MIG, TIG and a new helmet...

[Arc weld]

I saw the thread regarding using MIG wire for TIG. It's quite common even on critical stuff. I know a really good TIG welder that used stainless MIG wire on thin aircraft components. ER70S-2 for example is ER70S-2. The R stands for rod or wire. If someone asked for 1/16" ER70S-2, you'd have to ask them if they wanted TIG rods or MIG wire. The wire composition is the same.

Maybe someone can post a link to the new Optrel Weld Cap. It's a redneck welding helmet if there ever was one. I'd like to try one.

 

[Big Barn]

Not a link, but here's a pic for those who haven't seen one.



Terry

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

Here's one I'd like to try
I can think of many times it would haven been great - tight spaces - or no fogging from my breath.

Servore arc shield-513

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Might be my next one. lol. But that could come in handy in more ways than one, including help protect the lens cover from my habit of laying it face down, and prevent spatter from flying up and back down, and of course, shield the sensors when using out door from being too sensitive to the sun.

As far as the MIG wire goes, you can draw it over on itself, and twist it together to get what you need. I have a hard time getting anything smaller than 1/16" locally. I had to use some to fill a large rusted hole in a motorcycle tank the other day. It was over an inch wide and about 2 inches long. 1/16 was too thick and would not melt at the temps I needed to weld the thinned out material. So I grabbed some .030" and even that was a little thick for some of the work I did. I just had to lay thin bead over thin bead to fill the gap. It worked and the guy's bike is running down the road. ( A lot of back story here, but we cut it apart to sand blast it because it was scaly rusted and could not be cleaned otherwise...)

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

Yep Mark, I like mig wire to tig too. This week I had a mower engine cover that cracked bad at three bolt holes.
(now that's some glamorous welding - LOL)

I only keep 1/16", 3/32", and 1/8" tig filler in the tubes. So I pulled out a little .035" from the mig and used it single strand.

Like you said, 1/16" was too thick for the amps I was using.

 

[Reverser]

Might be my next one. lol. But that could come in handy in more ways than one, including help protect the lens cover from my habit of laying it face down......

Exactly!! :cool2:

Those helmets are really neat......er, I mean cool. My age is showing.

 

[muddstopper]

I think I want one of the faceshield/ goggle. With my current hood, it always seems to get in the way when I am sticking my head inside of some hole or tight spot. I wear bifocals, and the hood tends to bump into things so I cant never get the correct angle to see what I am trying to weld. I wear cheaters in my hood, but I keep my hood in my shop, on the job, if I have to weld, i endup borrowing someone elses hood. Bifocals suck when trying to weld. I have to admit its kind of comical when someone wants to borrow my helment. With the cheater lens, they are just as blind as I am.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Yep Mark, I like mig wire to tig too. This week I had a mower engine cover that cracked bad at three bolt holes.
(now that's some glamorous welding - LOL)

I only keep 1/16", 3/32", and 1/8" tig filler in the tubes. So I pulled out a little .035" from the mig and used it single strand.

Like you said, 1/16" was too thick for the amps I was using.

I didn't put a mic on it, but the tank was thinner than .030. But I built it up and made do. The sandblasted rusted area was paper thin so building up on the edge was like trying to build up on the edge of a dull knife. Not my proudest welding moment, but a light dressing and smoothing brought it into shape with the tank.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Yep Mark, I like mig wire to tig too. This week I had a mower engine cover that cracked bad at three bolt holes.
(now that's some glamorous welding - LOL)

I only keep 1/16", 3/32", and 1/8" tig filler in the tubes. So I pulled out a little .035" from the mig and used it single strand.

Like you said, 1/16" was too thick for the amps I was using.

I didn't put a mic on it, but the tank was thinner than .030. But I built it up and made do. The sandblasted rusted area was paper thin so building up on the edge was like trying to build up on the edge of a dull knife. Not my proudest welding moment, but a light dressing and smoothing brought it into shape with the tank.

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

I didn't put a mic on it, but the tank was thinner than .030. But I built it up and made do. The sandblasted rusted area was paper thin so building up on the edge was like trying to build up on the edge of a dull knife. Not my proudest welding moment, but a light dressing and smoothing brought it into shape with the tank.

Yep that's tough welding for sure

Thin rusted crap sucks no matter how it's done.