Oh, I think I get it now.... The extra voltage must be designed to offset the resistance due to long welding leads! A quick calculation (via online calculation website) shows that the extra voltage of the Dynasty 350 means it can run deliver 350A @ 12.5v through 300' of 1/0 copper wire! (The voltage...

The duty cycle ratings are for the amperage listed at that voltage, since the distance the tungsten is from what is being welded changes the voltage; the machine should be able to weld for 6 minutes ( for a 60% duty cycle rating) before having to cool the remaining 4 minutes (since duty cycle is ba...

I just built this table for work. My goal was to build a strong and relatively light weight table using scrap metal laying around the shop. There just so happened to be two 8' lengths of C-channel laying in a bin, so I built the table around them. And even though there is no shortage of angle iron, ...

I am getting ready to buy a tig welder, and as I look at specs I see amp@voltage=dutycycle ratings. And every machine is rated at a different voltage. For example, a miller 200dx is 100a, 14v=60%. The 280dx is 235a, 19v=60%. And the 350 with 1-phase is 225s,30v=60%, or with 3-phase power is 300a, 32...

Nobody has ever gone to school to learn to drive a nail. Driving nails is a skill necessary to build something. Yes 75% of Americans are incapable of driving a nail. Houses wouldn't be much without the nails. Welding is a fascinating, and challenging skill. It's not the end product. Only a few of u...

Nice work! Using "project time" to build stuff you can actually use show good planning. Steve S Yes Sir! I've figured out that school is really what you make of it. I'm not a kid anymore, so yeah, I gotta make it count. I worked as hard as I could, doing as much and learning as much as po...

Hey, I got another one. Today was the last day of school, and I had to rush to finish this project. The welds aren't gonna set a record, but they're pretty decent considering I've been doing TIG for 8 weeks, right? Sorry, didn't get to clean them up. I'll do at work sometime...they've got all the st...

Thanks guys. Yeah, I'm learning something new here. One thing that may not be easy to spot in the picture is that I used aluminum pop-rivots...it really seemed like a good idea. But it sounds like I need to pull those out. I can easily use galvanzied fasteners--I think I even have some cap head shee...

Fredygump, I have to add (from painful experience) that aluminum and your SS slides will not get along very well. You'll be looking at electrolysis problems eventually, and they can be bad over time. I'm sure Braehill can back me up on this. I'd suggest painting the mating side of the stainless sli...

motox wrote:great looking tool box.
interesting project.
did you shear or saw cut the aluminum?
craig

I sheared it.

I was fortunate that I started my co-op/internship at a large sheetmetal shop at the same time that I started the project--they let me use their big shear. That was a big help.

That must make me dumber because I seldom ever do. :) Don't really know why though, I'm half decent at it. Might have to make it a point to use it more. Len Ok, Iv'e got to rant here. I'm always seeing threads, (here and other places) where the people who use tig are always saying how much better t...

Hello everybody. I was asking a bunch of questions awhile back, so I figured I should contribute something. So here is my new toolbox. :) Of course it's all aluminum, except for the slides which are stainless. I designed it around the plastic storage boxes, because I use those for a bunch of small p...

In way of an update, I got a job. My welding program has a co-op program, and the instructor arranges for us to work for a couple weeks with one of various local companies. For me, he called up his buddy at a shop he used to work at, telling all kinds of lies about how good I am... My instructor is ...

You will always work for those who are willing to hire you. You can increase that number by growing your skills, knowledge and experience. Not every welding job is gonna be the dream job. Some people always want more. The more may be money, challenges, responsibility, or who knows what. There are t...

Update: I've decided TIG is the best kind of welding. :) I've been having fun with it the last couple of days. My program is mostly intended to make us competent MIG welders, but here I am, I'm working ahead of the class like usual, looking for fun things to do. I'm tired of just working for whomeve...

Thanks Gerald. What you say is reassuring. I've always needed to take pretty much whatever job that comes up, and then I end up feeling stuck there. It hasn't been a question of what I want to do most of the time. Not having a trade means I'm always at the mercy of the boss, and applying for a new j...

This is sort of a repeat of what I said on the "Member Introductions" thread, hopefully that's okay? I'm trying to find information to help make an informed decision about choosing a job and career that uses welding, since I'm in a welding program. I'm asking because I'm finding that it's ...

Darren, Reading your post the thing that came to my mind was the mechanical contractor that we hire to help with plant maintainence. Most of the guys working for them have a specific skill set but are tasked with any number of other jobs, "Jack of all trades" types. A lot of the time we'l...

Hello, I'm Darren...I'm new to welding and trying to get started in the right direction. I've been that "jack of all trades" guy my whole life (I'm 33 now), and I just jumped into the tech school's welding program to get started on a new career path. I'd like to get any input I can get abo...