For The Can I TIG With My Welder People.

[Louie1961]

So in other words I could use a Lincoln sa200 diesel welder and hook up the gas, tig rig and switch polarity and have the connections visualized in the beginning of the thread? is that considered a scratch start set up? or is there a frequency add on you put on the machine to be able to TIG in the field like this.

You only need to add an HF box if you want to weld aluminum. Otherwise, yes, reverse polarity, hoop up a torch and gas and you are off to the races. Good for steel alloys only though

[AndrewDavenport89]

ok nice. High frequency box is needed for aluminum. that would be needed for me to build a toolbox or some type of aluminum project I might have. Now there are attachments im sure I could buy to also hook up to the welder to make the GTAW easier. or better quality like a foot pedal and such. Or if your welding tig this way you just have to work with what your using(no attachments) How about those Lincoln vantage 500's or the Lincoln commanders. they look like bada$$ machines. Or should I just try to stick with a Lincoln sa200-300 or a miller big blue 400d type machine?

[ckobesko]

I heard that this is not " healthy" to do say to a miller thunderbolt ACDC machine. Can the rectifier handle it??

[rambin]

how would it hurt your welder, its just a transformer producing high current just likes its doing when stick welding

[MinnesotaDave]

how would it hurt your welder, its just a transformer producing high current just likes its doing when stick welding

I used an equivalent buzzbox and completely ignored the duty cycle on max DC. Popped a diode, my fault and was easily fixed.

Bought an actual tig soon after - then the tig fever took hold and I've never looked back

So I agree with you, won't hurt it - unless duty cycle is not paid attention to.

[ckobesko]

Thanks guys.

[pennswoodsed]

You only need to add an HF box if you want to weld aluminum. Otherwise, yes, reverse polarity, hoop up a torch and gas and you are off to the races. Good for steel alloys only though

ok ,top of the hour and I'm confused again aluminum with dc/hf ? electrode neg ? enough cleaning with hf ?
thanks,Ed

[DSW]

You need HF if doing AC tig on alum. HF keeps the arc going when the arc changes from DC+ to DC- and back. HF has nothing to do with cleaning action. That's DC+. Doing alum with DC is completely different. For that you need lab grade Helium.

[Louie1961]

ok ,top of the hour and I'm confused again aluminum with dc/hf ? electrode neg ? enough cleaning with hf ?
thanks,Ed

I failed to recognize/consider that an SA 200 only produces DC...you will need AC and HF

[Louie1961]

I heard that this is not " healthy" to do say to a miller thunderbolt ACDC machine. Can the rectifier handle it??

I did it on my Hobart Stickmate AC/DC machine without an issue. One think about scratch start TIG...most of the time you will be at around 125 amps or less.

[Clay Walters]

Could this power supply be adapted to tig aluminum?

http://www.harborfreight.com/225-amp...der-69029.html

[7A749]

Could this power supply be adapted to tig aluminum?

http://www.harborfreight.com/225-amp...der-69029.html

In technical theory, yes.

In practical working terms, forget it. Using high frequency boxes on stick welders works, but for any AC application, doing it without the benefit of a remote or contactor makes the learning curve super steep. Best off saving for something with dedicated AC output and TIG features

IMHO of course

[hotshot01]

What's the price to make something like this?

[jbensaab]

I used to do this years ago and it worked great. Somehow I "lost" my TIG torch and am now getting another one so I can do it again. I can hardly wait, this thread brings back memories.

[Willie B]

I had a Dialarc 250 HF. As old school technology goes, it was a great welder. It gave 310 amps on AC! If there was a limit to duty cycle, I don't know where it is. As I see it, the biggest factor in aluminum welding is amperage. I had a Diversion 180. Duty cycle was an embarrassment! It was very frustrating. Mine didn't ever shut off, it tapered back on amperage. I'd be pushing the pedal to the floor, getting less heat.

Having used a state of the art TIG welder, I'd miss the features now. Still, you could weld aluminum with a component rig.

Willie

[TxDarth]

The other end of the spectrum - I have a new 4 years old now Syncrowave 200 and I still can't get the hang of TIG. I can gas and MIG with no problems, have even done a small amount of stick, TIG is a BITCH!