My new TIG machine came in yesterday..

[225]

I work on a boat, and I don't get off until Tuesday. So I am pumped!

My wife told me the shipping box looked to be in good condition.

I can't wait to use it. I can stick weld pretty good. Well enough to get by. I have to tell you, I never TIG welded before in my life. I don't even know how to start it up or anything. So it's going to be a new world for me.

So any super noob tips would be great.

[Tundra08]

Good luck with your new machine, have a blast with it.

Tig welding is almost mesmerizing. The control that you have over the weld is unbelievable.

My word of advice is not to get upset when your welds look nothing like some of the great welders that are on this site. The control that these guys have when welding is amazing.

I hope that with your new machine nobody gets to say I told you so. You other post of why a manufacturer is so hated may come back to haunt you. I had kind of looked at Neverlast and forums like this one changed my mind.

[kcb37]

I have never tig welded myself either. But this is what I do know, sure I will be corrected on some of it.
If you have gas welded the idea is similar. Torch and rod.
With a TIG set the machine somewhat like a Mig would set or an Arc/Stick. But you have a foot contorl (some have hand) that makes a fine adjustment to the voltage/amerage. This is important to control the puddle, at the end of the weld when it's hot you start to bring the power down to get a consistent and "pretty" finish.
Just play around with it and have fun.

[225]

Originally Posted by Tundra08

Good luck with your new machine, have a blast with it.

Tig welding is almost mesmerizing. The control that you have over the weld is unbelievable.

My word of advice is not to get upset when your welds look nothing like some of the great welders that are on this site. The control that these guys have when welding is amazing.

I hope that with your new machine nobody gets to say I told you so. You other post of why a manufacturer is so hated may come back to haunt you. I had kind of looked at Neverlast and forums like this one changed my mind.

Thanks. The amount of welding I will do, will never put that machine to the limit. Or the hours I will put on it. Unless its a turd out the box.

If I get heavy into it, Ill buy a better machine. It's kind of a test to see if I like TIG or not.

[tig_21]

Did you buy a tig just for fun or do you have projects in mind?....

[225]

Originally Posted by tig_21

Did you buy a tig just for fun or do you have projects in mind?....

Mostly for fun. The only thing I will really use it for is for motorcycle header fabrication. Some light aluminum, and nick nack stuff like that.

I need to build a trailer asap, so I will be using the stick function for that. I build custom trailers for my friends, and I have been using my Miller for that. But I wanted to be able to build custom diamond plate boxes, so I wanted a TIG for that.

It's not going to be used everyday, all day. Hobby stuff mostly.

[225]

How do you start the arc on a TIG? with the pedal of switch on the torch?

[Zmechanic]

Both, depending on your configuration. You can set it up so the switch on the torch controls everything, or you can use the foot pedal to control it.

The foot pedal is pretty self explanatory as far as how it works.

The switch has two popular modes 2T and 4T. 2T is also pretty simple. When you press the button, the machine starts the arc. When you let off the button, it stops the arc. 2T also has the added benefit of upslope and downslope, usually measured in seconds. So, you press the button, the machine will start the arc, then it will ramp the current up to the current setting in the number of seconds you specify in upslope. The current will stay at your current setting as long as you are holding the button. When you let off of the button, this same process repeats in reverse from set current to 0 over the time period you set for downslope.

4T is can be even neater. Here, you press and hold the button. The machine will start the arc, and will output whatever current you have set for your start amps (if you have that control, some of them have a pre-defined current). It will stay at that current with the arc started until you let off the button. When you let off the button, it will ramp up to your set current over the upslope time period you set. The arc will stay lit even though you are not pressing the button. When you press the button and hold yet again, the machine will ramp the current back down to your end amps (again sometimes this is adjustable, sometimes it isn't) over your downslope time period. It will stay at the end amps until you let off the button again. When you let off the button, the arc goes out.

That's it!

[Fat Bastard]

Originally Posted by 225

I work on a boat, and I don't get off until Tuesday. So I am pumped!

My wife told me the shipping box looked to be in good condition.

I can't wait to use it. I can stick weld pretty good. Well enough to get by. I have to tell you, I never TIG welded before in my life. I don't even know how to start it up or anything. So it's going to be a new world for me.

So any super noob tips would be great.

What did you buy?

[225]

Thank you. That was the kind of answer I was looking for...

[225]

Originally Posted by Fat Bastard

What did you buy?

Everlast powerTIG200DX

[Llundberg]

Originally Posted by 225

Everlast powerTIG200DX

Good luck and enjoy it. A character called sundown will be along shortly to call you "dumbazz newbie you don't know what you're talking about". That is customary for anyone new and especially someone who bought anything made in China (he has personal issues but no need to take notice, he is not a welder himself). Enjoy and stay with it.

[LarryO]

Originally Posted by Llundberg

Good luck and enjoy it. A character called sundown will be along shortly to call you "dumbazz newbie you don't know what you're talking about". That is customary for anyone new and especially someone who bought anything made in China (he has personal issues but no need to take notice, he is not a welder himself). Enjoy and stay with it.

Why don't you give it a rest?
Im sick of your dumbazz comments. Your cloging up the board with BS.

Also i would listen to Sundown's advice all day over your BS.

[Llundberg]

Originally Posted by LarryO

Why don't you give it a rest?
Im sick of your dumbazz comments. Your cloging up the board with BS.

Also i would listen to Sundown's advice all day over your BS.

If so, why do you read them? HINT: its called killfile. Use it!
Are you SD with another alias?

[LarryO]

'Cos i like to read all.

Why put you on the ignore?

You may actually contribute to this forum one day and i may actually learn something from you.

.....and no, im not SD, but i'd prefer to meet him over a beer than you.

[Llundberg]

Originally Posted by LarryO

'Cos i like to read all.

Why put you on the ignore?

You may actually contribute to this forum one day and i may actually learn something from you.

.....and no, im not SD, but i'd prefer to meet him over a beer than you.

OK. Point taken, I'll turn it down.

[zapster]

Originally Posted by Llundberg

OK. Point taken, I'll turn it down.

Great!

Finally.......

Some of us are trying to


...zap!

[Lanse]

Originally Posted by Llundberg

Good luck and enjoy it. A character called sundown will be along shortly to call you "dumbazz newbie you don't know what you're talking about". That is customary for anyone new and especially someone who bought anything made in China (he has personal issues but no need to take notice, he is not a welder himself). Enjoy and stay with it.

Consider it the "Welcome To WeldingWeb" official hazing/initiation

[Broccoli1]

Originally Posted by 225

I work on a boat, and I don't get off until Tuesday. So I am pumped!

My wife told me the shipping box looked to be in good condition.

I can't wait to use it. I can stick weld pretty good. Well enough to get by. I have to tell you, I never TIG welded before in my life. I don't even know how to start it up or anything. So it's going to be a new world for me.

So any super noob tips would be great.

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/TIGhandbook/

Read It or order the Student package ( $70.00)* and get the Hard Copy- * Wow the price has gone up

worth the 25.00 bux they charge just for the book

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...d=170555&qty=1

[225]

Thanks guys, and gotta love forum drama.

I am a welder. Was by trade for a few years. Building boats before I started running them. Still certified in structural stick welding. Doubt I could pass a pipe test still. Never touched tig though. I've seen it done. I used to watch a guy do it a lot years ago.

I know I can do it, just didn't know where to start.

[225]

[cmartman46]

Good luck with the new tig machine. I seen a funny video how this guy took a sledge hammer to a Longevity/Everlast machine, I couldn'nt stop laughing. I heard good stuff and bad stuff about these machines. Let me know if you like your machine after you get it perkalating! For the price I would have to try it too.
I bought a Thermal arc ARCMASTER 185 back in 09 for $1600.00. floor model no pedal.What I got with it: Regulator, welding tungsten/cup kit, stick/whip weld adaptor ,tig torch (Abitig 26) and manuel with 3 year warranty. I also purchased it mostly for hobby and small nick knack welding for mself, I also purchased a small metal break/shear roller for small hobby projects. I saved myself and friends money repairing broken parts. As of now, I never had one problem with my Thermalarc. I am very satisfied. I took time to read and understand it's functions and apply it to it's specific uses which is awesome! I did buy a Lotus foot pedal off of EBAY for $69 and converted to fit ARCMASTER185. Works great!
Good luck!

[crab fisherman]

Originally Posted by 225

That's a beast. Whats she got for power?

Have fun with the new welder.

-Ian

[225]

3000 hp

Album: http://imgur.com/a/Urzpt#0

[crab fisherman]

Originally Posted by 225

3000 hp

Album: http://imgur.com/a/Urzpt#0

Hey thanks for the pictures!

I work on a boat too. Our offshore boats are a little different than yours. Lots more emphasis on fuel economy for sixty day tuna trips.

I like the picture of the upwind in the canal. What happens when the wind is on the beam? I have seen the tugs in the southern states, you guys have some skills!

Have you tried the new welder yet?

-Ian