compliment my existing shrink wrap bussines.Century Quick Fix  wire welder, Century Infanite Disc Stick welder, Lincoln Pro-Mig 175, Oxy Acetaline torches.
Reply:By the time you factor in the cost of your ac stick welder, a high frequency box, tig torch with gas valve and a foot peddle, you would be much better off purchasing an ac/dc tig/stick machine. Tig welding with a dedicated ac stick machine is almost unheard of.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720