Day Two Poor Boy Scratch Start

[Hotfoot]

So it all starts to come together!!

Day two:

3/32" 2% Thoriated Tungsten (I had one), collet,

20 cfm flow,

85 amps DCEN

Runs pretty darn good...until I can't feed the rod fast enough...the only rod I have right now is too thin (goes fast!) is .040, but I have some 3/32" coming in the order I placed for some 3/32" tungstens.

Now I have to practice feeding rod as I watch TV...I usually am either on the keyboard or playing guitar, so I'll have to interrupt my habits to practice!! I bought some inexpensive (HF) goatskin TIG gloves, fit nice, feel good, but they are too thick and slippery...at least for the .040 rod...suggestions on Tillman, Hobart, etc.???

Well, by the end of this week I'll actually be joining two pieces togeteher ...(that's when the other tungstens and rods get here).

I've been sharpening on my 8" bench grinder, which seems to go pretty well, but I've been using my medium wheel that is contaminated with steel, so I am putting a dedicated wheel on for sharpening tungstens...what should I look for??

[greywynd]

For tungsten ideally you either want a green wheel (I think carborundum?) for carbide, or if you really want to splurge, a diamond wheel. The green wheels are relatively cheap, but the tungsten will often groove them.

Grit wise, I think mine (a green wheel) is about 80 grit? One of these days I'm hoping to get a little 1 or 2" wide belt sander to take over the tungsten sharpening details.

[enlpck]

Don't worry about contaminating the tungsten with the grinder. Not an issue at this point in your life, and probably won't ever be. Main thing is to stop and regrind when you dip it or hit it with filler (you will learn, eventually, that on many noncritical jobs with low carbon, you can keep going without a regrind a good while, but the arc is less controlled.) If the mess is bad enough, snap off the contaminated section of the tungsten. You'll grind it all off anyway, and snapping off speeds the process with less wear on the wheel.

I have ground tungsten with a 4.5" handheld when I had too. It works, but is awkward.

For materials other than low carbon steel (stainless, low alloy, copper, etc), the grind gets more important, and a clean grinding wheel is more important, but even there, you'll be surprised what you can get away with.

[gordfraser]

you get a dressing wheel/tool for trimming up the grinding wheel if you get paranoid about contaminating the tung. with a "dirty" wheel.

I grind all my tungs at one time so i dont have to stop whilst welding, so if i feel like being **** i can grind up the wheel before i start and then everything is clean.

Most times i dont.

I think that the "dedicated wheel" idea is over rated, but i don't do much critical tig.

When i started i practiced running a puddle without filler till i stopped diping the tungsten. Only had to concentrait on one thing at a time then.

[trial&error]

I typically don't use the front of the wheel to avoid contamination problems with all my other TIG difficulties. May not be the best way, but it works for me just using the side of the wheel. just remember to make the striations length wise I'm told.

[usmcpop]

Has anyone used a 4 1/2 inch angle grinder to sharpen tungsten? I see that some of the wheels for masonry are silicon carbide (as opposed to aluminum oxide for steel).

[usmcpop]

Hey, Hotfoot, ya need to get you one of these TIG Wow machines.

[Hotfoot]

...or this...!

[usmcpop]

Try something like this...

[Hotfoot]

Hey, Pop! That's what I was looking for! I've seen that before, but what is the source??

[Zrexxer]

...or this...!

Doggone it, Hotfoot! I've been trying to convince myself I had enough welding machines... now I've got to have one of those!

[usmcpop]

The young one made it, Hotfoot. It looks like filler wire and blue masking tape. Custom fit

Vicegrip posted a pic of another one that was made from tubing.

[Hotfoot]

Doggone it, Hotfoot! I've been trying to convince myself I had enough welding machines... now I've got to have one of those!

That's an ESAB Caddy TIG 150.
I grabbed this from Southern-tool.com site. I have their page up, but, for some reason the link comes up as "not found" when I try to paste it here for your viewing pleasure.

http://www.southern-tool.com/store/ESABCaddyTigs.html

ESAB CaddyTigs

Model 150
CaddyTIG 150-

* Practical design - makes the power source easy to carry which enables use at almost any work site.
* Adjustable slope down and post gas - provides a better result at the end of the weld, which means you can avoid cracks and oxidation.
* Two current levels - changing between two levels will provide quick response to gap changes.
* TIG welding with HF ignition and LiftArc™ - you can choose the most suitable starts, always ensuring a safe start procedure.
* Pulse and Micropulse for precise control of weld.
* Three-year warranty.



SPECIFICATIONS
Model Number CaddyTig 150
Mains voltage 230 vac, 1 ph, 50/60 Hz
Fuse (slow) 16 A
Permitted load at (TIG)
25% duty cycle N/A
35 % duty cycle 150 A
60 % duty cycle 120 A
100 % duty cycle 95 A
Setting range TIG 3 to 150 A
Setting range MMA

4 to 150 A
Open circuit voltage 60 to 75 V
Slope up 0 to 5 sec.
Slope down 0 to 10 sec.
Pre Gas 0 to 10 sec.
Post Gas 0 to 10 sec.
Pulse time 0.001 to 5 sec.
Length 15.0 in., 381 mm
Width 10.6 in., 269.2 mm
Height 10.8 in., 274.3 mm
Weight 19.6 lbs., 8.9 kg
Enclosure class IP 23
Application classification S
Standards IEC60974-1, EN50199


ESB0459199885
$1,847.00 $1,645.78
CADDYTIG 150 TIG PKG 230V 1PH :::: Call 1-800-458-3687 for Freight Rate, If Any! - PC-120508
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ESB0349501024
$350.80 $263.83
"REMOTE CONTROL MMA1 1-KNOB 10M :::: Call 1-800-458-3687 for Freight Rate, If Any! - PC-010809"
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ESB0459367880
$34.90 $30.43
"SHOULDER STRAP CADDY :::: Call 1-800-458-3687 for Freight Rate, If Any! - PC-010809"
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ESB0700009026
$50.60 $38.05
"TIG-PEN (FOR 0.040-1/8` ROD) :::: Call 1-800-458-3687 for Freight Rate, If Any! - PC-010809"
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ESB0349501079
$37.90 $28.50
"MMA EL HLDR CMPL 150A 3MX25MM :::: Call 1-800-458-3687 for Freight Rate, If Any! - PC-010809"
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ESB0558005172
$143.18 $70.23
"R-33-FM-580HB REG FLOWMETER :::: Call 1-800-458-3687 for Freight Rate, If Any! - PC-010809"
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ESB0590046800
$22.30 $13.38
"ADAPTER OKC 25-50 :::: Call 1-800-458-3687 for Freight Rate, If Any! - PC-010809"
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ESB0700000890
$418.60 $319.39
"WELDING HELMET EYE-TECH 5-13 :::: Call 1-800-458-3687 for Freight Rate, If Any! - PC-010809"
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