[TheForge] TIG opinions, please

[Woolley]

> Obviously, whatever works, and whatever you are comfortable with is
> what you should do. There is never a "right" way, or only one way, to do 
> anything.
> And everybody is doing different work, with different materials, in 
> different sizes, in different situations.
>

How true.


> But personally, I often run my tig welders at 175 to 200 amps, welding 
> steel, and stainless. And when I need to run aluminum, both of my machines 
> have been asked to put out 300 amps. And even then, there are times when I 
> have had to preheat the aluminum first, or else 300 still wasnt enough.
>

The last time I used 175 amps or more welding steel I was using jet rod 
(stick, 3/16 maybe 1/4) repairing the bottom of a containment vessel in an 
oil refinery. That's why that kind of amperage seems abstract. I haven't 
needed that kind of amperage for a tig job in the shop.If I needed anything 
close to that I would be running stick. That would save me time. As a rule 
welding AL requires more amps. Preheating AL is a given, no matter what the 
process or size of the material.


>> Added control is good, in my opinion.

No doubt, I was just pronouncing the fact that I find it unnecessary to add 
a water cooled torch and foot pedal to a beginner's tig setup. I'm coming 
from a field construction perspective to determine what I use.  I'm all ears 
when it comes to using what is available to improve my production in the 
shop. Bottom line also influences what I use, so I have to pick and choose.


> And both of my tig machinessetups
 are running just fine- in fact, my main
> machine, an inverter, has digital readout of both amps and volts, so I am 
> very aware of exactly what power requirements I have, and the amps I 
> really need to do the job.

That's good, I was just wondering if your reostat or whatever the comparable 
component of your inverter welder is called was defective since that kind of 
amperage was  foreign to me for that process. Since we use the same power 
source for DC welding, you will be familiar with the "lift arc" setting on 
your machine. I find this useful as an alternative to scratch start, helps 
keep my tungsten clean.


> Your mileage, of course, may vary.

It does.


Best,
Bill Woolley