@wes917,
I don't think the Archer Tool Co., who made hundreds of different tools went out of business because the TigPen ended up being useless. They were in business for years making all sorts of handy tools for welders and fabricators. I'm sure that if everybody on this forum used a TigPen, it wouldn't have saved Archer from it's demise, nor did the contrary cause it.
Being made in USA sometimes makes you less than competitive in this internet age.
Len
A little background I know on these.
They were invented by a guy in Summit County Colorado. I worked for
the Breckenridge Ski resort and he had me try a prototype around 1989 or
1990. I still have it somewhere. Gave him some feedback, then he gave me
an ingraved one with my name on it for helping him when he started production.
He later sold the patent and his involvement to some company a few years
later. I at the moment don't remember his name, have not heard of him in
over 20yrs. I started Heli-Arc welding in 1976. I now have arthritis in my wrist
and cut and repaired extensor tendons for my fingers in my rod feed hand.
I only use it about 5% of the time, but when I do it is a lifesaver and let's me
do the job. Another poster made the comment about long welds. Yes and
bad position welds for my hand and it realy is a lifesaver. I hold it in my
hand and use my thumb to feed instead of my index finger. It truly has it's
place and it does what it was designed to do very well. The one I have with
my name on it feeds 1/6th to 5/32nd rod. Just have to replace the O-rings
when they go bad. I have been using it the most for about the last 10yrs as
my hand and wrist has worsened.
Take Care,
RICK
They were invented by a guy in Summit County Colorado. I worked for
the Breckenridge Ski resort and he had me try a prototype around 1989 or
1990. I still have it somewhere. Gave him some feedback, then he gave me
an ingraved one with my name on it for helping him when he started production.
He later sold the patent and his involvement to some company a few years
later. I at the moment don't remember his name, have not heard of him in
over 20yrs. I started Heli-Arc welding in 1976. I now have arthritis in my wrist
and cut and repaired extensor tendons for my fingers in my rod feed hand.
I only use it about 5% of the time, but when I do it is a lifesaver and let's me
do the job. Another poster made the comment about long welds. Yes and
bad position welds for my hand and it realy is a lifesaver. I hold it in my
hand and use my thumb to feed instead of my index finger. It truly has it's
place and it does what it was designed to do very well. The one I have with
my name on it feeds 1/6th to 5/32nd rod. Just have to replace the O-rings
when they go bad. I have been using it the most for about the last 10yrs as
my hand and wrist has worsened.
Take Care,
RICK