[TheForge] TIG welding

[RIES NIEMI]

on 1/24/03 1:17 PM, Rich Maynard at rich@maynard.org.uk wrote:

> Hi all,
> 
> Just to briefly introduce myself - I'm a UK teacher, who does a bit of
> metalwork manufacturing and design in my spare time.
> 
> I have a 250 amp MIG welder that uses Argoshield as a shield gas at the
> moment, and access to a gas welding setup as well. However, I can't help
> feeling that TIG welding might produce neater results and make for less
> grinding afterwards, as well as offering the option to weld aluminium as well.
I do a lot of tig welding, and its true, you need HF to weld aluminum. There
are times when I have been running two machines at once, or in the field,
when I use a scratch start torch, DC on steel or stainless. A scratch start
torch will work, but it is trickier to master. The three of us in my shop
are all really good tig welders, and we still gripe and moan when we have to
use the scratch start- it just isnt easy to learn.
If you save up, and get the whole big enchilada tig package- High Frequency,
water cooled torch, radiator and foot pedal- You will be a lot happier in
the long run. Tig welding can be such a pleasure to do, and give such clean,
satisfying results, with the right machine. Plus you can weld pretty much
any metal, many of them to each other- we were just welding silicon bronze
to stainless steel, works great, looks beautiful.
I would second steve's recomendation of the new inverter power sources. I
have one we use for mig, stick and scratch start tig, and it gives
noticeably better welds in all three than the older machines do. They are
really pricey though. I bought a rental unit from the welding supply store,
so it was cheaper. All of our stateside advice about brands is pretty much
irrelevant in the uk though- you have a whole other set of brands and
choices over there.
Ries