Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 11802
Location: Sydney, NSW
Thanks for that.
Would anyone like to group buy a TIG Finger from Jody's web store? He has some black Friday deals going this week. I am going to order one and people can save on the postage. _________________ Australian 2015 Featherweight champion
UK 2016 Gladiator champion
Wed Nov 25, 2015 9:04 pm
Spockie-Tech Site Admin
Joined: 31 May 2004
Posts: 3160
Location: Melbourne, Australia
I dont often weld in a manner where a Tig finger would be useful, but I'll buy one just to support him in appreciation of his videos which have taught me a lot. A friend of mine might do the same, if he doesnt already have one, Ill ask him and let you know. _________________ Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people
Wed Nov 25, 2015 9:10 pm
Valen Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Posts: 4436
Location: Sydney
if the postage is reasonable I'll take one _________________ Mechanical engineers build weapons, civil engineers build targets
Wed Nov 25, 2015 9:18 pm
Nick Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 11802
Location: Sydney, NSW
I will cap the international postage for just the TIG finger or the XL model at $6 each. For anyone who hasn't seen them, here is the store:
http://weldmongerstore.com/collections/tig-fingers _________________ Australian 2015 Featherweight champion
UK 2016 Gladiator champion
Wed Nov 25, 2015 9:35 pm
Glen Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 9481
Location: Where you least expect
I generally weld steel (and Ti) with the trigger button, and aluminium with the foot pedal.
Once you work out the current needed for different jobs you can fine tune the heat by changing your speed.
On aluminium you can set the current profile so it's doable with the button, but there it such a difference between starting the weld and finishing it that it's better with the pedal.
You can improve the situation a lot by pre-heating the job, but if it's a long weld there is so much heat there by the end that you barely need any current.
I now use 2.4mm thoriated tungsten for pretty much everything. I find they last longer between adjustments or cleaning than the 1.6mm ones, and can take a lot more heat before the collet melts and they fall out
The ceriated (white tip) tungstens didn't seem to make a difference for aluminium so I don't bother with them now.
I do keep a separate nozzle and tungsten for aluminium welding though, and I use a different grinding wheel to clean it.
If you're reasonably careful with contamination you don't need to grind the tungsten very often, and if you're welding thick steel with a lot of current it doesn't need a nice tip profile.
If I'm welding super nasty contaminated metal I'll often just cut the tip off the tungsten with pliers rather than re-grinding it.
For steel I use 1.6mm filler rod for most things, but having some 2.4mm is always handy for larger jobs (otherwise you tend to chew through the thin ones a bit fast)
For aluminium I find I'm generally using 2.4mm rods. _________________ The Engine Whisperer
- fixer of things
Thu Nov 26, 2015 7:43 am
Spockie-Tech Site Admin
Joined: 31 May 2004
Posts: 3160
Location: Melbourne, Australia
quote:Originally posted by DumHed:
if you're welding thick steel with a lot of current it doesn't need a nice tip profile. If I'm welding super nasty contaminated metal I'll often just cut the tip off the tungsten with pliers rather than re-grinding it.
Ditto, with HF start, any shape tip starts the arc equally as well, and if you arent trying to get a "pretty" narrow "stack o dimes" weld bead look, then a bit of arc wander doesnt do much except spread the heat around a bit more and widen out the bead..
No need to be fussy on the tip shape for a lot of jobs, just "cut off" works for me a lot of the time too _________________ Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people
Thu Nov 26, 2015 1:38 pm
Nick Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 11802
Location: Sydney, NSW
TIG fingers:
So far I have:
Glen
Aaron
Spockie (1 or 2?)
Jake
Any final takers before I order? _________________ Australian 2015 Featherweight champion
UK 2016 Gladiator champion
Thu Nov 26, 2015 8:07 pm
Spockie-Tech Site Admin
Joined: 31 May 2004
Posts: 3160
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Cant get hold of my friend at the moment, so make it 1 for me please. _________________ Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people
Thu Nov 26, 2015 8:15 pm
Nick Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 11802
Location: Sydney, NSW
OK, with one for me as well, we'll call it the five finger discount _________________ Australian 2015 Featherweight champion
UK 2016 Gladiator champion
Thu Nov 26, 2015 9:41 pm
Knightrous Site Admin
Joined: 15 Jun 2004
Posts: 8511
Location: NSW
quote:Originally posted by Nick:
OK, with one for me as well, we'll call it the five finger discount
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 11802
Location: Sydney, NSW
C'mon, that's comedy gold
I placed the TIG finger order and the good news is that your international shipping is free! As I added items over my basic order, the shipping cost went down dramatically, so you get the savings.
Update: buying more that 3 fingers gave us a small but real bulk discount: you only pay $11.49. I'm tempted to say I'm not pulling your finger, but that's a dad joke too far... _________________ Australian 2015 Featherweight champion
UK 2016 Gladiator champion
Fri Nov 27, 2015 7:18 am
Nick Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 11802
Location: Sydney, NSW
I Found something new to do with a TIG finger. All of this video is interesting but start at 7 minutes for a clever TIG finger idea. _________________ Australian 2015 Featherweight champion
UK 2016 Gladiator champion
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