Welding Tips and Tricks

I use a high frequency box with an ac dc stick generator and stick welder at work and in the feild all the time for tig welding aluminum.. nvr use a pedal I was wondering your take on this I have great results as long as I has a copper spoon to run off on but I can't seem to find anyone else that does this regularly can't find any videos either.. is it really that rare?

In my opinion it's not really common except in the field.

I've done it down to 1/16" material and it's not terribly fun with the thin stuff.

1/8" and up it's not too bad - but I really like my foot control and use it almost exclusively now

I still have a high freq box but have not turned it on in a long time. Only kept it around for my engine drive.

I use Lift Arc and static amps when tacking large projects. If I were a better welder, heck, I'd probably throw my damn pedal away except for when I'm sitting at my table welding small stuff

cj737 wrote:I use Lift Arc and static amps when tacking large projects. If I were a better welder, heck, I'd probably throw my damn pedal away except for when I'm sitting at my table welding small stuff

Lift arc on aluminum?

MinnesotaDave wrote:

cj737 wrote:I use Lift Arc and static amps when tacking large projects. If I were a better welder, heck, I'd probably throw my damn pedal away except for when I'm sitting at my table welding small stuff

Lift arc on aluminum?

Yes. Perhaps I stuttered when I typed it?

cj737 wrote:

MinnesotaDave wrote:

cj737 wrote:I use Lift Arc and static amps when tacking large projects. If I were a better welder, heck, I'd probably throw my damn pedal away except for when I'm sitting at my table welding small stuff

Lift arc on aluminum?

Yes. Perhaps I stuttered when I typed it?

I just haven't seen an AC lift arc machine - only DC.

No, you didn't stutter. But you also didn't specify, so I asked.

You can run that way with my thermal arc 186 if you so choose.

Poland308 wrote:You can run that way with my thermal arc 186 if you so choose.

That's pretty cool, I haven't used one yet that did that.
Only would have worked with a torch switch.

I prefer the torch switch as well. But I had my scratch start rig already set up and didn't want to switch out torches, had just a little spot that needed about 2 inches of weld and made it work good enough. Think I would need more practice if I was going to do something more important. Over all it's not that much different than running straight amps with the button.

I have a Hi-Freq box that was the only way to weld aluminum 40 years ago. It has the torch trigger.It is a rough machine but it does the job just not with much finesse.I have since picked up an HTP 221 Invertig that leaves the box on the shelf.