Inexpensive TIG machines

[kuraki]

Now if only I was better at forging.

 

[skillgannon]

I've run 220 and picked up some thoriated electrodes. First project with the TIG will be sealing up 416/cfv san mai for a dry weld in my mini atlas, so just doing a fillerless weld on a rebar stud to show how that looks. This was all done at 100 amps with a 3/32 electrode using the thumb switch and hf start.

If you see some try that new E3 tungsten. It can be cheaper than thoriated and runs very nice. Also if you have high speed pulse on your welder it will run the best. Thoriated can split with high frequency. I let my students try all the tungsten alloys and they all had the best colors on stainless with the E3.

 

[kuraki]

Is that "e3" lanthanated?

 

[skillgannon]

Is that "e3" lanthanated?

It is a tri mix. Lanthanium, zirconium and yttrium. It has a super stable arc but the zirconium allows it to handle a lot of power. It's the only blend that really seems to compete with thoriated. It may not be as rugged as thoriated for scratch start field welding but I would recommend it as the best choice for shop use. One the price is better and then it works with inverters and is AC friendly. Also if the radio active thing ever becomes a big deal it is safe. Its not like its magical but it does run really nice.

 

[kuraki]

I'll give them a try. I bought thoriated because it's all I've ever used other than pure.

 

[skillgannon]

I'll give them a try. I bought thoriated because it's all I've ever used other than pure.

Thoriated is still really good. They are just getting hard to find sometimes. Unless you are using something that pulses the current rapidly they are the best or near the best depending on what you are doing. There is zero advantage to pure anymore. The E3 is great dor AC but if you you are going to be doing thick parts nothing lays down power like zirconiated. The only problem with it is that it doesn't focus the arc well for DC welding.

 

[kuraki]

Oh, FWIW that rebar held fine in the press and then promptly broke off as soon as I went to hammer and anvil.

The tig welds on the seams stayed closed through the entire process.

I really prefer MIG welding rebar on.

 

[kuraki]

And here is fillet welding with the MIG on 220v. Voltage dial maxed out, 275 ipm .035 wire on the left of the macro etch and about 300 on the right. 300 spatters more but gets deeper penetration.

Right now I would absolutely recommend this inexpensive MIG for a knife makers only welder, for making damascus and shop fabrication projects. The learning curve is shallow, the instructions and basic settings easy to understand and satisfactory.