Just got first TIG rig!

[Sodo]

Piece of advise about the cheater lens, dont bother, just go buy some of those cheap reading glasses. I have the cheaters in my hood which means nobody else can weld with it. That sounds good, but whenever I use it, I have to take off my bifocals and set them up out of the way and when I get thru welding, I cant ever find where I laid them.

I'm in the same boat. Using cheap reading glasses now, and the problem of losing bi-focals is WORSE, because I can feel the reading glasses ontop of my head I THINK it's my bi-focals.

When I bought the JawHorse I got the welding attachment. And never used it. But with this TIG thing, you are welding while holding the tig torch with accuracy req'mts of about 1/32nd inch (or less), so position is much more important. I'm really glad to have the welding attachment. I also bought a HF welding table, it's was a worthwhile $80. I'm thinking of an adapter so the Jawhorse accessory can be used on the HF welding table.

This TIG thing is very satisfying. Need practice to be more consistent though. Not all of them look like these welds. Basically you melt steel with this tiny, glowing, controllable orb, then try to coax the puddle using it's surface tension, to flow into where you want the weld bead. It takes a lot more concentration, and it can be surprising too, how well it turns out.

I left all my filler rod out in the woods, so I used SS lockwire for these welds. Funny how it melts back, out away from the arc, looks just like solder melting. But seems easier to get it to flow towards the heat.

 

[k0ua]

You are having entirely too much fun. :thumbsup:

 

[CNC Dan]

He's hooked now.

 

[k0ua]

He's hooked now.

yep, he is on the TIG drug now for sure!:laughing:

 

[Sodo]

he's huffing Argon

 

[Big Barn]

FYI. Inert gas, not INEPT.
Sorry, Sodo. Couldn't resist.

Terry

 

[like2wheel]

Wait!

How about explaining how "lift start" works for us noobs following along?

 

[Sodo]

You set the electrode down on the work. THEN press the pedal and hold it. When you lift the electrode up off the work, the machine senses this moment of lift-off and starts the arc in a pre-programmed manner. It starts with a tiny round flame about 1/16" diameter, then you give it some pedal and you're off.

Contrast this to scratch start which is very similar to stick-welding. You lightly brush the tungsten onto the work to start the arc but the tungsten sticks then you try to break it off but instead it lifts your project up off the table and you have to flail it around like a coyote with a gopher. List start is much better.

 

[k0ua]

You lightly brush the tungsten onto the work to start the arc but the tungsten sticks then you try to break it off but instead it lifts your project up off the table and you have to flail it around like a coyote with a gopher.

I will have to admit that brought on a chuckle, and it CAN be just like that if your tungsten gets stuck, but with some practice it can be a lot easier than that.

 

[DXN1EL]

Have you guys seen how Jody uses the filler to start the arc? :cool2: