What a welder!

[want2weld]

Well, as many of you already know I reciently purchased the Thermal Arc Pr-Wave 185 TSW Tig machine. I've been glued to my garage and scrap metal for the past 72 hours!! This welder is absolutely awesome. Nothing is cheap at all. I'm really impressed with Thermal Arc's quality. I was a little un-easy because I really wanted a Miller but financially all I could only swing the T/A.. And now... after using the **** out of my T/A over the past couple of days I have to say.. I do not regret purchasing my T/A at all. It's a great welder.

I've been through almost 1/2 lbs. of 309-ER rod already

[Paychk]

Time flys when you're having fun!

[redlineracer]

I am so jealous right now! I am hoping to be doing the samething next week with my T/A

[Charles Sand]

Settings please

Hey, Want2weld,
Congrats on your new toy. Can you post some of the settings you are using. Any pics would be a plus, too.
Have you found any unexpected surprises?
Thanks.

[Snidley]

Well, at least the little lady will know where to find you.

[want2weld]

Re: Settings please

Originally posted by Charles Sand
Hey, Want2weld,
Congrats on your new toy. Can you post some of the settings you are using. Any pics would be a plus, too.
Have you found any unexpected surprises?
Thanks.

I've honestly haven't experimented with the many available settings. I've read the Miller TIG handbook about 3 times already (the 2.5 hour commute to work on the train offers some good reading time) as well as any other TIG documentation I can get my hands on. Once I get consistant and start to make decent welds I'll start checking out the different features. For right now I'm still learning how to do some basic Tig'ing.

I've been practicing with different thickness mild steel, different diamater tungsten electrodes, gas nozzles and amperage settings. I still keep blowing out the metal I'm welding when I get to the end of my weld so the foot pedal takes a bit of practice also...

I seem to be able to do butt welding okay but when it comes to T joints I have difficulty getting both pieces of metal to form a common puddle.. Practice, practice, practice...

[newbie]

I am in the process of ordering a TA 185. I have also ordered the kit with it. What else do I need to get started. I assume I'll need the gas bottle as well as some sticks. Can you help me out with which sticks to buy to start practicing on aluminum and steel. Thanks for the help!
________
Yamaha WR250

[want2weld]

In addition to my TA 185 and 'Ready to Weld' kit I also purchased:
1. Huntsman 411P welding helmet.
2. 309 Rod
3. Red Tungsten (D/C Tig)
4. Green Tungsten (A/C Tig)
5. Assortment of gas nozzles.
6. Tillman tig welding gloves.
7. 80 cubic foot Argon bottle.
8. Leviton 50amp 230V electrical receptical
9. 12/3 wire

Now, I listed what I bought for TIG welding, NOT stick welding. You said what 'sticks' to buy so if you plan on stick welding disregard what I wrote

[newbie]

Thanks for the replies. That is exactly what I needed to know! I wanted to try the "stick" mode as well on the machine. For filler rod, it sounds like 4043 will work for most al applications. I'll go with at least a 60 size bottle.
________
volcano vaporizer classic

[kenc]

W2W,
A 2 1/2 hour commute to work!! I hope that's round trip. Even so I think I'd commit suicide if I had to waste 2 1/2hrs a day commuting. You're a brave man, how do you get time to do anything at home?
Ken

[want2weld]

I live in NJ and commute to Manhatten. I drive 30 minutes to the train, sit on the train for 45 minutes, switch trains to the PATH train, sit on that train for 35 minutes then walk 10 minutes to my building. That's in a perfect world where trains are always on time and there is no traffic. Unfortionately when you live near New York City that's where all the money is..

So that's 2 1/2 hours each way!! However, it is common for the area I live in. Wednesday is my work from home day (a.k.a Weld from home day ).. So I only commute to the city 4 days a week.

[Dave Haak]

want2weld,

.........off Wednesday..............is it Dr. want2weld?

Dave

[boilerman]

ggggeeeessss at lest someone got a 4 day work week they was talkin about

[want2weld]

Originally posted by Dave Haak
want2weld,
.........off Wednesday..............is it Dr. want2weld?
Dave

Although I must admit that does have a ring to it..

I'm a software (storage/backup/recovery) administrator. I work from home on Wednesday.. It's not a day off.
Considering I spend about 20 hours a week commuting I think I deserve a work from home day

[Dave Haak]

want2weld,

Thanks for the reply. I'd say you deserve at least that. Try to figure out a way to reverse that........one "in" and four at home.

I've done quite a bit of work away from home. Sometimes a short commute (motel to job) but you don't get home at night.

I consider myself very fortunate now. It's about 0.6 miles (one way).........I have this one very busy street. Sometimes I have to wait for as many as 6 or 7 vehicles before I can cross. It can stretch my travel time from 3 to 4.5 or 5 minutes. Then there's home for lunch. YUP, I'm blessed.

Dave

P.S. My record away is Labor Day to just before Christmas! But I did get to spend Thanksgiving in Plymouth, MA. dh