when's the last time you bought craftsman? I've just been hearing bad things about the last year or so. they're definitely all coming from china now. I actually bought a tap/die set from HF a while ago. the taps aren't that bad, for $12, but the damn tap handle broke, of all things. I'd really like...

TCT angle grinder blade? Holy moly! Do you have a picture? Sounds amazingly dangerous. But, you've got me curious.

I like craftsman taps and dies. Stay away from harbor freight, they have really bad taps and dies. You want them with good, hard metallurgy, and accurate size / machining. Craftsman have it all, harbor freight has none. It is likely that craftsman have now producing them overseas, but I still trust ...

I just realized when welding the other day, I also sometimes grasp, or guide with a finger or two the (full length) back cap as well. It usually stays pretty cool, and allows a "light grip" with good rotational control of the torch.

ogorir wrote:they want it done yesterday for a beer and a fiver.

I know those types! Man do they get me steamed. They are best identified as early in the work process as possible, so a minimum of time may be wasted on them.

If I'm working on real thin materials, requiring really precise electrode distance manipulation and not a lot of heat, I'll choke up and hold the torch closer to the cup. Sometimes even grabbing the cup. If I'm working on materials that are really going to heat up the torch, like welding steel (with...

Switch to a larger diameter filler rod, or practice feeding in the smaller diameter filler wire more aggressively. The more quickly you can melt filler rod into the molten weld puddle, the more the puddle will cool down and not grow so large. Also, holding a tighter arc (closer arc to work distance)...

Steve - I've had some success using steel to exclude built-up aluminum. So I think what you are proposing is certainly possible. Here is an example where I built up some aluminum around a sacrificial steel bolt. You can see where the arc struck the bolt head and fried the plating off it, but for the...

You would be happy with a CK Worldwide TIG torch. I got a TL-210 (trimline 210) decked out with superflex cable, and flexible head, from the local welding supply, special ordered for about $110 after sales tax. It's the most maneuverable "high amp" (rated 200 amps @ 100% duty cycle) aircoo...

Here are the "after repair" pics

Well the weather was very nice today, I got the urge to fix my 'tiller. I just did the outer tines, the ones that matter the most. The way they are worn, they would throw the tiller sideways when they hit rocks on the outer edges of the trench being 'tilled. I used Tig, with a torch mounted on/off s...

300k BTU "weed burner", operating off a barbeque size propane tank will get it up to temp in a hurry. Harbor freight sells a nice one with a push-button ignition for < $40.

Also, raise your AC balance setting to "max penetration" (highest possible EN%).

On first glance, its features imply it's using inverter technology. But then, its 350 lb weight makes it seem as if it must be a transformer power source. Which is it? A TIG power soruce with an identity crisis? :) http://www.millerwelds.com/pdf/spec_sheets/AD6-0.pdf Highlights from the spec sheet: ...

Sometimes it seems like there is no rhyme or reason to tungsten pricing. I asked my local welding supply if they had any zirconiated tungsten I could try out. They tried to sell me a single stick of 3/32" zirconiated for a little over $15. :shock: I am giving my most recent tungsten business to...

FYI - here is what Argon vs Helium (welding grade, without any oxygen added) costs in my local market. (Greater Seattle area, WA, USA.) I wrote down these prices a while ago, and just came across them. For an 80CF bottle exchange: $43 - 100% Argon $67 - 25% Helium, 75% Argon $75 - 75% Helium, 25% Ar...

I'm assuming you're TIG welding? You can always weld it a little bit at a time, rather than all at once, and allow for the part to cool off in between welds. Aluminum conducts heat well, so it should cool off relatively quickly compared to most other metals. Also, anything you can do to focus the he...

Rather than weld the entire joint all at once, try breaking it into several shorter stitch welds, and allow some time in between the stitches to allow the work to cool. Be sure to let the post-flow shielding gas keep flowing over your just welded area until it has adequately cooled to stay bright si...

Just to give some feedback, I am liking my revco 35KF (size large) TIG gloves. The foam cushion on the back sude hinders dexterity a little bit I think compared to no cushion layer, but I do sometimes appreciate the added heat protection. The "drag patch" (extra layer of leather on the sid...

That is really cool; thanks for sharing. 20 gauge stainless = .036"?

It looks like the "BSX Extreme" / "BSX Firecat" / "BSX TIG Glove" (all different names marketed as the Revco part number "BT50") is the all-black version of the "Tigster T50" http://www.revcoindustries.com/catalog/bsxreg-tig-welding-gloves-black-p-81...

There is a new auto-darkening helmet at Harbor Freight with a "grind" mode, the "racing stripe helmet" model #67854. I picked it up for $54 after using a 20% off coupon. They do have a sale on it planned in early match where you could pick it up for even less (I think $45 sale pr...

Steve - does the pic above show that translucent blue air hose that off-gasses contaminants into the shielding gas stream, you were warning about in another thread? Thx

Here is one suggestion made by Jody towards the bottom of this titanium welding page: http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/welding-titanium.html http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/images/titanium-weld-test-coin.jpg "[A titanium disc like the one shown here] is an excellent way to make sure your...

Miller has an online "TIG welding calculator" that gives recommended parameters (including shielding cup size and flow rate) for various weld joint types, materials, and thicknesses: http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/calculators/tig_amperage_calculator.php CK Worldwide has a chart with ...

This one I dissected is a 3 year old Everlast "WP-17" (aircooled) torch. (Pic attached.) I've heard as a general statement, a watercooled (such as WP-18) torch would typically be designed with a smaller (cheaper, lighter weight, more flexible) conductor than aircooled. Makes sense that the...