Topic: Thinking about buying a TIG welder

[RainCityRider]

So I saw this little buddy at Harbor Freight
https://www.harborfreight.com/240-volt-inverter-arctig-welder-with-digital-readout-62486.html
And it seems like the way to go for a newb.

Not sure how big of an argon tank to get or what regulator. I will be trying to make a seat pan and will try to weld a loop on the back of my frame. I will need some practice and I don't want to have to buy gas every week. Not sure how fast the gas goes.

[RainCityRider]

Anyone with experience know what cups work best.

[jgger]

If you want to learn to weld, buying a cheap or inferior welder is not the way to go IMHO. If you already have good welding skills you may be able to compensate for a poor performing machine, the other way around is an uphill battle. Harbor Freight is not known for stellar quality tools and it is a crapshoot as to weather that machine will fit your needs.

Before you dive into buying that one maybe others will chime in on how good it is. Or maybe check a few welding shops for trade ins, or lease/rent options. Using quality equipment is so much nicer......but alas-more money too.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Aside from brands (Lincoln, Miller, etc.), it might also be a good idea for welders to chime in as to minimum desired specs.

[innovativems]

Calj is hell of a welder.  He will have great input


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[RainCityRider]

Found one on Craig's list and the guy said he would show me how to use it! He is a retired pipe fitter. Hope it goes well! I will post some practice in a few days. Gotta get a bottle and test metal. I guess the old frame I have that doesn't have a back bone will do. Need some sheet metal for seat pan though.


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[madmtnmotors]

Is this one worthy?

https://spacecoast.craigslist.org/for/d/tig-welder/6238809786.html

[madmtnmotors]

I was looking at less than $3 per amp! 

[madmtnmotors]

I was looking at less than $3 per amp! 

Here you go-
https://spacecoast.craigslist.org/tls/d/evering-works-is-well-miller/6268521112.html

I'm always leery of those ads where the contact info is superimposed over the picture in the ad and not listed elsewhere in the ad.

[RainCityRider]

Here is the one I found.

https://skagit.craigslist.org/tls/d/stick-and-tig-welder/6257523752.html

[kmb69]

.....
I've got a 13 year old Miller Dynasty that is STILL crushing it ($4k AC/DC TIG box). I recently had it repaired for under $300 to replace a burned out controller and it's good as new. Can't do that with a HFreight unit. And it has over 1600 hours on it.

I'm with you Cal. My Dynasty 350 is the cat's meow!

[RainCityRider]

Are the HF Accessories good enough?

Helmets, Gloves, and Stuff.

[Steve_K]

I looked to get one a few years ago, but when I saw it needed 3 phase power to weld.  Maybe there are some that can run one single phase power.
Steve

[dusterdude]

Cal,you can weld?

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[RainCityRider]

So this happened today

I got 1/16 rod. That is what the guy had when I tested it. Should I go bigger? Got the Miller Classic hood $150

Bought a tank, $185. Then 40-50 to trade when it is empty.
The guy sold me a box of 1/8 Tungsten for $50.

My tests weren't too bad. I feel ok with some practice.

Did I do good?


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[RainCityRider]

Oh, the cart was $45 at HF got some vise grips and magnets there too.


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[RainCityRider]

What metal should I get to practice?

I have an old CB frame I can cut up.

Thoughts?

[b52bombardier1]

Pick up some weld steel at Lowe's or Home Depot though any scrap you have laying around will work for practice as long as it is not galvanized. The zinc galvanizing tends to ruin the weld and the smoke is toxic.

Also thoroughly clean any rust on your scrap off down to bare metal. Rust also ruins the weld.

Rick

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[RainCityRider]

I got some pieces of sheet metal from a sign shop by my work for free. Dude was super cool. I asked for scrap and he took 2 big pieces and cut them into about 6or 8 small pieces. Also bought the non-chlorinated Brakleen at the auto store. I wish I wasn't going to be out of town for the next week! I wanna play!

[754]

Oh you mean plate..

[RainCityRider]

Free metal is great. But for practice, you really want at least 3/16" thick. The heat will warp and blow through "sheet metal" very fast.

I will buy some when I get home.


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[RainCityRider]

So I have used the welder 4 times, for on average an hour each time, over the last week or so. Tell me, how am I doing?

This joint was the second one I tried. Forgot to turn the welder down at first so the left side got a bit blown out. I think the middle looks ok

Or not


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[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

 

[RainCityRider]

I know what you're getting for Xmas, a grinder! 

Of course I'm purely joking. 

A great way to practice is without filler rod. Simply establish a puddle on some 1/8" or thicker material, and move along watching the puddle. Try to advance 1/8", pause, advance, pause. Watch the metal as you go and try to have your torch hand propped and steady so you slide along gently with your forearm, not move the torch with your fingers.

After you do that for a few beads, try to add filler. I like to scribe parallel lines about 1/8" apart, add filler to make a puddle of that width, and move along. Each time you add filler, add just enough to make the puddle wide enough to fill the scribes. This helps teach you how much to dip.

But you're doing just fine really!

Thanks man!

I know I need a lot more work. I will do the no filler thing. Need to get more scrap though. Stuff goes fast! Gonna try to get an hour or two everyday or so.

When you say scribe do you just use an awl? Cause when you say fill the scribe it sounds deeper.

Holding the tig gun and sliding is hard. My hose is stiff. It got easier when I popped my collar and ran the hose around my neck. And I look way cooler with a popped collar. Can I get a tig gun or hose/line that is easier to handle for my welder?

Is it called a gun?

Also need to get a diamond wheel for my grinder. I trashed one of the wheels on my grinder

Lost a few inches (that's what she said) of Tungsten due to skipping around a couple deep grooves in the wheel and scrapping the side of the Tungsten. Good thing the guy I got the welder from sold me a whole box for $50, #$%* is Spensive!

Anyway, I will keep on trucking!



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[RainCityRider]

Yes, just use an awl.
Fill in between the lines- make your puddle the width of the parallel lines.
It's a TIG torch. You'll never progress calling it a gun   
Hold it like you would your young child's hand- gently but in control. If you're struggling to slide, you're too tense in your grip. That's a very normal tendency.

I wrap my hose around my arm and sometimes over my shoulder depending upon the position I'm in, but almost always around my forearm. Be careful though, the hose gets hot!

CK Worldwide makes a "Superflex" cable that's much more supple and easier to manage. Get it in the 25' length.

Diamond wheel or Silicon Carbide (green) wheels work well. You don't need a lot of pressure on the tungsten to grind it or shape it- just spin it and let the wheel do the work. But they do wear grooves in your wheels pretty quick.

Snap a picture of your torch, cup and tungsten when you get a chance. And for steel TIG, use red or blue. But be aware, the red (thoriated) are radioactive slightly. So when you grind them, you're creating hazardous dust... I use 2% lanthanated for steel and often for aluminum. Sometimes (thick or heavy aluminum) I revert to a 100% (green) tungsten.

I swapped to the #6 cup from the five and I think I like it better for now. Tungsten it thoriated. I hooked up my shop vac to suck as much a possible.




The #5 cup is what was on it when I bought it.


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