My first Tig was an AC/DC buzzbox with a scratch start. I had no idea if it would even work as I had just started learning with an old Miller gold star at work. I bought the welder and torch and hooked it up and was amazed at how well it worked. Used it for years and still do some scratch start from time to time. Keep up the great videos, both old and new. You are the welding teacher I wish I had, when I was starting out.
So many tips I got here, I think this was the most useful video for me so far, cause I live in a God forgotten country with monthly income around 120$, so all i did got is 150A MMA/Tig inverter with scratch start, torch with cable and hose and the argon bottle. I had problems starting the arc, the feed wire tip is a really nice one, and the foot switch for stopping the arc is what I go make right after posting this comment. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
That homemade foot pedal would really come in handy right now!! I'm a sub-journeyman (working on being an apprentice pipefitter this year) welding on a bunch of 2' sch 40 stainless pipe for vacuum lines , and i am having to use a buzz box just like that but without the rectifier. Instead of a foot pedal I'm using a 4 ft long 1/8 inch steel plate and putting it under the jackstands that the pipe sits on and leaving the ground on top of the steel plate and kicking or moving the ground off haha
This rectifier actually has 2 more diodes that are not readily seen in the video but the pulse output totally makes sense. It has the appearance of a 50-60pps pulse current. that might have some advantage on open butt root pass welds to help solidify the puddle when welding uphill. Well I guess I have to get busy experimenting now. thanks for the post and the information on the rectifier.
I like that set up, that is what I thought TIG welding was when I learned. You are sounding better I hope you are feeling better as well, take care. Thanks for the videos.
I set up my miller bobcat 225 lincoln ranger 225 and outback 185 with tig torch like u did know I want to scratch start aluminum with out contamination on tungsten I know it can be done and was hoping a tig welder with ur experience might be able to make a video, you would have the only aluminum scratch start video on the net would be very popular. I love scratch starting and have learned a lot from ur videos
About 10 years ago I picked up an old Miller Thunderbolt 225 from the hospital I work at w/ it came a tig torch that clamped onto the stinger and an arc stabilizer for $50 … well ... with the stabilizer hooked up and you needed to reach up and adjust the torch ZAP! That puppy would knock you half way across the shop. BTW the switch you made is awesome ... wish I'd thought of it.
Don't know if its wrong but i would just have a helper shut of the welder when done welding, the foot petal is a great idea! I had that same flow meter on a real old airco tig welder ( miller gold star 300) had it rebuilt worked great!
I appreciate your sharing this. It inspired me to buy an argon tank, TIG stinger, and make a DC rectifier to convert my Lincoln buzz box into a TIG welder. It has been working good for me.
I just bought one as well. Seems like with enough tinkering you can make an old Lincoln into a pretty versatile welder. I may not need the MIG / TIG I thought I would.
Jody, the current is rougher because you don't have a capacitor on your rectifier, so you are getting kind of a pulsed output. I have a similar setup and once I added a cap, it was a whole different (and better) welding experience.
Great stuff, Yankee ingenuity at it's best. I saw in the video that the rectifier had only 2 diodes in it, which means it is a half bridge rectifier. That means you're not getting a true DC output from it which may explain the noisy arc. Also no capacitors means a pulse output. Check out the Wikipedia page for rectifiers. True measure of skill is working with simple stuff and making it work and not relying on bells and whistles.
thanks for the tip. I have learned a lot from comments like yours. I am going to leave it like it is for a while to see if it might have some application like open butt pipe roots. ...should be interesting.
I like the foot pedal. I had been trying to figure that part out and was guessing that a commercial one would be very expensive. I had not thought of making one like you did.
I just got an argon bottle and stuff to Jerry rig a tig setup on a powr kraft 230. Def gonna try the bridge rectifier too. I like it tip about using the rod to flick the tip for a scratch start.
the arc is unique and might have some use for certain jobs but I would prefer most any import for precision work. I guess I am spoiled. But I am going to piddle around with some pipe welding using this setup.
Jody, been wondering about something similar. My brother works in non destructive testing and has several larger diodes such as you have there. Thinking I may try to assemble something like that. He was saving it all up too build a home built welder with rewound microwave parts. BUT with old Lincoln 225s running around I think we might be on too something. I also have a Thermal Arc 95S portable scratch tig/stick dc welder,,,about the size of a toaster but packs a punch, even used the UHP HE !!!!
I love your "McGiver" videos! lot of fun to see how it used to be done. Keep up with the good work on the proper stuff tho, really enjoy your videos, and learn something most times!
I guess a 3-phase rectifier would be a lot quieter. Most of the old welders here seem to prefer old heavy equipment like that over more modern inverters, say they weld better, brute force over finesse or something. I'm onna budget myself so I'm usually buying old machines like that myself. Only stick welded so far and this looks like a nice way to get into TIG welding for cheap.
I bought a little everlast stick welder that came with a manual gas valve tig torch. I never thought I would ever use it but I might try it this summer. All I need is a small argon bottle I think.
1873Winchester Ive seen a couple miller inverter tig welders blow up under hard use , I'll keep my buzzbox 230 caveman tig , found a cheap hf box on kijiji .
It is a full wave rectifier, but without a smoothing capacitor, meaning you get a 60hz ripple (In essence, you still have the sine curve, but just the positive sides, it still reaches 0v 120times a second) A beefy capacitor should smooth it out, A 50v 50000uF capacitor on ebay is less than $30.
LOL! Hey Grandma... Hey man remember when I said that stool was kinda hard. A little comedy goes a long way. Great to know industry doesn't care either, now I don't need to drop a grand plus for a tig setup. Just a trip to the local hobby store for some BIG diodes, and a trade for a torch.
Great video. I just recently got my Hobart Ironman 210 roughly wired up for scratch start tig. It was my first time ever trying to tig.. I'm excited to be learning this out of my basement. I was impressed after striking my first arc, ready to see where this takes me. Seen the tig finger over at nexair and told the guy I follow you on youtube, and he told me you were a local guy out of P.S I thought that was really cool. I also have a lincoln ac225 with a dayton HF . I would like to be able to do something with Aluminum, Can I scratch start with aluminum or will that result in contamination or the electrode?
If I recall correctly, a rectifier alone won't give you DC you're just converting all the negative current to you still have to smooth out the sine wave to get true "DC"
we have inverter machines in our shop, no foot pedal. in the field we use old school Lincoln 300HD, etc. scratch start, air cooled. The weld performance is great with the Lincolns. construction. mechanical piping. ASME code welds. Does the noise you were having has more to do with the AC machine with the rectifier?
Because you're rectifying but not smoothing the rectified waveform you're effectively getting a pulse function at 60Hz. The readout the peak current you're getting is about 40% higher than the front of panel "readout" and you'd be getting no actual "off" time, just a lot of reduced current period...
The reason it is more forceful is because stick welders that weld stick only put out a higher voltage...probably about 4 to 8 volts more per same amperage.
That would require a heck of a lot of RMS ripple capacity if you want to use single capacitor. Typically lytics can handle around 10-50A RMS per capacitor so you would have to have 4-5 in parallel.
You're actually running a 120 pulse per second DC rig, not a constant potential rig. That's what the buzz is, and probably why it digs a little more. Each leg of the mains gives 60 hz, somewhere between 120 and 180 out of phase. 2 0 potential points per hz, that's 120 pulses
It's not just "rough", it's not really DC. It may be a half-wave rectifier. Which means you just end up with the "top half" of the sine wave (and half the power). If it's a full wave rectifier, you're just "flipping" the negative portion of the wave.
Jody, even cheaper, a 12volt car battery, the higher the amps the better it acts as a capacitor and smooths the arc, filtering out the dc ripple "current flutter", which is what you were seeing/hearing . Also they can be used to "balance" a conventional ac transformer power supply output current, one 12v battery per 100-150 amps of output. Jody, do you have any knowledge of the old "grid" multi operator style welding systems usually powered by 2500amp dc motor generator "torpedos"?
yay first post. Hey jody how are ya nice video. I am practiceing for my D 1.1 right now for test hear in 2 weeks could you make a video on on the finer points of this test i meen like more of a technical aspect of the test. That would be awesome
what up jodi..... is there a specific reason to have knife switch -footpedal cut off. on tig lead? could it not also be put on ground? only reason i ask is i have a 25ft tig torch lead.. and makes it hard to have 25ft coiled at my feet. if i can put on work lead... then machine can be in one end. have 25ft torch... and long ground stretched out anywhere... unless i slice my brand new torch set up. thanks again. best vidz on you tube by far!!$$
you can buy a basic 2-step switch from harbor freight for 15$, works great. plug one end into the outlet, plug the other into the welder (assuming its 110v) use it for my 100A forney inverter all the time.
Love the DIY stuff Jody! Just posted your video on a forum I belong to for other 'weekend Warriors' like myself to enjoy. Do you find this setup to work as well as some of the imports you use?
hi jody just a question bc i am wondering if i can come up with something like this, you said just 4 diodes and no choke or capacitor? sorry for the late question. oh by the way def leppard !. thanks a lot for the videos
Jody I have an old Forney ac only buzzbox. Is it possible to do scratch start tig with it, and if so Can I weld aluminum with it? I don't have any experience with scratch start tig but would like to learn how to do it. Thanks for the great videos keep em coming!
Andrew Seiler : AC GTAW needs high frequency arc stabilization, otherwise the arc extinguishes easily when the current goes to zero during polarity change. this happens 60 times a second on synchro machines (transformer types).
HI!!! I DONT SPEACK ENGLISH VERY WELL... SO I HAVE A LINCOLN ELECTRIC 225 AMPS AC/DC WELDER MACHINE I WANT TO KNOW DOES I CAN USE SCRATCH STAR TIG TO WELD ALUMINIUM WHIT MY WELDER MACHINE, PLEASE I NEED TO KNOW IT... THAK YOU... AND I LIKE TO MUSH YOUR TIPS TO WELD CONGRATULATIONS ... YOURE MY TEACHER..
Nice video! What a helluvanice table you have there....made or bought? What would be the amperage range that you would use on a scratch-TIG rig for (similar to food-service-related) stainless steel 22-10 gauge, keep in mind that I'm prototyping a product, don't want to spend an arm-and-a-leg on a suitable unit because they're to cheap and because until I prove concept, I won't have the budget to get one ;-) but nonetheless you can relate that it would take longer to explain what you want done to someone else instead of doing it yourself... Hope that made sense. Thanks in advanced for your time! Awesome channel!!
After seeing your video a few more times, I broke open the small 80A stick-welder, re-arranged some of the wiring, added some switches and it works (for what I needed) I don't suggest nor implicate that anyone should try to do this. But thank you for your video.
im looking to get/build a rectifier an i have no idea what to look for :( so i found one on e.bay yo can search for it ebay - (Black Rectangle Plastic Shell 4 Terminals Rectifier Module AC 2000V 200A) so is this gonna work out if i have a 180 amp ac welder? btw great video, very helpful, always enjoy your videos ;)
Sounds good, if you decide you want to add one (might make an interesting video), let me know and I can send you my design. It really makes for a nice "poor man's" DC TIG, without having to pull money out of the beer fund. Costs about $70 or $80.
I'm new at this so bear with me. TIG used Argon and Mig seems to use 75/25 most often. Does Mig welding see any improvement by upgrading to pure Argon? I know it's more expensive just wondering if it improves the process.
the co2 helps with penetration, so going pure argon will have less of it. That filler metal will just pile up on top of the weld. You will need pure argon for aluminum however, even with mig welding.
Why does the tungsten ball up at the tip and try to stick to the cup? Very frustrating. Im trying to install some stainless grab rail. What a pain. The ark is all over the place. This cant be right. I think I hate scratch start tig! It even tougher with all the gaps I have to fill. There is seemingly no control with this thing!
Hi, let me do a little write up explaining what I did and snap a few photos and drop it somewhere on the net. I will reply back with the location when I get it done, sometime this weekend.
That old regulator you showed is that a co2 regulator with an adapter to be used on argon tanks that's what it looks like I have never seen an adapter that converts co2 regulators to argon I have seen them the other way around. If that is the case where can you get one of those.
@mcleodjm2... that would be great to get that info on the poor mans dc tig . it would make for an interesting video. you can get in touch with me thru the contact page on weldingtipsandtricks dot (com)
Wood is not so bad as long as it is decently dry. Also, you'd probably be wearing shoes while welding, so as long as you don't forget what you're doing and stick your fingers in there while it's live, you'd probably be alright.
no i hear you man. u will prob be fine. if u ever get a chance take the nfpa 70 class put on by sergeant safety. great class for anyone to take that works around electricity. a lot of factories are starting to make there employees take it. but ya when it comes down to it wood is not an insulator weather u might be fine or not. im an electrician and ive heard of guys taking 2x4's and knocking a guy off a ladder that got hung up. if thats all you have it might save someones life but if you did that you would be puttinmg urself at risk. so you could prob get away with it at home but a construction site or at a big manufacturing facility it def wouldnt fly. its not just about you its also the guy next to you that is potentially in "danger" obviously the chance are low but thats how it goes. just some food for thought.
Why does the tungsten ball up at the tip and try to stick to the cup? Very frustrating. Im trying to install some stainless grab rail. What a pain. The ark is all over the place. This cant be right. I think I hate scratch start tig! It even tougher with all the gaps I have to fill. There is seemingly no control with this thing!
My first Tig was an AC/DC buzzbox with a scratch start. I had no idea if it would even work as I had just started learning with an old Miller gold star at work. I bought the welder and torch and hooked it up and was amazed at how well it worked. Used it for years and still do some scratch start from time to time. Keep up the great videos, both old and new. You are the welding teacher I wish I had, when I was starting out.
Urah the old buzz machine is actually 30 years old in 2023 😅 thank you Sir for this great YT channel.
So many tips I got here, I think this was the most useful video for me so far, cause I live in a God forgotten country with monthly income around 120$, so all i did got is 150A MMA/Tig inverter with scratch start, torch with cable and hose and the argon bottle. I had problems starting the arc, the feed wire tip is a really nice one, and the foot switch for stopping the arc is what I go make right after posting this comment. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
I don't even run a welder for a living, but everything you show is just amazing. Thanks for the awesome vids
That homemade foot pedal would really come in handy right now!! I'm a sub-journeyman (working on being an apprentice pipefitter this year) welding on a bunch of 2' sch 40 stainless pipe for vacuum lines , and i am having to use a buzz box just like that but without the rectifier. Instead of a foot pedal I'm using a 4 ft long 1/8 inch steel plate and putting it under the jackstands that the pipe sits on and leaving the ground on top of the steel plate and kicking or moving the ground off haha
This rectifier actually has 2 more diodes that are not readily seen in the video but the pulse output totally makes sense. It has the appearance of a 50-60pps pulse current. that might have some advantage on open butt root pass welds to help solidify the puddle when welding uphill. Well I guess I have to get busy experimenting now.
thanks for the post and the information on the rectifier.
I like that set up, that is what I thought TIG welding was when I learned. You are sounding better I hope you are feeling better as well, take care. Thanks for the videos.
I set up my miller bobcat 225 lincoln ranger 225 and outback 185 with tig torch like u did know I want to scratch start aluminum with out contamination on tungsten I know it can be done and was hoping a tig welder with ur experience might be able to make a video, you would have the only aluminum scratch start video on the net would be very popular.
I love scratch starting and have learned a lot from ur videos
You brought back memories of my first tig rig. Thank you.
I have been scratch starting TIG on stainless food service equipment for about 6 months at my new job and you just gave me some great ideas!
About 10 years ago I picked up an old Miller Thunderbolt 225 from the hospital I work at w/ it came a tig torch that clamped onto the stinger and an arc stabilizer for $50 … well ... with the stabilizer hooked up and you needed to reach up and adjust the torch ZAP! That puppy would knock you half way across the shop. BTW the switch you made is awesome ... wish I'd thought of it.
Don't know if its wrong but i would just have a helper shut of the welder when done welding, the foot petal is a great idea! I had that same flow meter on a real old airco tig welder ( miller gold star 300) had it rebuilt worked great!
I appreciate your sharing this. It inspired me to buy an argon tank, TIG stinger, and make a DC rectifier to convert my Lincoln buzz box into a TIG welder. It has been working good for me.
any chance you would share plans for the rectifier ?I'm trying do the same thing with my buz boxx thanks
Yes I could but I could not see how to contact you and this comment box does not allow uploading of files and pictures.
David Manishewitz
This site has some good detail and plans: hildstrom.com/projects/ac-225/
Cool. He has done a lot more than me to his Lincoln tombstone.
I just bought one as well. Seems like with enough tinkering you can make an old Lincoln into a pretty versatile welder. I may not need the MIG / TIG I thought I would.
Jody, the current is rougher because you don't have a capacitor on your rectifier, so you are getting kind of a pulsed output. I have a similar setup and once I added a cap, it was a whole different (and better) welding experience.
Great stuff, Yankee ingenuity at it's best. I saw in the video that the rectifier had only 2 diodes in it, which means it is a half bridge rectifier. That means you're not getting a true DC output from it which may explain the noisy arc. Also no capacitors means a pulse output. Check out the Wikipedia page for rectifiers. True measure of skill is working with simple stuff and making it work and not relying on bells and whistles.
thanks for the tip. I have learned a lot from comments like yours. I am going to leave it like it is for a while to see if it might have some application like open butt pipe roots. ...should be interesting.
Got to love watching Jodi videos.I learn something new every time..and I ordered a tig finger of Amazon yesterday I'm waiting for it
I like the foot pedal. I had been trying to figure that part out and was guessing that a commercial one would be very expensive. I had not thought of making one like you did.
I just got an argon bottle and stuff to Jerry rig a tig setup on a powr kraft 230. Def gonna try the bridge rectifier too. I like it tip about using the rod to flick the tip for a scratch start.
the arc is unique and might have some use for certain jobs but I would prefer most any import for precision work.
I guess I am spoiled. But I am going to piddle around with some pipe welding using this setup.
thanks for your videos, welding is always in evolution !!
greetings from south Italy
Jody, been wondering about something similar. My brother works in non destructive testing and has several larger diodes such as you have there. Thinking I may try to assemble something like that. He was saving it all up too build a home built welder with rewound microwave parts. BUT with old Lincoln 225s running around I think we might be on too something. I also have a Thermal Arc 95S portable scratch tig/stick dc welder,,,about the size of a toaster but packs a punch, even used the UHP HE !!!!
I love your "McGiver" videos! lot of fun to see how it used to be done. Keep up with the good work on the proper stuff tho, really enjoy your videos, and learn something most times!
My dad has the same same machine, we still use it to this day for home projects.
I guess a 3-phase rectifier would be a lot quieter. Most of the old welders here seem to prefer old heavy equipment like that over more modern inverters, say they weld better, brute force over finesse or something. I'm onna budget myself so I'm usually buying old machines like that myself. Only stick welded so far and this looks like a nice way to get into TIG welding for cheap.
I bought a little everlast stick welder that came with a manual gas valve tig torch. I never thought I would ever use it but I might try it this summer. All I need is a small argon bottle I think.
1873Winchester Ive seen a couple miller inverter tig welders blow up under hard use , I'll keep my buzzbox 230 caveman tig , found a cheap hf box on kijiji .
It is a full wave rectifier, but without a smoothing capacitor, meaning you get a 60hz ripple (In essence, you still have the sine curve, but just the positive sides, it still reaches 0v 120times a second)
A beefy capacitor should smooth it out, A 50v 50000uF capacitor on ebay is less than $30.
LOL! Hey Grandma... Hey man remember when I said that stool was kinda hard. A little comedy goes a long way. Great to know industry doesn't care either, now I don't need to drop a grand plus for a tig setup. Just a trip to the local hobby store for some BIG diodes, and a trade for a torch.
heck yes- I learned TIG with an old school setup- if you cant afford a tig welder you could get some seat time in this way too.
Great video. I just recently got my Hobart Ironman 210 roughly wired up for scratch start tig. It was my first time ever trying to tig.. I'm excited to be learning this out of my basement. I was impressed after striking my first arc, ready to see where this takes me. Seen the tig finger over at nexair and told the guy I follow you on youtube, and he told me you were a local guy out of P.S I thought that was really cool. I also have a lincoln ac225 with a dayton HF . I would like to be able to do something with Aluminum, Can I scratch start with aluminum or will that result in contamination or the electrode?
If I recall correctly, a rectifier alone won't give you DC you're just converting all the negative current to you still have to smooth out the sine wave to get true "DC"
Woah, I have worked on the exact model of table you have there at 4:50, welding, for two years in college, that exact table.
Dude, you are very inspiring in my weld career! Thanks for all the know how!!!
we have inverter machines in our shop, no foot pedal. in the field we use old school Lincoln 300HD, etc. scratch start, air cooled. The weld performance is great with the Lincolns. construction. mechanical piping. ASME code welds. Does the noise you were having has more to do with the AC machine with the rectifier?
What up Grandma?
Love it!
I always learn something when I watch you! Thank you!
Because you're rectifying but not smoothing the rectified waveform you're effectively getting a pulse function at 60Hz. The readout the peak current you're getting is about 40% higher than the front of panel "readout" and you'd be getting no actual "off" time, just a lot of reduced current period...
The reason it is more forceful is because stick welders that weld stick only put out a higher voltage...probably about 4 to 8 volts more per same amperage.
That would require a heck of a lot of RMS ripple capacity if you want to use single capacitor. Typically lytics can handle around 10-50A RMS per capacitor so you would have to have 4-5 in parallel.
You're actually running a 120 pulse per second DC rig, not a constant potential rig. That's what the buzz is, and probably why it digs a little more. Each leg of the mains gives 60 hz, somewhere between 120 and 180 out of phase. 2 0 potential points per hz, that's 120 pulses
It's not just "rough", it's not really DC. It may be a half-wave rectifier. Which means you just end up with the "top half" of the sine wave (and half the power). If it's a full wave rectifier, you're just "flipping" the negative portion of the wave.
Jody, even cheaper, a 12volt car battery, the higher the amps the better it acts as a capacitor and smooths the arc, filtering out the dc ripple "current flutter", which is what you were seeing/hearing . Also they can be used to "balance" a conventional ac transformer power supply output current, one 12v battery per 100-150 amps of output. Jody, do you have any knowledge of the old "grid" multi operator style welding systems usually powered by 2500amp dc motor generator "torpedos"?
here is common to use that model of tig torch and flow meter... yes, old school stuff but lovely!
Dude.... this vid is worth its weight in gold ^.^
yay first post. Hey jody how are ya nice video. I am practiceing for my D 1.1 right now for test hear in 2 weeks could you make a video on on the finer points of this test i meen like more of a technical aspect of the test. That would be awesome
what up jodi..... is there a specific reason to have knife switch -footpedal cut off. on tig lead? could it not also be put on ground?
only reason i ask is i have a 25ft tig torch lead.. and makes it hard to have 25ft coiled at my feet.
if i can put on work lead... then machine can be in one end. have 25ft torch... and long ground stretched out anywhere... unless i slice my brand new torch set up.
thanks again. best vidz on you tube by far!!$$
was wondering the same.
I wish I would have known you could make your own homemade foot pedal long ago when I had a old lincoln pipeliner I may still have that machine.
Please do a more detailed video on the rectifier as I am in the process of building one
im glad theres hope to my old lincoln stick welder =p
"Flick it like Def Leppard's drummer", you're old...... like me!!! :O
your videos are great! i've learned soo much from following
I have a tombstone that puts out DC, so I guess I don't even need the rectifier right? I've been thinking about this for years but never tried it.
Great Jody !! All meat no filler as usual !!
you can buy a basic 2-step switch from harbor freight for 15$, works great. plug one end into the outlet, plug the other into the welder (assuming its 110v) use it for my 100A forney inverter all the time.
Does it turn the whole machine off?
Your videos are awesome
yep, I am using 100 % argon
Got an old Peerless buzzbox myself. How well do you think a similar set-up, but without the rectifier would work for AC Tig on Aluminium?
Love the DIY stuff Jody! Just posted your video on a forum I belong to for other 'weekend Warriors' like myself to enjoy. Do you find this setup to work as well as some of the imports you use?
hi jody just a question bc i am wondering if i can come up with something like this, you said just 4 diodes and no choke or capacitor? sorry for the late question. oh by the way def leppard !. thanks a lot for the videos
Looks like an inexpensive way to have a tig setup. Good info
Could use a floor switch off an old 70s car as a switch to kill the power?
Jody I have an old Forney ac only buzzbox. Is it possible to do scratch start tig with it, and if so Can I weld aluminum with it? I don't have any experience with scratch start tig but would like to learn how to do it. Thanks for the great videos keep em coming!
Andrew Seiler : AC GTAW needs high frequency arc stabilization, otherwise the arc extinguishes easily when the current goes to zero during polarity change. this happens 60 times a second on synchro machines (transformer types).
HI!!! I DONT SPEACK ENGLISH VERY WELL...
SO I HAVE A LINCOLN ELECTRIC 225 AMPS AC/DC WELDER MACHINE
I WANT TO KNOW DOES I CAN USE SCRATCH STAR TIG TO WELD ALUMINIUM WHIT MY WELDER MACHINE, PLEASE I NEED TO KNOW IT... THAK YOU... AND I LIKE TO MUSH YOUR TIPS TO WELD
CONGRATULATIONS ... YOURE MY TEACHER..
Now thats what I call a Tigger Rig. cool video Jody lol
Nice video!
What a helluvanice table you have there....made or bought?
What would be the amperage range that you would use on a scratch-TIG rig for (similar to food-service-related) stainless steel 22-10 gauge, keep in mind that I'm prototyping a product, don't want to spend an arm-and-a-leg on a suitable unit because they're to cheap and because until I prove concept, I won't have the budget to get one ;-) but nonetheless you can relate that it would take longer to explain what you want done to someone else instead of doing it yourself... Hope that made sense.
Thanks in advanced for your time!
Awesome channel!!
+J Alvi it looks to be made but im not sure.... how did your concept go?
After seeing your video a few more times, I broke open the small 80A stick-welder, re-arranged some of the wiring, added some switches and it works (for what I needed) I don't suggest nor implicate that anyone should try to do this. But thank you for your video.
I'm thinking of using a battery isolator instead of knife switch. Just need to find small circuit in machine.
Could you use a back purge instead with a valve on the end and leave it flooding where you plan to end your weld.
is it possible to use the AC buzzbox straight to scratch start TIG weld aluminum?
im looking to get/build a rectifier an i have no idea what to look for :(
so i found one on e.bay
yo can search for it ebay - (Black Rectangle Plastic Shell 4 Terminals Rectifier Module AC 2000V 200A)
so is this gonna work out if i have a 180 amp ac welder?
btw great video, very helpful, always enjoy your videos ;)
Can you use it this foot pedal set up on a inverter machine?
Cool video.
Do you run innershield at all? 212 311ni?
That is pretty much the only way I've ever TIG welded. I do lots of pipe with scratch start.. carbon, stainless filler to carbon... all that stuff.
What happens when you turn ark dig on? Lol what would it do? More penetration? Make the tungsten explode?
id like to see that design please
Sounds good, if you decide you want to add one (might make an interesting video), let me know and I can send you my design. It really makes for a nice "poor man's" DC TIG, without having to pull money out of the beer fund. Costs about $70 or $80.
You are the man.
I'm new at this so bear with me. TIG used Argon and Mig seems to use 75/25 most often. Does Mig welding see any improvement by upgrading to pure Argon? I know it's more expensive just wondering if it improves the process.
the co2 helps with penetration, so going pure argon will have less of it. That filler metal will just pile up on top of the weld. You will need pure argon for aluminum however, even with mig welding.
Why does the tungsten ball up at the tip and try to stick to the cup? Very frustrating. Im trying to install some stainless grab rail. What a pain. The ark is all over the place. This cant be right. I think I hate scratch start tig! It even tougher with all the gaps I have to fill. There is seemingly no control with this thing!
I understand that the negative gets connected to the tig torch but what happens with the positive lead???
Jose Hernandez
you are just reversing the polarity. the positive connects to the work piece, the negative to the tig torch
hi! does this foot pedal works for starting the weld too , without scratching, just keep it close and then press the foot pedal?
no you have to actually make contact with the tungsten to start an arc
I'm gonna build that pedal!
All we ever had when i did processing plants was scratch start tig, no foot pedal.
Outstanding!!!
Also depends on the size, type and taste ;)
Thank You!
Hi, let me do a little write up explaining what I did and snap a few photos and drop it somewhere on the net. I will reply back with the location when I get it done, sometime this weekend.
Are useing stright argon?
Just found this video, nice. Considering the age, doubt I will get a response but ask anyway. Dimensions on the homemade foot switch.
Lol the phone call was funny
That old regulator you showed is that a co2 regulator with an adapter to be used on argon tanks that's what it looks like I have never seen an adapter that converts co2 regulators to argon I have seen them the other way around. If that is the case where can you get one of those.
CO2 and Argon cylinders have different pressures. Argon is higher. Can't use a CO2 regulator on an Argon cylinder.
i need to learn tig but im still in high school welding class
@mcleodjm2... that would be great to get that info on the poor mans dc tig . it would make for an interesting video. you can get in touch with me thru the contact page on weldingtipsandtricks dot (com)
Whats the best tungsten type for scratch start I have a h hobart stickmate ac\dc
Comedy in there mad me laugh didn't expect it funny
cool ^-^
i would be careful with that foot peddle wood in not an insulator.
Wood is not so bad as long as it is decently dry. Also, you'd probably be wearing shoes while welding, so as long as you don't forget what you're doing and stick your fingers in there while it's live, you'd probably be alright.
no i hear you man. u will prob be fine. if u ever get a chance take the nfpa 70 class put on by sergeant safety. great class for anyone to take that works around electricity. a lot of factories are starting to make there employees take it. but ya when it comes down to it wood is not an insulator weather u might be fine or not. im an electrician and ive heard of guys taking 2x4's and knocking a guy off a ladder that got hung up. if thats all you have it might save someones life but if you did that you would be puttinmg urself at risk. so you could prob get away with it at home but a construction site or at a big manufacturing facility it def wouldnt fly. its not just about you its also the guy next to you that is potentially in "danger" obviously the chance are low but thats how it goes. just some food for thought.
jokes? that's new.... nice touch.... And As Always.. Great Video... Definitely A gangnam Style in Welding world...
Why does the tungsten ball up at the tip and try to stick to the cup? Very frustrating. Im trying to install some stainless grab rail. What a pain. The ark is all over the place. This cant be right. I think I hate scratch start tig! It even tougher with all the gaps I have to fill. There is seemingly no control with this thing!
Check polarity. Should be electrode negative -