The Top 12 Things You Need Now That You Have Your TIG Welder - Kevin Caron
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 มี.ค. 2015
- From www.kevincaron.com - Artist Kevin Caron reveals the top 12 things you'll want so you can play with your new TIG welder ....
A viewer who just bought an AHP AlphaTIG 200X asked what he needs to get before the machine arrives so he can play - work! - as soon as his new TIG welder arrives.
First, get a bottle of ARGON GAS. There are several different sizes of bottle; Caron likes what he calls the 5-foot one, although you can also get a 3-foot bottle of welding gas. He gets about 3 weeks to a month of continous use out of the larger bottle, and about 2 weeks out of the smaller one.
Don't use the mixed gas (argon and CO2) you use for your MIG welder. You won't like the results.
You can get around using a cart - some guys will just put the welder on their workbench - because they're going to work just at the bench. Caron is all over his studio, so a WELDING CART really comes in handy.
He built his own cart. And now you have a welder, that's a great first project: make your own cart. You can sometimes buy one from whoever you buy your welder from, buy them at Harbor Freight or your local welding store.
You're also going to need some TIG welding GLOVES. Make sure you get TIG welding gloves, not the heavy stick and MIG welding gloves. You want something that is a little thinner so you have more manual dexterity. You need to be able feed filler rod and feel what you are doing. Remember, you have your welding helmet down, so being able to feel is really helpful. Caron prefers Tillman's 1490 gloves.
You're going to need FILLER ROD, too. You can buy it in 10-pound or 1-pound tubes. The rod looks just like straightened coat hangers. Ask for them at your welding store, based on what you are going to be welding - they come in many different types for different types of metal and welding. Caron recommends starting with steel, then moving into aluminum, stainless, etc. "You'll have dozens of these tubes around," he says.
While you're at the welding store, pick up a decent welding HELMET. Caron likes the auto-darkening feature on his helmets. You can get fixed shade helmets that are much cheaper, but then you have to be able to get everything set up for TIG welding, then flip your helmet down so you can start welding. "You won't be able to see anything until you strike an arc," he says.
You'll also need a WORKBENCH or WORK TABLE. You can buy a welding table or make your own. If you make one, it should be a steel table, someplace you can have red hot metal, smoke, flames. You want something flat, straight and smooth. You need someplace flat to start, so whenever you build something, you know it's going to stand up straight. It can be something as simple as a couple of cinder blocks with a piece of steel across them.
You need something to hold your work down with, so you need some CLAMPS. There are lots of different kinds. Some do specific jobs. Caron shows two kinds he uses: the Kant Twist clamps, which are built to keep the work straight; and heavy welding clamps that have a long throat.
Caron also recommends WELDING PLIERS. He admits that the ones he uses are for MIG welding. He uses them while TIG welding, too, for picking up hot parts like pulling tungstens out of the torch as well as for retrieving filler rod from the floor. They also have a wire cutter for trimming filler wire.
While you're at the store, buy a 4-1/2" GRINDER and some softpads - you're going to want the grinder for prepping your metal and cleaning up your welds as necessary.
Grab some SAFETY EQUIPMENT, too: safety glasses or a face shield, some hearing protection and a dust mask also can come in handy.
With the AHP TIG welder, you get a little kit with different diameter cups for your torch that help the gas coverage when it comes out of the welding torch. You also get tungstens with your AHP welder, but you'll need to sharpen them. You'll want a DEDICATED TUNGSTEN GRINDER for that. You can buy an expensive grinder made for tungstens, but Caron shows the $10 one he got at Harbor Freight as well as some diamond wheels for sharpening. He cautions not to use your regular bench grinder, which is a good way to wear out its wheel and contaminate your tungsten, which leads to bad welds.
The AHP AlphaTIG 200X and many other TIG welders now also have a stick welder, or arc welder, built in. So you may want to pick up a 1-pound box of STICK ROD at your welding supply store, too. If you're not going to use the stick function right away, though, Caron recommends waiting to buy welding rod for it.
Once you have everything you need, set up your TIG welder, play with it, learn how to use it. Run it for a month of actual use, and then figure out what you want from there.
Caron is going back to work, so you have time to go out to www.kevincaron.com to see more how-to videos and his wild work.
Well, you might want to stick around for another minute to see things get a little crooked .... - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
thanks kevin sincerely; im sure some weld specialists are just cringing all the various tools / discussions you have posted - the starting out from scratch skilled service shop invariably discovers there are very few paying clients willing to afford a months worth of 'discovery' (?) play time is all > a cart in front of the horse situation fantastically coached throughout your video series. btw - really appreciate your hand waving idea dismissals...out the wallet signature signage. tacked to the bench is a common production shop practice. flat (plumb, level and square) production work usually leaves someone crabby about something somewhere know? the makita 4-1/2" grinder i purchased came with an assortment of wheels, diamond included - i built a pvc toolholder holder for mine that i snug up in a vise but cannot recommended it for anything more than bits & tips touch-ups and only when the insurance inspector is out of town. again, thanks chief.
Awesome overview! Thanks Kevin.
My friend finally bought himself his own everlast welder rather than borrowing mine all of the time. Now I need to get him to watch this video so that he buys his own accessories!
That's thinking!!
Hey Kevin,
Thanks for the videos. Just saw you were from phx. So am i. I just got into tig welding and I'm so glad you showed this little grinder. I'll be setting one up asap.
Thanks again.
Thanks for watching. Make sure you have time to stop by for the studio tour Nov. 1st to 3rd.
Thanks Kevin for all you do for the new guy or gal.
I try to learn something with ever video I do
That or show you all what not to do!!
I love the lightness and seriousness of your videos! I am also amazed of your background experience. I like the way you try something and if it doesn't quite have the effect you want, it is turned into something even better! Your partner's prompts are priceless!
When you team up with others in the craft it adds a real human touch, Thank you.
One question for a new video is how to fix a warp after welding an aluminum casting. For example a GENERAL 16" jointer blade guard. Yes, please include how not to create a warp in the first place. My task will be to try to fix the warp from a weld done years ago. I am assuming lots of preheat and......
Donald, are you a welder too? Frickin' awesome dude!
Great video. Sage and entertaining advice! Tilting the camera at the end was a clever touch..
Well made video with great info! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching and posting!
great tips sir thank you very much .
Thanks Kevin! Yep, you answered the question. Looking forward to the "tool" arriving
Special thanks to "The Voice" for all the help.
On a side note, my wife has started to line up her own projects.
Very, very useful thanks.
Great info, guys. Thanks!
thanks Kevin good video
Good video, your talk of filler rods reminded me of my high school auto shop teacher who used coat hangers for all of our exhaust work....lol
My Eastwood 175 Mig (which I love) came with a Spool Gun. I have not tried as yet due to not having any Argon, but plan on getting a bottle of Argon soon. Then I got to thinking that once I get the Argon that I may want to get into TIG. I found this video very helpful. Thanks for the great videos that you produce. FYI -- I Subscribe to your Channel.
Couldn't agree more with all the compliments on this video or any of your others. I did however want to extend another on the credits at the end. I don't know if anyone else took the time to red them but the subtle humor was not lost lost. We use the same hair stylist but after pulling mine out for nearly 70 years he is light duty here. You are a real inspiration to us mere wannabes. Thank you sir. And also to your very able and lovely camera person/supervisor.
jake Thank you! You are the first person to comment on the credits. We have fun doing these and I just like to pass it forward... Thank you for watching..
You're welcome. You and your wife make watching as entertaining as educational. Quite a feat. A dream would be to see your work first hand if ever out that way again. From the Northeast, Namaste sir.
thank you sir.
That Harbor Freight cart is a beast. I just bought one for my first MIG welder and I can't believe how solid it is.
Shakes Tlblah I bought the same it’s the best!! They did a good job on it actually
You make great videos........ thanks
Thanks, we have fun with our "job"!
i like to use a die grinder with a diamond cutting disc for grinding tungsten.
Awesome! Powertig 200DV coming in a few days!
Have not had the chance to try one but hear they are a great machine.
Just got my AHP Alpha tig 200. First project build a cart.
Send me some photos please!
Excellent video Kevin, as usual. Many thanks.
Thanks for the idea of the dedicated tungsten grinder. I didn't know that was the preferred option.
Thanks for the tips, you are fantastic always.
Thank you for watching..
Also I notice your new remote sound system, very good I can hear everything clearly now, very professional, keep it up. Try to buy one of those Gopro camera and the chest belt, it will record your welding action and change the entire perspective literally.
The result will look sort of like this:
facebook.com/kacey.wong.319/videos/t.681960280/10154176008385281/?type=2&theater
I find that only 1 of every 5 welders will emphasize the need for a dedicated grinder. With all the variables involved I think it's best to listen to Kevin if you're learning.
But he has such a weird voice!! And that woman that talks in the video!! What's up with her and why have we never seen her?!?!?!
Another thing about the Kant Twist clamps that you failed to mention is that the jaws are made of copper. Weld and spatter won’t stick to them. Expensive, but skookum as frig!
Good point, thanks for posting!
ave fan?
Thanks for talking about grinding the tungsten. I was looking at that small bench grinder at harbor freight and thinking I need one of those but didn't know what for now I know. You didn't mention a airflow regulator my mig tig stick didn't come with one
I got one from harbor freight it was 79.00 with 20% off anyway thanks for information on grinding tungsten.
Glad I could help! Can't believe I forgot the flow meter!! Getting old I guess.
so what's better the $60 diamond wheel or the $10 one. My guess it they preform about the same? thanks again for another great video.
thank you for the dedicated tungsten grinder idea, I would've used my bench grinder!
Great video Kevin! Do you have another video showing that little grinder in use for sharpening your tungsten? Was curious to see it in action. That seems like a really good idea.
Hi Kevin, Another great video young man. Maybe you should have suggested getting a can of acetone for cleaning aluminium prior to Tig welding. Cleanliness is vital when welding aluminium.
I have never used it. Have to give it a try I guess.
Beginning welder is less likely to be doing aluminum.
My fantasy is to teach a brand new welder to TIG aluminum first, but that's just me, and not any of the welding instructors I've spoken to.
If I could add one item: SCRAP, Get yourself some scrap metal to practice on. Locally I found a small independent steel yard that has a scrap rack and bin set aside where you can pick up various sizes and thicknesses of material for $.50 /lb. some also will offer student discounts :-) seek these places out, they are gold, not only can you pick up scrap for practice but sometimes you can find good usable material for projects... Also weld / fab shops might let you dig through their scrap pile if you ask nice.., I find that the smaller the operation the more willing they are to help out that way,..
Great idea. Once I make up my mind which Everlast model I want to buy I will be going through a lot of scrap to practice on.
you and your wife are beautiful people. You give so much to all of us. thanks .Just getting ready to start tig welding .Bought a HTP tig machine herd a lot of good things about it so I bought one. will let you know if I made the right desion.in the next month.
I bought the HFreight 3 shelf cart and heavily modified it to fit my Everlast 256SI with water cooler. With PVC tubes it holds 8 different filler rods and was only $40.00 so total I have about $75 into a cool, personalized cart but boy.... I have a lot of time into it.
Always amazes me how I can work all day and "this" is all I got done?!?!?!?
I bought the same cart as well. I have my water cooler HTP Invertig 221 on it and my HTP Pro Pulse 200 all of it fits great. Such an awesome cart
You forgot to recommend good welding magnets. Always good to have for most work pieces.
Damn!! Yeah, you are right!
Getting older I guess.
Hi kevin love your vids. Very interesting. Can any tig welder run stick. I have eastwood ac/dc tig 200. If yes can you recommend a place I can call and actually talk to a person so I don't buy wrong stinger, leads ect. Thanks for info. Keep em coming.
Will be working with my powertig welder after this video.
Great welder!
Hi, Thanks for the info, I would love a Tig welder but never had the chance to be around one, they look like they give very clean welds,
Are they as quiet as they appear on video, no noisy sparks like the Mig?
On DC they are very quiet, like listen to the radio quiet! AC is a little louder. And yes, very clean welds if done correctly.
:), Thanks, I'm a joiner during the day, I only get chance to weld on an evening so clean welds without loads of noisy grinding will be good, I did metal work & technical engineering ( technical geometrical drawing stuff :) ) at school, as i get older it would be something I'd like to get back into & clean managed welds would be more suitable, Thanks again that's good to know :)
Why is the audio so low?
Otherwise great video!
sir i have a very limited space for welding apprently i am using my kitchen now to start my tig wel . sir can i keep my argon bottle near to my cooking gas cylinder.
if i am doing the tig the stove will be off sir. so please advice me on this sir thank you
Sure, argon is an inert gas so no explosion danger. That being said, it is also heaver than air so there is an asphyxiation danger. Make sure there is a least a little ventilation in there.. Oh yeah, and don't get the bottle near the hot stove or oven...
Ok Kevin, I gotta know what kind of mitering bandsaw you have! Is it an Ellis?
Correct! An 1800 series.
I've ordered the 2017 version AHP 200X. I want to get a gas lense kit for it. But how will I know what size to get?
Look on the side of the torch for the number. Either a 17 or 20. That is the size of the torch body, That's what you are looking for.
Sound was a bit funky on this video. I had a giggle when you said get some stick electrodes. For years now I have been using MIG and I have just bought a TIG machine so I can get more precise/prettier welds (obviously huge learning curve), the last thing I want to go back to is Stick welding. It just seems so primitive. It would be like putting wooden cart wheels in place of my cars modern alloy wheels.....
So true!
Stick welding is TIG welding with a club. Master the puddle and weld anything.
could you give us the links for diamond wheels you used in that 3 in grinder?
+LJ Albert
Look here,,, www.harborfreight.com/large-diamond-rotary-grinding-wheel-set-4-pc-69658.html
I wish they still had that 3" grinder for $10. Looking to find another affordable tungsten sharpener...
Harbor fright mini grinder and a set of diamond wheels. The wheels are harbor fright as well. Whole thing is about $30.00.
@@KevincaronSculpture Thanks. Looks like they are now $30-40 for the grinder plus $10 for the diamond wheel.
When I come home from the welding gas supplier, what pressure should my Argon bottle be at? How do I know if I'm being ripped off on Argon pressure?
Mine are normally in the 1300 to 1500 range. I have been getting empty bottles every now and again as well. Luckily the welding supply is not too far from my shop.
I have an AHP Alpha tig, and I've found that its longer than many other machines...about 20 inches. Do you have a commercial made cart or custom made? If you have a commercially made cart, where did you get yours? Thanks..
I have both types of carts. The commercially made one is from Harbor Fright. My 2 bottle cart is homemade and is much larger than the store bought one.
I've been trying to find those diamond wheels at harbour freight but can't seem to find them. Do you have a link to them?
Love your videos, keep up the good work! Thank you
+Chris Neill
Look here,, www.harborfreight.com/large-diamond-rotary-grinding-wheel-set-4-pc-69658.html
+Kevin Caron, Artist Wow, thanks for taking the time to do that! Maybe I picked up the wrong grinder from them. Mine says it has a 1/2" arbor.(I haven't opened the box yet till I heard back from you. What 3" grinder do you have? Thanks again Kevin!
I have the older version of this one..
www.harborfreight.com/3-inch-mini-tool-grinder-polisher-94071.html
And yes, you have to drill out the holes in the wheels to make them fit..
Great, thats the one I got. Thanks again for taking the time out of your day to help us idiots..
the only thing i would change is if your going to stick weld buy your rods in larger quantities than 1 or 2 pound boxes the more you buy at one time in one box the cheaper they are check prices before you buy and buy from a reputable welding store not all rod brands are created equal
Good tips for me to remember once I start learning how to tig weld. I am saving up for an everlast mig welder but it can also tig weld.
I bought an everlast mig welder and I have been very happy with it.
That HF 3 inch grinder is now about 29 dollars.
Amazing how much they have increased in price!
Can we use carbon dioxide gas instead of argon.
Sometimes with MIG but never with TIG.
To the best of my knowledge anyway.
Where can I pick up some of that apparently high end French Helmet? ....sorry no accents allowed in youtube comments
lol, most motorcycle stores have that sticker for sale. Thanks for watching and posting.
do you have an advice because i need a welder that can do tig root on pipe and run 6010 and 7018??????
That 6010 is going to be a problem..
Brayden Haynes Powerarc 300 will do all that. I'm a pipe welder and searching for same thing
how can you weld with out seeing what you are doing
+Charlie Taulbee
Lots of practice,, and watching the red glow on the backside of the metal.
The new helmet looks like the iDF81 helmet from ArcOne. Just got one myself. Let us know how you like it.
And now that you are blind, you cannot see even if you remember to turn it on. Thanks for the tip! I find the instructions very limited and also unclear.
Hi Kevin, can I run a water cooled torch without a water cooler ? The 256 si I've chosen has a 18 water cooled torch, is that a good torch or should I pay the extra 100 for the optional air cooled ?
The water cooled torch is better than the air cooled in my opinion. You can just hook up a garden hose to the torch and let it drain on the plants if you want. It is a very small hose and won't need much flow.
@@KevincaronSculpture cool idea, I've been looking at homemade pumps, because they are toooo much
@@KevincaronSculpture oh funny thing is I live in Seattle & the home depot buckets can be green during NFL season for my Seahawks & it's nearly exact to the everlast color
I would always cut my welding rods in half and twist over one end into a loop. Easy to pick up with gloves on, can't accedently stab someone in the eye coming up behind you while you are welding.
Great idea! Course I just like to keep people from looking over my shoulder!
So why do you have 3 diamond wheels on your grinder and one costing $60 ?
The two wheels on the left are there to fill up the shaft space so the nut will tighten. They were $10 dollars.
The one on the right was an experiment to see if it would work..
I use the two on the left most of the time.
Hey Kevin, you can get those diamond wheels for a 4 inch angle grinder, take the guards of mini bench grinder and put them on, I bought some ebay here in the UK for £3, so that's about $4
Cool, will look in to it.
Thanks for the heads up..
I need to drive 30 miles to the welders' supply and buy steel filler rod, and practice a lot.
Nope, just go in the closet and grab some coat hangers.. works like a champ!
i have done 100% welds on steel and stainless with a tungsten ground on a used flap disk on the angle grinder, its way over rated to get diamond wheels
Your audio is piss poor. Way too low. I stopped watching.
I know, some of the early videos are pretty bad.