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[patsmx5]

So I've got a Lincoln 225 AC/DC stick welder. Old one, but works great. Also have another old old stick welder that's also AC/DC and I think it's 200A, but it has the infinitely adjustable current thing, where it has a knob you turn to move part of the transformer in and out of the core. Also works great.

I also have a Miller MIG 130 with an argon bottle, regulators, etc, all works fine.

I'm thinking about converting one of the stick welders to TIG. Is that a good idea? I was thinking I could build a pedal and rig a push/pull cable to it that connects to the transformer core of the second welder to have current control too.  Thoughts?

[ktown powder coating]

google buzz box tig welders

[bigwig]

Do it.  It won't be as good as a "real" tig welder, but it will be more than sufficient.  Adding a foot pedal will be the biggest pain in the ass part of the whole job.  Whole thing can be done for $200 I'm pretty sure.

[t_cel_t]

give me a min i will go get pics of mine, its a regular stick welder(transformer style) and its setup for tig.

[t_cel_t]

ok its easier to break this down into subsystems of the whole system.


first is the foot pedal, on mine it is a on/off switch. when it is off the leads are dead, when its on the leads are hot. this is controlled by a simple foot pedel that is is hooked to an industrial contactor( a really big, high power relay). the pedal closes the 'contactor' and the ground wire is then connected to the machine. at the same time a smaller automotive relay is triggered by the contactor and closes a circuit that tells the high frequency arc starter box to start.

the high freq box starts the arc without touching the base metals, you already knew that, but it also has a gas valve and timer that is triggered by the contactor(foot pedal). so whenever the pedal is pushed the contactor first closes, then it triggers the relay, which triggers the high freq and gas flow. the welder is always on and the current is at a set ammount(differs according to what im welding.

its a pretty affordable way to do it, you have high freq, gas control, and non-live leads.

[bigwig]

For just on/off, I wouldn't do a foot pedal but a switch on the torch like they do on the chinese units.  I think it's worth $100 to make sure you can come up with a foot pedal design that controls amperage.  It's not life or death, but it's definitely beneficial.

[patsmx5]

t_cel_t- I like that. Did you make that setup yourself I guess?

Does anyone sell a high frequency starter? I'm finding online different ways to make one. Looks like I'll have to make one.

I'm thinking I'll do everything you did, but add a high frequency start and I think I can rig a pedal to have current control for free using stuff I already have.

I could buy a 220V big contactor thing like you have and a 110V relay w/ timer at the local electronics shop. Probably cost 30-50 bucks for the relays and an adjustable timer for the gas.

[t_cel_t]

i didn't make the setup myself but i bought it from a guy that had it in pieces and couldn't figure it out. took me a half hour looking at it before i pieced it together, got it all for 700. the high frequency arc starter goes for $1000, everything else was a bonus.

after learning on a dynasty 300 and getting used to the foot pedal i told myself i wouldnt have a non variable setup. my welding instructor convinced me that you really dont even move your foot all that much except at the end of the welds. after running my machine i dont see any difference in my welds, get the variable thing out of your head untill you try it.

[patsmx5]

i didn't make the setup myself but i bought it from a guy that had it in pieces and couldn't figure it out. took me a half hour looking at it before i pieced it together, got it all for 700. the high frequency arc starter goes for $1000, everything else was a bonus.

after learning on a dynasty 300 and getting used to the foot pedal i told myself i wouldnt have a non variable setup. my welding instructor convinced me that you really dont even move your foot all that much except at the end of the welds. after running my machine i dont see any difference in my welds, get the variable thing out of your head untill you try it.

I've TIG'd and tried it by setting the current and standing on the pedal. I know it can be done. (I've got much experience stick welding) But I can rig up a pedal to control current for essentially nothing but a couple hours time, so I'm gonna do it. My second welder I mentioned you adjust the current by physically moving the center of the transformer in or out of the core. I plan to just remove the knob and hook a push/pull cable to it and hook the other end of the cable to an old gas pedal from something.

 I gotta do some research on a high frequency arc-starter. I'd like to put one on it, but looks like I'll have to build one. Hopefully I can find one that's easy to make and not too expensive.

[7808]

post up when you figure it all out, i probly have the same lincoln stick welder sitting worthless because i have a 220v mig

[hotrex]

just buy a tig rig fora stick machine.  a stick machine is a real tig.  u guys are clowns.