I am looking into getting a Plasma Machine. Consider me uneducated on the subject. Seems there are a lot of machines out there. I am looking for something that will cleanly cut 1/2" material. As always the better the price the better for me.


Any suggestions???

Anyone here from Pittsburgh like me?

weldin mike 27 wrote:Hi there,

Dont worry about other forums. We're the best show in town. And we're all great guys and gals who tell it like it is.

Good advice !!! I stopped going over to the WeldingWeb simply because some are more interested in belittling and being condescending.

How hot does a rod oven need to be???

Obviously the hotter the quicker it will work.

Using a regulator setting of 15 cubic feet per hour how long would it take to purge a 50 ft. argon hose???

Thanks for nothing. Obviously I need help and I thought that was what this forum was for. Not so from your opinion. Must be only for those who know how to weld and therefore is of no use at all. Don't think anyone was bustin' your balls.........Obviously your welds are not working for you. All the ...

Did a lot of looking for this Spool Gun. Lowe's didn't list it on their website.......but Sears and Home Depot had it so I called Lowe's customer service and found out a Lowe's had 2 in stock. It was a little bit of a drive but well worth it. Got the Spool Gun for $171 out the door ( used a 10% off ...

I have very limited time TIG welding. At my last job I started to get the hang of "walking the cup." One of my coworkers was doing the technique that you describe. I tried and it takes a lot of technique..........never did find out the reason for using this method.

I emailed Lincoln about the Spool Gun.......got this reply.........

There is a toggle switch and a harness that comes with the K2532-1, 100SG spool gun. This is a one time installation and there is a step by step set of instructions that come with the spool gun. I hope this helps

I have a Lincoln Pro Mig 180 MIG welder. I am looking into getting a Lincoln K2532-1 Spool Gun. Anyone know what is required to use this on my machine. I saw a video on YOU -TUBE where the Lincoln welder ( a different model) had a switch that was "internal/external" I don't believe my weld...

I installed a switch ( bought from a welding shop for Miller 14 pin hookup) on the torch of my EconoTIG to eliminate the pedal. Strange thing happened.........while using it the welder puts out much less amperage than with the pedal. I used the switch setup and without changing anything switched to ...

StephanusThie wrote:Why do we need check valves? For security??

I believe so as not to mix the two gases in each of their respected tanks!

Been a long time since I set up a mig machine. I picked up a new Lincoln Pro Mig 180. The machine was set up for flux core ( work lead on positive and gun on negative). I did some mig welding (using shielding gas) with the machine set for flux core. Is there any harm done to the machine setting it t...

Thanx!

Thanx!

Can I get a breakdown of aluminum filler rods and their uses and benefits???

I have a detached garage that I warm when working in but otherwise stays the ambient temperature. What do you guys do to keep the water from freezing?

Should material thickness be considered???

I am very very new to TIG...........but at work have used a spool gun off and on for 10 yrs. or so. Having said that for me a MIG with a spool gun was easier!

Ultralow787 wrote:Is this a ball type flow meter? They only read when gas is flowing.
I would set the torch for the way you weld without striking an arc. Most of these are read at the bottom of the ball.

At present I am using a gauge flowmeter .......I do have a ball type too!

When adjusting the flowmeter do you make a "dry" run of the machine (tungsten not welding) to set the flow???

Most say 15-20 on the meter.....anyone use anything different under normal welding conditions?

I recently bought a new home (Pittsburgh, Pa.) I have a 25' x 15' detached garage where I do all my hobby fab work. The humidity is high in this garage. Although I do my best to keep all my stuff with exposed surfaces (lathe,welding table.....etc.) wiped down I have noticed some things rusting that ...

Airsickness wrote:I had an invertig from HTP. I can attest to the customer servive of jeff and his crew. Since I buy most of my consumables on line anyway the fact that they have no retail network isnt really an issue. The performance of the machine is Top Top notch.

I went ahead and bought an HTP Invertig 221 !!!

Just got an HTP Invertig 221. Nice machine. My experience has mostly been with carbon and stainless steel. Now that I have a good machine to do aluminum I need some help. I am practicing on .125 mill finish aluminum welding butt joints. Can you guys give me a good place to start as far as AC balance...

delraydella wrote:What size wire do you have now? You'd probably need at least a 10 or 8 gauge.

Running 10 gauge which is only good for 30 amps......need at least 6 gauge.

Just for schits and giigles I ran the machine full out today stick welding. After about 1 and 1/2 rods (which was roughly 12" of weld) I tripped the 30 amp breaker...........looks like I will have to run a heavier line!