Fired up the TIG for the first time this weekend...
Must say I was really intimidated. Laid down my first weld and it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. The second one was horrible, but at least I know what I did wrong.
Can't wait to go pick up a bunch of scrap and start practicing!
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-Chris
FP3150-powered road racer!
Please use the "Site Problems" forum or the "Tech" forums instead of sending "help" questions directly to me or the Moderators/Wisemen.
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The Miller Diversion. Should do everything I need.
Diversion, that's the one with 165 amps right? Also I think it has the finger control instead of the pedal. I'd get it so you can be use to it so when you use a bigger machine it's not awkward.
BTW, Post up some pics of those first beads!
Diversion, that's the one with 165 amps right? Also I think it has the finger control instead of the pedal. I'd get it so you can be use to it so when you use a bigger machine it's not awkward.
BTW, Post up some pics of those first beads!
Yeah, it comes with the hand control, but I'll get the optional foot pedal at some point. Pretty cool machine for the price.
____________________________
-Chris
FP3150-powered road racer!
Please use the "Site Problems" forum or the "Tech" forums instead of sending "help" questions directly to me or the Moderators/Wisemen.
Yeah, it comes with the hand control, but I'll get the optional foot pedal at some point. Pretty cool machine for the price.
Yeah, I was actually looking at it for one point, tried it out too, but the one I went with was the synchrowave 200. I think the diversion is around 1k less.
I'm going with the Lincoln Electric TIG 225, the 39A input current at max is about the limit for my wall sockets. Dang, I'm jealous, got my CNC machine though
I'm going with the Lincoln Electric TIG 225, the 39A input current at max is about the limit for my wall sockets. Dang, I'm jealous, got my CNC machine though
The 225 is a really good machine i use the 185 at my shop and it gets everything done and them some. Did you get the optional water cooler or are going to leave it air cooled?
Hey if you want i can send you a box full of coupons (small squares about 1 x 1 inch to weld together like you do when taking a cert test) I've got tons of aluminum ones let over in 5052 and 6061 that you can have.. finding good clean al that you know what alloy your working with is hard when you don't have a metal supplier you work with to ahve them shear you off a few hundred..
P )
Anyway, glad to hear you've started the course.. now just stay it
The 225 is a really good machine i use the 185 at my shop and it gets everything done and them some. Did you get the optional water cooler or are going to leave it air cooled?
Um, was thinking of just aircooled for now. Haven't got it yet, still in the middle of rewiring my garage. Good to know about the reliability. Man, I can't wait to lay down some beads with it. Mostly I'm going to be welding prototype parts from aluminum, stuff coming off my CNC and then the typical DSM stuff or my own Subaru STi parts.
Watercooling sounds interesting, maybe for guys that do production work it would be of more benefit. There's always an upgrade for something
Um, was thinking of just aircooled for now. Haven't got it yet, still in the middle of rewiring my garage. Good to know about the reliability. Man, I can't wait to lay down some beads with it. Mostly I'm going to be welding prototype parts from aluminum, stuff coming off my CNC and then the typical DSM stuff or my own Subaru STi parts.
Watercooling sounds interesting, maybe for guys that do production work it would be of more benefit. There's always an upgrade for something
Water cooled is the way to go. Once you try it out, you'll love it. You'll also be able to weld for a longer period of time. If you don't go watercooled, Id suggest getting an additional torch so you can swap them around when they get hot.
Hey if you want i can send you a box full of coupons (small squares about 1 x 1 inch to weld together like you do when taking a cert test) I've got tons of aluminum ones let over in 5052 and 6061 that you can have.. finding good clean al that you know what alloy your working with is hard when you don't have a metal supplier you work with to ahve them shear you off a few hundred..
P )
Anyway, glad to hear you've started the course.. now just stay it
Now that would be cool. PM me what you'd want for shipping Glenn.
____________________________
-Chris
FP3150-powered road racer!
Please use the "Site Problems" forum or the "Tech" forums instead of sending "help" questions directly to me or the Moderators/Wisemen.
x2, Do you even use this thing? How do you like it? How thick metal/ alum can you weld? Did you end up getting the foot control instead of the finger knob? etc etc....
Good stuff Chris. I learned to tig at a previous job and was hooked after that, I bought a Synchrowave 200, haven't used it much yet since I ended up using the ones at work a bit. At my current job, I am one of the only guys that can tig very well, so I get pulled off of other projects when they need something tigged
x2, Do you even use this thing? How do you like it? How thick metal/ alum can you weld? Did you end up getting the foot control instead of the finger knob? etc etc....
I haven't fired it up since. I need a welding table and I had to sell off some parts to make that happen. I should be picking it up this week. I will be using the finger control for a while until funds improve. The unit is great for what I need (won't be welding anything over 1/8" thick). I need to pick up some scrap to practice with.
____________________________
-Chris
FP3150-powered road racer!
Please use the "Site Problems" forum or the "Tech" forums instead of sending "help" questions directly to me or the Moderators/Wisemen.
I'll be curious to see what you think of the fingertip control. Is it North/South or East/West? I've been thinking of picking one up to make it easier to weld out of position.
I'll be curious to see what you think of the fingertip control. Is it North/South or East/West? I've been thinking of picking one up to make it easier to weld out of position.
Once you go Thumb wheel you never go back! I've become very proficient welding with one on any angle in any position on aluminum even overhead. Which is by far the hardest to do with a tig torch. I got my self into the practice of not using my wrist or arm or other to brace with. Yes It'll make a pretty weld, and I make a visual appearance nice when ever I can. However, when you comes down to it its like a crutch, and when you must not brace, and must weld free handed it makes all the difference.
I use the thumb wheel, and turn my torch head at an angle so I can operate the wheel with my thumb easily. Pointer finger works well too, but I've found thumb with an angle suites my technique best.
oh no not welding! i have to watch guys stick and mig for 8 to 14 hours a day...yesterday it was 16. navy+shipyard=lots of welding. only if i had the funds to get my own and try some stuff out, then begin making my own things
it does take practice but its worth it. i got a lincoln 225 myself. i love welding. good luck bro.
I've become very proficient welding with one on any angle in any position on aluminum even overhead
. Which is by far the hardest to do with a tig torch. I got my self into the practice of not using my wrist or arm or other to brace with. Yes It'll make a pretty weld, and I make a visual appearance nice when ever I can. However, when you comes down to it its like a crutch, and when you must not brace, and must weld free handed it makes all the difference.
