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Technical Your TIG Welder and Best Tig Weld

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by The37Kid, Jun 9, 2024.

  1. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 32,409

    The37Kid
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I never got the chance to TIG steel, but Heli Arced Aluminum bodies for years. Show us your best TIG weld and the machine & accessories that allowed you to produce it. What did the unit cost you?
     
    Rehpotsirhcj, brianf31 and SS327 like this.
  2. Jeff34
    Joined: Jun 2, 2015
    Posts: 1,218

    Jeff34
    Member

    Primeweld 225. Less than 1k for a great welder. CK torch. Hi Freq. start. I’m happy with the purchase.
     
  3. krylon32
    Joined: Jan 29, 2006
    Posts: 10,648

    krylon32
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Nebraska

    Sadly a defibrillator/pacemaker has stopped my mig welding. I used to be able to lay down a weld that was very close to a good tig weld. I had a large Lincoln mig and mostly used 035 and Stargon. When I was building exhaust I borrowed a friends 110 amp with gas and I believe 025 wire to do the exhaust? Strangely I can still use my tig as long as I keep it at 160 amps. Also no more Plasma cutting. Good thing I retired from the chassis business.
     
  4. woodiewagon46
    Joined: Mar 14, 2013
    Posts: 2,504

    woodiewagon46
    Member
    from New York

    Krylon, just the opposite for me. I have what's called a "Loop Recorder" implanted in my chest. When I asked my cardiologist about welding he asked me for the welding manual. After reading it he said, no aluminum TIG for certain, but wasn't sure about steel, but said he would rather not see me weld at all. Any welding I need now, I have my son do it for me. Moral of the story is don't get old.
     
  5. deathrowdave
    Joined: May 27, 2014
    Posts: 4,990

    deathrowdave
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from NKy

    Mine is high frequency for Aluminum and scratch for steel . Once you do and feel comfortable , it will be your only go to welder . I worked with pipeline welders that would TIG 3 pass on schedule 80 all day long . Strange thing you go to anare whereTig Welding pile is taking place and there is no bacon frying sounds , just flashes . Strange to witness
     
    laidbackluis and alanp561 like this.
  6. 1946caddy
    Joined: Dec 18, 2013
    Posts: 2,351

    1946caddy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from washington

    Have a pacemaker for about five years now. No problem mig or tig. I usual spray mig at about 200 amps .
    I'm monitored thru an app on my phone and there has been no alarms or irregularity's in my readings.
    I should add that I'm not pacemaker dependent and they can turn it off with no change in heart rate. I've got it because my heart rate drops to about 50 bpm at night when I sleep.
     
    Last edited: Jun 9, 2024
    LWEL9226 and Algoma56 like this.
  7. 05snopro440
    Joined: Mar 15, 2011
    Posts: 2,950

    05snopro440
    Member

    My dad has an ICD (internal defibrillator). At first they told him no electric arc welding at all. Eventually he encountered a doctor that gave him safe working parameters: always wear gloves, keep it below a certain amp setting (I don't recall off hand), keep the gun and cable away from your chest, and monitor how you're feeling.

    He's been back to welding whatever needs it almost daily for about 3.5 years without issue. A lot of doctors are extremely cautious in that regard.
     
    leon bee and Algoma56 like this.
  8. Harv
    Joined: Jan 16, 2008
    Posts: 1,447

    Harv
    Member
    from Sydney

    My TIG welder is the elderly chassis guy who built my FED chassis. Watching him work is a priceless education. Watching me weld is worse than watching a train wreck in progress.

    His best TIG weld was welding me. There are two hand-posts either side of the rollcage hoops. They are used to take your body weight as you slide into the cockpit. Simple 1/2" moly tube stubs about 4" long. I held the stubs in place while he welded them in. Earth clamp was on the chassis. I must have been holding the stubs a little too far away from the chassis. As he struck the arc, the power flowed through the stubs, not the chassis. Easiest earth path was through me, and I rode the lightning. I said bad words, and rapidly dropped the stub. Gotta admit my hands were shaking when we tried a second time.

    Cheers,
    Harv
     
    Timchek, SS327 and The37Kid like this.
  9. HOTRODPOWELL
    Joined: Feb 2, 2009
    Posts: 126

    HOTRODPOWELL

    73F80CAE-08BA-4DC9-B0A4-6216D2C78F83.jpeg A36 7C5DDCCE-7EC5-40E5-AEBB-26DE757B83D9.jpeg Welded with Lincoln precision tig 275 caddy of a welder
     
    rod1, rusty valley, verno30 and 10 others like this.
  10. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 9,674

    Marty Strode
    Member

    50 year old Miller Gold Star. IMG_1318.JPG IMG_0299.JPG
     
    rusty valley, rod1, Packrat and 10 others like this.
  11. clem
    Joined: Dec 20, 2006
    Posts: 4,659

    clem
    Member

    That should be seen as a positive thing, - not a negative one.
    I would rather them be cautious than casual when dealing with people’s lives…….
     
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2024
    alanp561 likes this.
  12. Blue One
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 11,506

    Blue One
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Alberta

    I’ve often wondered how an old fashioned chain mail jacket or vest would work if you were to wear it under your welding jacket.
    I thought it might work like a sort of faraday cage protecting your pacemaker from the effects of the welding arc possibly even the high frequency TIG.

    It’s the same sort of principle as the way high voltage power line inspectors move from helicopters to live power lines without danger of electrocution.

    It would be interesting to see a study done on it.
     
    lostone, pila38 and The37Kid like this.
  13. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 32,409

    The37Kid
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Thanks Blue One, nice to see a reply from you. Thinking about taking some TIG lessons on steel by the end of this Summer. Bob
     
    Blue One likes this.
  14. Once you get into TIG and have a decent machine, you'll be hooked. I went straight from gas and stick welding to TIG. I watched all the videos and it was very frustrating at first . . . until I really learned to "watch the pool" and quit thinking too much.

    After a while your hands learn to just do it and you won't be sticking the rod to the tungsten and the tungsten to the material you're welding. You will get really good at sharpening tungsten when you first start . . . as well as using a grinder to get rid of a mess and start over! Everybody who first learns is underwhelmed by their lack of skill and the "bird shit" welds they put down . . . just stick with it. Most importantly, practice a lot . . . even on scraps of steel. Don't do any "chassis" or other types of welding (where the welds need to be right to be safe) until you've developed some skill.

    Most importantly, learn about types of materials, types of rods, metal thickness, cleanliness, amps, proper part setup (tight gaps) and proper penetration.

    FWIW: MIG welding can create a lot of bad habits . . . as many newbies use them like "grease guns" - just throwing down gobs of steel to fill in incorrectly setup parts. TIG teaches you a LOT about proper fabrication and setup - before you ever step on the pedal! ;)
     
    Uncle Ronn, RatPwrd, deucemac and 6 others like this.
  15. Dave G in Gansevoort
    Joined: Mar 28, 2019
    Posts: 3,647

    Dave G in Gansevoort
    Member
    from Upstate NY

    25 year old Lincoln Square Wave TIG 175. Not fancy, but a solid machine. My best welds were quite a few years ago on stainless steel for an emissions sampling device of my own design. Back gas and all. Still have the spare regulator but haven't needed it since...
     
    warbird1 likes this.
  16. I'm another primeweld fan. DSC03293.JPG
     
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  17. Frames
    Joined: Apr 24, 2012
    Posts: 5,285

    Frames
    Member

    Finished the TIG welding on my tube X 2 frame. A lot of tungston sharpening what with the tremer. 88 years old. 2004-01-08 07.56.29.jpg Going to have a friend TIG the filler plates. A lot of welding. Gave my MIG machine to my son in law. Ruined it in a flooded basement. MIG, Chip Foose calls it a metal caulking gun.
     
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2024
    69fury and alanp561 like this.
  18. 57JoeFoMoPar
    Joined: Sep 14, 2004
    Posts: 6,482

    57JoeFoMoPar
    Member

    I bought this HTP Invertig 221 a little over 7 years ago and I absolutely love it. Putting my Olds on bags took a significant amount of welding and this machine never skipped a beat, nor has it in the time I've owned it. I splurged for the liquid cooler and liquid cooled CK20 torch, which has never gotten hot in my hand despite some jobs where I was welding at full power for decent periods of time. I have no complaints at all with this machine, and it has features that I haven't even been able to use yet. The pulse setting is awesome and is borderline cheating. Any issues with my welding are solely on my shoulders, not the machine. From a specifications perspective, it was almost identical to the Miller Dynasty at the time. For those who really care about country of origin, it is Italian made.

    Soup to nuts, including extra long leads so I can leave the machine in one spot and weld halfway across my shop, the liquid cooler, extra cups and tungstens, and so on, came out to almost $4000 even. I considered this to be a middle ground between the Miller Dynasty, that was over $8000 at the time, and a Chinese made machine.

    22688456_10104165208331024_4669704929735409849_n.jpg 22851959_10104165208341004_610036815162460301_n.jpg 86648314_10105871346656144_1909319774337236992_n.jpg
     
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  19. alanp561
    Joined: Oct 1, 2017
    Posts: 5,470

    alanp561
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Nice looking welds, but is that a crack in the frame between the ends of the welds?
     
    Dan Timberlake likes this.
  20. 57JoeFoMoPar
    Joined: Sep 14, 2004
    Posts: 6,482

    57JoeFoMoPar
    Member

    Nope, prob just a little black powder coat that probably didn't get wire wheeled out of a pit. That's a lower control arm I dropped for an air bag mount.
     
    alanp561 likes this.
  21. 05snopro440
    Joined: Mar 15, 2011
    Posts: 2,950

    05snopro440
    Member

    The doctor that directed my dad in how to stay safe while welding with his ICD was in no way casual about it. He took it seriously but wanted to give him guidelines so that he could both be safe and continue to do something he enjoys. Seeing the disappointment in a patient that they won't be able to do something like welding after a heart attack and getting an ICD is quite interesting.

    Many doctors just shut stuff down because it's easier, but I very much value a doctor that gives safe guidelines for use. It's much better for the patient's mental health and not detrimental to their physical health if the rules are followed.

    Not driving your car is the safest. Driving your car according to safe driving rules and recommendations is safer than just doing whatever the heck you please.
     
    Driver50x, X-cpe, oldsmobum and 3 others like this.
  22. Dan Timberlake
    Joined: Apr 28, 2010
    Posts: 1,576

    Dan Timberlake
    Member

    If off the ground, were they scratch start TIGging the pipe ?
     
    alanp561 likes this.
  23. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 9,674

    Marty Strode
    Member

    Where the Tig really shines is thin material, like header fabrication. IMG_1623.JPG
     
    rod1, Driver50x, verno30 and 8 others like this.
  24. Racecar rear bumper and racecar spindle

    upload_2024-6-10_12-31-30.png upload_2024-6-10_12-30-41.png upload_2024-6-10_12-33-2.png upload_2024-6-10_12-32-10.png
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2025
    Driver50x, brianf31, lostone and 6 others like this.
  25. 6sally6
    Joined: Feb 16, 2014
    Posts: 2,908

    6sally6
    Member

    X-2 !
    The main reason to TIG something ! If its 1/4" or more it NEEDS to be MIG'ed or stick welded...
    6sally6
     
    deathrowdave and joel like this.
  26. Binderman01
    Joined: Dec 31, 2018
    Posts: 102

    Binderman01

    This is my EXACT sentiment, and the exact same struggles I tell everyone, I was so sick of grinding tungsten and ready to give up, then it all clicked. I still dab every now and then, but MUCH less frequent than at first. Anything under 3/16" I instinctively fire up my Tig now.

    It makes you become such a better fabricator, although I have gotten very good at filling in poor fit ups very quickly

    Edit to add: I picked up a Everlast 325...I had a little miller DC only unit, this Everlast is amazing.
     
  27. saltflats
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 13,464

    saltflats
    Member
    from Missouri

    I have an old Lincoln 300/300 I'm still learning.
    20200715_125910.jpg
     
    Boneyard51 likes this.
  28. patsurf
    Joined: Jan 18, 2018
    Posts: 2,435

    patsurf

    looks like you're about to graduate!
     
    saltflats likes this.

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