[TheForge] tig setup

[Ries Niemi]

On Tuesday, September 7, 2004, at 04:43 AM, RICK KORINEK wrote:

> I am also looking to get into TIG welding.  Here is the set-
> up I have been thinking about until I can purchase a bigger
> rig:
>
> I would use my 250 amp stick welder and buying a water-cooled
> torch. For the cooling unit, I thought I could use the
> condensing coil and fan from an old window air conditioner.
> For the pump, I would use a small coolant pump from a band
> saw.  As for shield gas, I would need to buy a regulator and
> use a gas solenoid controlled by a foot switch.
>
> The 2 down-sides I see are: the scratch start and the need to
> crank the amp adjustment handle on top of the welder to
> increase/decrrease the arc current.
>
> I would appreciate any criticism on this approach. Thanks.
>
> -Rick
>

Rick- this should work- the homebuilt radiator should have at least a 1 
gallon coolant resevoir, and you should probably use
an anti-freeze mix, as it will not be as efficient as a store bought 
radiator- my miller radiators have big fans, and heavy duty auto type 
radiators- there is a surprising amount of heat to dump.
As far as having to adjust the amps at the welder- for most things, 
that shouldnt be a problem. The foot pedal you get with the high end 
tig machines is mostly used to feather the amps when doing cosmetic 
welds in thin aluminium- aluminum is the worst for dimpling at the end 
of a weld, and tapering the heat helps to avoid this. But for steel, 
you can do just fine with a set amperage.
Scratch start is a pain, but being able to tig weld is so much better 
than not being able to tig weld that you can put up with it.
I have done scratch start up in 80 foot manlifts, with 20mph winds 
blowing, and once you get the arc initiated, its fine. And much 
preferable to dingleballs and slag flying around.

ries