Ask your WELDING questions here.

[sailah]

I paid $900 for this (Lincoln Precision TIG 185) and use it a lot for a hobbyist. It has pulse, AC etc. Pretty much does what I want, which is everything. I would love to play with a Dynasty but honestly until you know why you should be fiddling with all the settings you don't need something that complex.

TIG machines you can sell in a second if you get a good buy so don't worry about wasting money. I started with a chinese TIG clone, worked great for learning and I have to say welded excellent

[KTM640Dakar]

Wow. This thread has been busy.

Nice repair on the aluminum casting. That guy did a fine job for you. It is nice that copper and aluminum dont like to join together. He made that work out quite nice.

Yes 316LSi or 308LSi or 309 LSi are all stainless mig wires that have low carbon and additional silicon to help the puddle flow. You always want to keep the carbon content low in stainless steel filler metals so that the carbon and chrome dont combine to make chrome carbides which leaves an area around the chrome carbide with less chrome that in turn will reduce the corrosion resistance of that area.

As far as TIG welders. The Precision TIG 175 became the Precision 185 and then morphed into the now Precision TIG 225. The cost of the 225 was a bit expensive so Lincoln reintroduced the 175 again. All are fine AC/DC TIG welders that use a 150 Amp aircooled torch. The torch is always the weak link in that it can weld for 6 out of 10 minutes at 150 Amps before it gets too hot and you need to let is rest for 4 minutes.

We still make the Invertec V205T as a DC only TIG welder and also the nicer Invertec V205T AC/DC which of course has AC for aluminum TIG welding. However since you are located in Austrialia they may have indeed stopped making it for the Austrialian market but it is still available in the US. I use the V205T AC/DC all the time and love it but the Predision TIG line is also very popular and they are transformer/rectifier machines where the V205 is an inverter.

[ADV8]

Originally Posted by KTM640Dakar

We still make the Invertec V205T as a DC only TIG .

Is that newer model single phase only ?
As you would know a simple plug change (Or a debatable but quicker twin plug adapter) and flick of the switch on the older model V200T and you were running 400 volts.
We had the newer inverter 175 single phase and 205? three phase machines at the last LNG job.
The 175 DC machines were certainly robust given the work environment and sometimes rough handling.

if it ain't broke......

[wee-twin]

Using a miller 130. What pressure do I set the gauge on my argon 75/25? Thanks.

[David R]

I went to the Local Welding Supply place to buy a V205 AC/DC. They sent me out with an Theremal Arc Arcmaster 185 AC/DC. I think I saved about a thousand bucks. That was 6 years ago. Yesterday My son ran it most of the day at full power welding 3/4" couplings on 1/2" plates with the aircraft positioner. No overheating, no problems since I bought the machine. The only thing I did is add a water cooled torch.

David

[David R]

Originally Posted by wee-twin

using a miller 130. What pressure do i set the gauge on my argon 75/25? Thanks.

15

[wee-twin]

Thank you David R.

Bill

[KTM640Dakar]

Originally Posted by ADV8

Is that newer model single phase only ?
As you would know a simple plug change (Or a debatable but quicker twin plug adapter) and flick of the switch on the older model V200T and you were running 400 volts.
We had the newer inverter 175 single phase and 205? three phase machines at the last LNG job.
The 175 DC machines were certainly robust given the work environment and sometimes rough handling.

if it ain't broke......

Most TIG welders are single phase. Some of the newer inverter TIG welders can run on multiple input voltages. The three phase machines are a new thing and I have only one the uses three phase input power.

That FJ45 Landcrusier in your photo is pretty cool. I have an FJ40. It is a great 4x4.

Flow rate for a MIG gas regulator is OK at 15 CFH if your inside and there is no cross breeze. If your outside you may have to turn it up to 35 or 40CFH. If you see porosity (holes) then you know your gas is not covering the molten puddle.

[motoracer51]

Originally Posted by David R

15

Is it that low since he's using a smaller machine? I've been playing with my new 211 and the manual said 25-35.

[sailah]

Can we discuss cup sizes

I have 2 air cooled TIG torches, a WP9 & 26 I think.

I mainly use the WP9 with a gas lens, never had any idea what cup size I should run or why. I just use what they give me at the store. Mine necks down, but I see some guys are running these huge wide jobs.

I typically am welding CS less than 1/8" (tubing mostly) and alum under 0.090" 5052, 6061 etc.

Are there guidelines for cup sizes for different metals or shapes (flat vs tubing)?

I am running pure argon maybe 15 cfh, inside no breeze for both AL and CS
Thanks

[wee-twin]

Flow rate for a MIG gas regulator is OK at 15 CFH if your inside and there is no cross breeze. If your outside you may have to turn it up to 35 or 40CFH. If you see porosity (holes) then you know your gas is not covering the molten puddle.[/QUOTE]

Good information giving the base pressures and how to tell if I am using enough. So I will start with 15 and increase pressure if I have porosity? I picked this Miller 130 up used and played with flux core till I decided to spring for the argon tank. The more I weld, the more projects/repairs I come up with. Should have bought a mig years ago...Thanks

[David R]

Do your self a favor. Weld inside, have Some one turn the gas down slowly till you get porosity. I can run my SP100 as low as 7 cfh.

Tig cup size depends on amps, what you are welding and type of joint. I use small as I can.
More amps bigger cup.
Stainless biggest cup.
Fillet, smaller cup.

[NitroAcres]

Originally Posted by David R

Do your self a favor. Weld inside, have Some one turn the gas down slowly till you get porosity. I can run my SP100 as low as 7 cfh.

Tig cup size depends on amps, what you are welding and type of joint. I use small as I can.
More amps bigger cup.
Stainless biggest cup.
Fillet, smaller cup.

Just curious as to why you would run so low of gas flow MIG, and ""use small as I can"" for TIG? (Just askin').

[David R]

Originally Posted by NitroAcres

Just curious as to why you would run so low of gas flow MIG, and ""use small as I can"" for TIG? (Just askin').

I am cheap.

[KTM640Dakar]

Originally Posted by NitroAcres

Just curious as to why you would run so low of gas flow MIG, and ""use small as I can"" for TIG? (Just askin').

I was refering to MIG with the flow down at 15 CFH for a little 100 Amp MIG gun.

On air cooled TIG torches you may need to run a higher flow rate to keep the torch cooler. It is really preference and application as far as cup size. Some people like a big gas lens to help reduce porosity and if you are running a high amperage you need a bigger cup so it wont shatter from heat.

And gas is expensive. But redoing a porosity filled weld is more expensive.

Say for TIG flow rates range from 15 to 30 CFH.

For MIG 20 to 50 CFH. 20CFH for .023 diameter wire and 50CFH for 1/16 diameter using say a 300 Amp and larger MIG gun.