How low do the spec sheet for the welder say it will go? If it doesn't go as low as stated, give the manufacturer a call.

I'm posting this from Tapatalk and I haven't had any problems. Using a Galaxy Nexus.

Yep, there is probably a reason that feature is not on the cheaper units. If it was that easy, they would include it and it would be a strong selling point for the expenditure.

Your probably right. Well, I wish I at least knew someone with one I could play around to see if it was worth it. There is some one at work with a Lincoln 225 tig, maybe I could try his. I'm in the radio department and he is in heavy repair.

rich5724 wrote:Thanks TxBigRed, So since you have the same machine, what do you think of it?

So far I like it. I wish it had adjustable frequency though.

Well good deal, makes me feel a little better about my purchase in case I have problems. The only thing I wish this machine had is variable frequency.

You need to set it with the gas flowing. I have the same welder, and I bought one of the flow meters from HTP. I now use about half the gas I did before. The one with my welder must not have been very accurate.

It's all good. Problem solved, now we can bullshit... [WINKING FACE]

eric325 wrote:Txbigred tried your set up there and it works great I have plenty of amperage for 1/8" tungsten ....appreciate the help

Good deal. Glad I could help.

Dave

Well you know what they say, necessity is the mother of invention. I recently bought a 181i and the guy I bought it from said that he could only do scratch start with his tig torch, so that's what I came up with to test the lift start function before I bought it.

Ok, try this. Leave your mig gun attached with the 8 pin connector connected. Put you tig torch in the neg terminal, work lead on positive. Set you machine to tig mode, select 4t mode and put the "voltage"(down slope) to mid position. set your amps to what ever you want. Now put your tungs...

You don't need a pedal, but you will need a switch to turn on the juice in tig mode.

Man that sux. I got mine delivered for $725 brand new. I've only had it 4 months.... Hope it holds up!

On 220/240 vac there is no neutral and the ground is just for safety. It is not designed to carry working current. On 120 the neutral is the center tap and the 220/240 transformer secondary winding, splitting the voltage in half.

Yes, that will work just fine, good for at least 55 amps or more depending on wire type... At least according to the app I have.

Pretty slick!

How close to the work are you holding the spool gun? Should be about 3/4 an inch for spray transfer.

Just bought a used Thermal Arc 181i with spool gun off of craigs list. Now I just need to learn how to use it....

? My ahp has pulse but only .05-10hz and AC balance is only + or - 5%. I need a better tig welder I've out grown my AHP. What you have to remember on that AHP is that the AC balance of -5 to +5 is not a percentage, it is just a dial number. It's range is 20% to 80% electrode positive, so if you hav...

I tried the spool gun with the argon on aluminum and it worked as it should, then I tried the mig gun with flux core and it worked good also. He didn't have co2 mix so I didn't get to try the mig, but I know the gas valve was working with the spool gun. I did not try the stick or tig function. It wa...

I think I did... I found on Craigs list a Thermal Arc 181i fabricator, with a Tweco spool gun for aluminum, Mig gun, Stinger, 80 CF tank half full of argon with regulator, 17v Randor flex head Tig torch( doesn't have correct connection for this machine), welding cart, 10 lbs of flux core wire, 2 1 l...

Call Paul at HTP , I bet will be able to help you.

Thanks for all of your suggestion guys. The price difference in the type of torch compared to the overall cost of everything else is not that much really. I saw another post where TamJeff said that the flex head water cooled torches crack from repeated bending due to the fact that they dont get hot ...

I am considering getting a water cooled torch as it doesn't take too long for my 17 air cooled to get too hot to handle. Right now I just have a fixed head torch, no flex or swivel. What would be your recommendations if you could only get one style..regular, flex or swivel? I'm just a hobbyist learn...

I wonder if it might have been a sales tool to demonstrate to construction of the tube.