Anything welding

Ouch

No low battery indicator/light?

Mine flashes green (on the inside, within view) if it's in grind mode, or red if it's got a low battery.

One hood takes 2x CR2032 batteries and the other takes 2x AAA batteries.

 

I'm not gonna say it doesn't have a light, but I didn't notice it this time.

 

Fair

If mine wasn't right near my eye, I probably would've missed it too

 

i pride myself on my ability to figure things out and teach myself how to do just about anything. From my career to my hobbies, they are all pretty much self taught. I say this, not to brag, but to lend credence to my next statement.
TIG welding is kicking my ass. I cannot figure it out. It's like solving a complex math equation to set it up and then playing drums and keyboard at the same time while doing it. I feel like I could actually play the instruments if I didn't get the damn equation wrong every time.
TIG you are the bane of my existence!!

 

It amazes me those who can tig weld good, I suck at it. Especially aluminum. I made these parts last week and my boss had another shop weld them, they have 2 certified welders. They are .100” thick where they welded.

 

Just what sort of problems are you having??

I learned to Oxy- Fuel weld and Braze first learning to Tig weld was much easier for me.

Sure prep work (cleaning) and fit up are much more critical.

 

I think a lot is machine set up for particular materials/thickness. It's a bit overwhelming with all the options. It's tough to try to run a bead when the setup is too hot or too cold and without the experience I'm sort of chasing. I can stick metal together with MIG but I bought an Eastwood Digital TIG 200 about a year ago so that I could mess with TIG. I don't want to overstate the time I've spent trying it since it's only been a few times but, like golf, it's not easy to jump right in and work on that one thing you're doing wrong.
What I should probably do is just focus on learning and practicing AC Aluminum since I have a MIG for steel.

 

!!!! Read through your operators manual things you not clear on ask questions.

I myself would say practice on steel to get some muscle memory. Steel is much more forgiving in the start .

You always started on steel .

I am old school been to school for this now days there needs to be some good videos on starting to tig weld .

Trying to learn on Aluminum your going to need brand new material Tig welding on used weather exposed Aluminum is about the hardest to learn not for a rookie.

Your machine does have remote Current control?

Best of Luck Private messages are always welcome.

 

Thanks for the advice. I have steel and aluminum coupons to test with so I'll see how things go on my next try. I'll take your advice and stick to steel for now.

My machine seems to have about every feature you can imagine. I think the presets should work but I need to go back and start over because I was trying to start of with "upgraded" lenses because, you know, "bEtTeR" as well as messing with finger control vs pedal etc... :

 

Train yourself with the thumb control it gives you a head start for out of position work .

Remember you need different discs for prep work for steel and Aluminum unless a new product has been invented.

good luck.

 

Some flat and vertical done today, all 3/16"







And some 16 gauge for these next 20 brackets

 

Pretty !!

 

Thank you!

I am wanting to get more into TIG at home, but only because I had to do a little of it yesterday at work.

 

Why?? No need to spend your money unless your making money at home .

practice at work on there dime your improving your skills to benefit your employer .

 

Very true, and though they do offer and provide time to train while I'm on the clock, I just figured I could do so at my convenience at home.

I'm more of a, take it upon myself to improve when I can.

 

I think our age difference factors in how we look at different things.

When I was younger I looked at things different.

Many times off the clock I would stick around soaking up what I could from anyone that did not mind.

 

Easy day today, just got a few more but I leave in 20 minutes anyway

 

Looks great!

Now show us the welds using your left hand.

Production welding is the best. We would cheat. Instead of 2 guys welding up parts, 1 guy would run a gun in each hand. The second guy sat back really enjoying a cigarette.

After the smoke was done, we would trade off.

Boss hated this. Paying a guy to sit back smoking a cig.

Couldn't wrap his head around the fact the same amount of work was going out the door.

 

Funny you say that cause it's hard to appreciate the work without seeing it done!

Every "left" bracket is done out of position, and that's because of the size of my table and the need to keep everything clamped from start to finish. The metal is only 16 gauge so it warps pretty fast.

Not to mention the frames done yesterday and day before had half the verticals done left-handed (I'm normally right).

Like you said, production welding forces so many hours with a torch in your hand, but you create muscle memory fast and churn out welds in the weirdest position just the same way as if you did it flat.

 

no it’s just the 45 xp. The sync is available on the 65/85/105. Cool features and didn’t know it existed until you mention it. 65 sync is also almost 2k more expensive so I’ll take a pass for a hobbiest that would never need to cut something that thick.