Welding Tips and Tricks

Ok so i know how a foot pedal is supposed to work but how exactly do you start the arc at your wanted amperage? and then when you get the arc going how would you stop the arc?

The machine has a setting for "starting current " this is controlable or preset, The are starts at this or just from zero, and as you plant the foot, it goes up to you max setting.

Mick

weldin mike 27 wrote:The machine has a setting for "starting current " this is controlable or preset, The are starts at this or just from zero, and as you plant the foot, it goes up to you max setting.

Mick

This, think of it like a gas pedal, the farther you press the more power, as to stopping let off slowly while making making circles to avoid any crater cracks in your stops.

On the hf setting a little spark jumps from the tungsten to the work when you begin to press the pedal. This is kinda of like a pilot light. It creates a path for the arc. Once the pedal is pressed far enough and the amps are building, an arc is formed. Letting up on the pedal all the way will shut the arc off. You can actually jump that hf spark to your hand with little to no sensation, BUT be careful you're not in the welding circuit when you do it or you'll become very unhappy.