Convert stick welder to TIG welder?

[Hugo]

Hi,

I have an old stick-welding machine and need a TIG welder. I can cheaply purchse a TIG torch and switching current and a gas supply is quite easy for me to make. Would this make me a TIG machine? To weld mild and maybe stainless? Can one 'strike-start' a TIG process, like one 'strike-starts' the stick?

Thanks,

Hugo

[ctardi]

TIG and cheap do not go well in the same sentance...

[TxRedneck]

yes that will work. Not sayin it will work well. Most likely wont offer you remote control. But then again my bobus cactus says its multiprocess, stick/tig/mig but theres no remote control for tig. I gotta run a torch with a valve on it. Set the amps on the panel, scratch a start and away I go!
Good luck
CHRIS

[Hugo]

Thanks for the replies. By remote control, you mean the switch on the torch? This I can make. The torch has a switch and a large relais is no problem. Gas would be manual on and off, but that's no problem. I just wasn't sure one could scratch start a tugsten rod. I guess it will take some practice...

Cheers,

Hugo

[smithboy]

no. Remote for changing amps remotely. It isnt required, but it's helpful. You will not be able to do aluminum without hi-freq, but you can do steel ok. Scratch start is not the best way...but, if cheap is a requirement then, cheap it is. You arent clear, so I'll ask. You do have a welder with dc output, right?

[Hugo]

A, that kind of remote. No, don't need it. I have an old stickwelding machine, I believe it is DC but I'll check. If not, I'll need to fit some sort of mega diode, I guess?

Hugo

[ctardi]

You need a mega-rectifier, not just a diode. ;)

[TxRedneck]

are you just pullin my leg there with a mega-rectifier ctardi or is that real...I gotsta wonder bout you gen X guys lol or is that gen Y im hearing more aboutthat hmmm makin me wonder got too many new things for my feble redneck mind
CHRIS

[Engloid]

If you check out this page, it tells all you need to make it work: http://www.az-zbum.com/welder.upgrade.shtml

I checked and it's down right now, but should be back up again.

[halbritt]

Two diodes will get you a half-wave rectifier and four will get you a bridge rectifier.

[smithboy]

Hey Engloid,
That's a pretty cool site you have going there. I have a buddy that is really into the mid 80's ZX and is just getting into welding. Looks like you have a 1-stop-shop for his current hobbies/addictions. I hope you don't mind me putting your link into an email to him. There is a new Z-car business that has popped up here in carrollton ga. Ever since it came here, I have been seeing z-cars zooming round town.
http://www.z1motorsports.com/AboutUs.php
just fyi.

[ctardi]

are you just pullin my leg there with a mega-rectifier ctardi or is that real...I gotsta wonder bout you gen X guys lol or is that gen Y im hearing more aboutthat hmmm makin me wonder got too many new things for my feble redneck mind
CHRIS

I was just going off what Hugo said about the mega diode. There is no such thing as a "mega diode" or a 'mega rectifyer'. But you will need some very large parts, either 4 diodes or 1 rectifyer.

[TxRedneck]

I think i red this again later on that day and I laughed and felt stupid so I dint even botehr respondin. I hadnt read the middle posts, just kinda jumped cause the way the email notifier came in I missed one or two fo the posts. oh well
CHRIS

[Engloid]

Hey Engloid,
That's a pretty cool site you have going there. I have a buddy that is really into the mid 80's ZX and is just getting into welding. Looks like you have a 1-stop-shop for his current hobbies/addictions. I hope you don't mind me putting your link into an email to him. There is a new Z-car business that has popped up here in carrollton ga. Ever since it came here, I have been seeing z-cars zooming round town.
http://www.z1motorsports.com/AboutUs.php
just fyi.

Actually, I had so many people asking me for that info, that I did a writeup with pics, links and all. Another big Z fan (AZ-Zbum) asked if I minded him making it a bit prettier and putting it up on HIS site....so it's not all my doing there, and not my site. I'm not nearly that good at doing webpages.