[TheForge] tig setup

[Woolley]

Rick,
I'm with Reis on the scratch start issue.  IMO you don't need a foot 
pedal or a cooling unit to get started.  In fact,  I prefer a flex head 
air cooled torch.  I've done alot of  tig  welding in a field and shop 
setting without needing a cooling unit.  For a novice I think you get an 
advantage with a flex head torch because you can position them better 
and they are pretty small in the first place.  High frequency start is 
for AL, you don't need it for steel.  Foot pedals are nice for AL, and 
close tolerence light gauge stuff where you need more control.  I use 
one when I weld AL and actually find it cumbersome to use.  You have to 
position the pedal and your body in relation to the work etc, just 
another thing to deal with.  My Miller inverter power source(304CC) has 
a setting for tig where you ground your electrode to the work and when 
you lift it, it starts.  It's called  Lift Arc I think, and it's a nice 
feature but I normally just scratch start with good results. Like 
anything else it just takes some practice.  Having to set your heat at 
the machine is part of the process.  If you don't initially do that you 
never get a feel for what kind of heat you need for different materials, 
thicknesses, etc.  My two cents.

Regards,
Bill Woolley

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
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