Straightening things after welding is often more difficult than the actual welding. At work I mainly use flame straightening if things get out of spec. When you say twisted, I'm guessing the problem isn't just parts being out of square, but the thing is pulled in multiple directions? In that case I ...

Thanks guys.

I'm guessing they get uncomfortable quickly. But using them for some ninjutsu is tempting
I'll just look at a regular helmet.

I know some of you have them! Honestly, at home I have great welders, but my welding helmet is embarrassing. I cheaped out. It's a cheap helmet I never should've bought, so I'm thinking of getting something different. What helmet to get has been covered 100 times, so that's not really what I want to...

Mick, There's a very small micro switch in the handle that let the machine know the consumables are in place. I've had problems with it not making good contact so I wrapped a piece of fiberglass tape around the base of the piece that holds all the consumables, sorry, don't know it's proper name, an...

Hey guys. I hope some of you have some wise words on my issue. Last year I invested money in/upgraded to the Esab (Thermal Dynamic) CutMaster 60 and 80. I use the SL60 hand torch. The thing is, I get horrible cuts. I've tried everything, when it comes to settings on amps and air pressure. I've chang...

rediron881 is full of knowledge on heavy sections of SS. He does work similar to mine in nature, but on much thicker material. He's mentioned a TIG gas that's 2% hydrogen. I'd love to give it a try. I have yet to have a good excuse to try DCEN on aluminum, but I assure you, I'll find one! Steve S S...

.They make Hand Torches for plasma, but seems to be most commonly used as automated though. Looked at a machine when I visited member Empirewelding, it's a Thermal Arc I think. But he has never hooked it up. Requires a separate welding power supply. I think the best quality is obtained by using the...

Chris, I want to know what in the world you are welding using a 5/16" tungsten!!! -Jonathan X2. Seems like it would be some type of automated or robotic app. Yep! I work in (most likely) the world's largest Plasma Transfer Arc (PTA) welding facility up in Canada. We have a dozen 6-axis robotic...

Superiorwelding wrote:Chris,
I want to know what in the world you are welding using a 5/16" tungsten!!!
-Jonathan

The tungsten in my plasma welder is around 6-7mm. It would be cool if Chris had a plasma welder too

Breaking off the tungsten end with pliers/dykes, etc.; prior to point grinding, is a great way to induce tight fracturing down the length. I didn't consider that! I might have given the tungsten a knock on the edge of the table, cause I do that, when I'm in a hurry. How do you cut tungsten before g...

Okay. The other day, I was welding some 5mm aluminum (if I remember correctly). Nothing special, but my electrode kept splitting on me. I ran my welder between 60 and 120 Hz, and I dialed down my DC pre-heat as much as possible, but it didn't help much. I exclusively buy 2% lathanated electrodes (th...

We had an older electrical engineer who was building a panel to automatically start a redundant pump in case of failure. He had an engineer about half his age working with him, he told the younger fellow something he was doing wrong and the guy says," I have more degrees than you in electrical...

Doing some flux-core welding on a couple of things pending QC Running 3 beads for my own benefit. 1st and 2nd pass 334A/30,8V. Third pass is 317A/29,6V, because of the fear of undercut, and the weld mainly connecting to the thinner 10mm flat bar. Interpass temp. is 100-150C. http://i216.photobucket....

Isn't that just cool!

Man I love exciting deals like that. I prefer that I'm the one making the deal, but still...

What about "MIG" and "TIG"? Metal Inert Gas cannot be correct due to the active gasses we use in welding. Same with Tungsten Inert Gas (not correct) . And what about Heliarc? Technically that is a trade name and NOT a process. Here is a good one, "splatter" instead of ...

I too have never used a tungsten sharpener. At work, I use the belt grinder, and spin the electrode by hand. It lets me shape the electrode, as I want it, quickly. At home, I have a water-cooled diamond bench grinder. It's a slow way to shape the electrode, but it gets nice and shiny. With my diamon...

To my knowledge, the machine I have is pretty much impossible to use manually.
I'm wondering if the plasma torch also is used, when the welder is in tig-mode(?)

I have some reading to do now

Oh, mine is not as portabel :oops: :lol: I've got a Migatronic Plasma Commander 240 DC. It's a 400V machine, with control box for cold wire feed. It still uses shielding gas. It uses a thermal arc dual flow torch. The current model from Migatronic is now called Pi 350 Plasma. It's pretty coslty gear...

Great! Werkspace, you'd only use plasma welding as an automated process, right? And how about the amps needed to do a weld, is it anywhere close to the needs when tig welding? I think Migatronic really is the only Danish company to produce welders. The plasma commander is an old model. May I ask, wh...

So guys...! Does any of you have any experience with plasma welding? I just bought a plasma welder (migatronic plasma commander), cause I wanted get some experience with it. Honestly I know very little about my own machine, but I'm planning on making some automation for the torch, and a cold wire fe...

Thanks Len, good information there I like to learn why certain rods fits better or worse in different applications rather than just reading a table whats recommended for different materials. If it's any help... You could use the schaeffler diagram, to learn what properties your filler rod would giv...

At work I have a big water cooled torch, with rigid head, build-in torch switch and amp controll. I don't like it. I want a flex lock-type torch, with a light weight hose - AND one of those loose torch switches that can be placed where I want it. Everything still has to be water cooled. I really lik...

Werkspace - that program, Blender, looks interesting. I'm a fan of open source software. I too have a computer with EMC2, but I have mine because of a CNC-project, but some cad software wouldn't hurt ;) . Is Blender really a useful tool? (I've downloaded it, but haven't had time to learn how to use ...

So I'd like to know what you guys think of "ye olde" welding machines. Are they worth anything? Of course I have a reason to ask ;) . I was offered an old analog ac/dc, 200 amp, inverter from '95. Good German quality. But with a minimum of features. Stick/tig, 2t/4t, slope down, gas after-...

However, I'd suggest developing a WPS for a MIG socket weld. Steve S You are absolutely right. A WPS can save a lot of wasted time and failures. As a welder/fabricator I like to try different settings and procedures. It's just more fun. But you can't argue with a tried an tested WPS, that just gets...