Started doing it this way 40 yrs ago with a big old MontgomeryWard AC/DC stick rig and some secondhand tig torch parts. Nice to see it still being done !
Nice looking welds. Awesome video that really shows that if you learn how to use your welder you make have great results and not have to spend a grand or more on a welder!
This is the first welder I bought and this is actually the setup I used to start tig welding..I dont think I show it but I made a 25 foot ground cable to match the tig lead. I had it gas bottle and all mounted on a hand truck that I just had to plug in and weld!
you must be doing something wrong with your tagging of videos or descriptions because you videos are not getting the views they deserve. you do talk a little too much talking but you are talking about some relevant stuff. but yeah awesome video and I'm blown away how you are making such nice welds with some little crappy box.
@@ImprovisedBuilds add tags and look in to how to make your titles and descriptions come up in a search. im not really an expert and i know you didn't ask my opinion but man i see too much potential and not enough views.
this video gives hope to those that cannot/struggled to acquire a TIG welder, really love it. I hope you can make a conversion of an AC stick welding machine to DC TIG welding machine, would really appreciate it.
@@jimbrosshop9600 Check out the Hackaday Modified Tombstone Welder article with references and maybe some more info in the comments. There are some other videos that do interesting HF start DIY designs as well that are now way smaller and more cost effective than the old say like Lincoln HF Starter.
@@jimbrosshop9600 I'll eventually make a video regarding, though haven't gotten around to that project task list again yet. The AC to DC rectification is super simple if you know what you're doing. Then adding more features and controls is just more to learn and a neat learning experience just reading into alone... even if you don't have the parts sitting around.
@@BAK87 that’s because it is. The main difference is that Oxy heats up a wider area causing warping while tig heats a much more focused area. Also it’s less prone to injury and more comfy.
So the ground is on the para lug and the torch is on the negative terminal. Then the working material is not connected to any terminal positive/negative?
For steel you want to run DCEN. Which means to use a (DirectCurrent) power supply and that your tig lead is connected to the negative output from the welder(ElectrodeNegative) and your ground clamp is hooked to the positive output of the welder to complete the circut
Touch very slow and easy it will squeak then lift. NOT REALLY A SCRATCH. Scratching will dull the tungsten. ( first touch the cup down then lean over the tig torch until the tungsten squeaks then your ready to weld ) will not squeak if tungsten is dull !!!
Did this with a Hobart XL-225 AC/DC unit and used the tig torch off my 1964 Miller 250 AC/DC-HF Tig-metallic unit that has a broken amp indicator cable....I usually just weld stick with it and set the amps by "feel." Bought the Hobart for portability and more precise settings. Additionally you were "pushing" the weld rather than "pulling" it.
Hey.Sir. Can you explain some video about tig welder conversetion to plasma cutter.I think if this circut is working about tig welding can we use this methot adding comprest air change with argon gas will we use it like plasma cutter. Thnks
I would if I could but I dont know enough about that particular conversion. I believe with the available plasma cutters today the cheaper rout would to buy a plasma outright. The conversion seems like an expensive venture due to the fact that tig and plasma work in different ranges of voltage and amps and the same power supply would unlikely be able to be simply "switched" back and forth between process's without major reconfiguration. But I'm no expert on this topic.
Hi absolutely love the video, I’m 15 and I have a MIG welder but would love to learn to TIG on a budget of course. Anyways I was wondering what kind of amps you need to TIG? Also what AMP is the welder you using? Thanks a ton 👍🇺🇸
The amount of amps needed depends on what you want to weld (material thickness) this is an 80 amp welder...since the output of this welder is not very high, I have to weld a little slower than I might with a more capable machine. A good rule of thumb is 1 amp per .001 inch material thickness...for example 1/8th inch steel (.125") would ideally be welded at 125 amps for a single pass weld.
Good deal young man.....Keep it up, welding is an ART, and I am an ARTIST.....Practice, Practice, Practice, you'll get it Young Man, it takes a Passion for it. I'm old now and kinda shaky, but back in the day, could tig two soda cans together, lip to lip. You'll get it!
I know this is an old video, "what your choice of tungsten rod you are using" is important . There are at least 4 different compositions of tungsten rods, picking the right one will give you the best tip performance. With a little practice you can even use the tip of the filler rod to start the arc, so the tungsten doesn't come in contact with the the job, the filler rod does 😎
I dont think it's quite as easy to make a quality aluminium weld with this method, I believe it can be done, but requires a higher amperage welder and the results are not very spectacular.
See I pulled a 70 year old Ward Powrcraft 230 stick welder and I thought well hell I can Tig weld with that thing and I can learn how to get better at it
Thats a good thought and that might work to some extent..but I have always been under the impression the arc will be unstable if you try to tig with an Ac stick welder because of the ac frequency but I have never tried either so I cant confirm or deny with 100% certainty haha!
@@TheMadJoker87Sir, with the respect you deserve .. I think you lack experience with the subject .. aluminum can be TIG welded in DC using helium .. and preheating the part .. and of course cleaning very well with a brush stainless steel. I invite you to watch videos here on TH-cam I am not inventing it .. I have 15 years of being a certified welder in my country ..
What you can not believe is that you are going to use an AC machine to weld aluminum without the high frequency arc start and without the pulses ... people believe that only using argon and Ac can be welded ... and it is not So .. the ac current mechanism doesn't work the same .. and it won't be able to sustain a stable arc in any way .. because the argon conducts less electricity than helium and because the current flow will be changing between 50hz at 60hz depending on the electrical network.
@@ImprovisedBuilds I'm doing an apprenticeship myself, I bought myself a cheap machine that came with a tig/stick option. It isn't the greatest but it sure does help to be able to make small things at home and practice while not at work.
@@ImprovisedBuilds What you say is absolutely true.........I have a plasma welder for all my welding needs and I bought one of those cheap 250 amp DC welders on AMAZON in case one day I needed to do some scratch Tig.....that day turned up sooner so I've just invested in a torch, flow meter and soon a gas bottle. I sold all my welding gear a couple of years ago when I bought the plasma welder and the ability to do some Tig work was something I missed so back to the bank account bashing to relearn with scratching.....I've never done scratch Tig so never too late to learn.
It depends on your gas flow rate, for example if your regulator is set at 20cfh ( cubic feet per hour)... than a 80 cubic foot bottle will last 4 hours. Hope this helps!
Without a proper AC tig welder I'm not sure there is a very easy and economical way to tig aluminum. You can get aluminum brazing rods fairly cheap that can be useful for some applications and only need a propane or mapp gas torch
The trigger should function separately from the torch itself. As long as the trigger isn't connected to the welder and the welder has constant power supplied to the torch then it should work fine.
The wiring to the garage at the time was basically an extension cord about 100 feet to the house, being a 20 amp input welder and the long run it just wanted too much current from my breaker I suppose. Updated wiring now!
Oh ok, just asking because I have an inverter myself and I'm not very experienced in welding. I'm being a little rebelious and doing it in my appartment complex which so far has held without tripping the breaker. I connect it straight to socket so I guess that's what hopefully helps me out?
@@Rulox999 That definitely helps not trip a breaker, it will also help the welder run the best it can. Sometimes a welder can be a bit difficult to weld with on a long extension cord because of voltage drop. Be careful at the complex and always check for fire before leaving after welding no matter where you are...have fun learning!
Flowmeter on the bottle will regulate your flow (CFH) and the tig torch I have uses a knob near the head to open or close the gas flow after the flowmeter .. similar to a needle valve
No, specifically because TIG stands for Tungsten Inert Gas welding which refers to the process used..not particularly the technique which IS pretty Similar to Oxy-Fuel welding.... You should be able to use a oxy-propane torch to weld mild steel, but probably easier/faster to braze.
lol, no no no propane is like the opposite of an inert gas its flammable. but I see why you asked that because you looked in your shop and seen a propane tank and was like gas ok lets do it. but no propane is not an inert gas its actually somewhat of the opposite because it reacts like its flammable.
Look up "105z57 Power Cable Adapter" and you should be able to find one on through somewhere like WeldingCity on Ebay...I'm not 100% sure that's the part your equipment will need so check the threads on your hoses to make sure they they match the pitch of the part you ordered.
Started doing it this way 40 yrs ago with a big old MontgomeryWard AC/DC stick rig and some secondhand tig torch parts. Nice to see it still being done !
For an improvised ark welder, you did an awesome weld! Mighty fine bud!
Thank you very much! Very appreciated
Best explanation I've seen so far. Thank you for showing very well. Nice weld
Nice looking welds. Awesome video that really shows that if you learn how to use your welder you make have great results and not have to spend a grand or more on a welder!
This is the first welder I bought and this is actually the setup I used to start tig welding..I dont think I show it but I made a 25 foot ground cable to match the tig lead. I had it gas bottle and all mounted on a hand truck that I just had to plug in and weld!
Of note they make Tig torches with two lines , one for gas and one for electric with those you don't need that power adapter
you must be doing something wrong with your tagging of videos or descriptions because you videos are not getting the views they deserve. you do talk a little too much talking but you are talking about some relevant stuff. but yeah awesome video and I'm blown away how you are making such nice welds with some little crappy box.
Thanks man...I might add tags lol
@@ImprovisedBuilds add tags and look in to how to make your titles and descriptions come up in a search. im not really an expert and i know you didn't ask my opinion but man i see too much potential and not enough views.
@@davidcraft4909 Thanks man it's much appreciated. Good to hear from ya
this video gives hope to those that cannot/struggled to acquire a TIG welder, really love it. I hope you can make a conversion of an AC stick welding machine to DC TIG welding machine, would really appreciate it.
Google up ac to dc welder conversion. Theres a diode array you can convert your welder with. It is a bit of a learning curve but it can be done
@@darrinjones9387 oh I saw one with an ARC PIG but others are just DC to DC
@@jimbrosshop9600 Check out the Hackaday Modified Tombstone Welder article with references and maybe some more info in the comments. There are some other videos that do interesting HF start DIY designs as well that are now way smaller and more cost effective than the old say like Lincoln HF Starter.
@@jimbrosshop9600 I'll eventually make a video regarding, though haven't gotten around to that project task list again yet. The AC to DC rectification is super simple if you know what you're doing. Then adding more features and controls is just more to learn and a neat learning experience just reading into alone... even if you don't have the parts sitting around.
To the point and informative. Awesome video 👍
looks a lot like oxy acetaline welding
Exactly my thoughts. But instead of open flame you have an arc. Motion looks similar too.
@@BAK87 that’s because it is. The main difference is that Oxy heats up a wider area causing warping while tig heats a much more focused area. Also it’s less prone to injury and more comfy.
Great video mate cheers,.shows you don't have to have really expensive kit to get a decent weld..😊🇬🇧
Thanks! I'm all about a budget man!
@Eddie Hitler what sort of budget does a build like that see? Sounds interesting
I use this method too. A little crude but it works.
Just use your filler rod to scratch against instead of the work material.
So the ground is on the para lug and the torch is on the negative terminal. Then the working material is not connected to any terminal positive/negative?
For steel you want to run DCEN. Which means to use a (DirectCurrent) power supply and that your tig lead is connected to the negative output from the welder(ElectrodeNegative) and your ground clamp is hooked to the positive output of the welder to complete the circut
Hi. My question: how do you release the gas? is he always released? is gas discharge controlled only on the gas bottle? Sorry for my english...
By using a tig torch with a shutoff valve near the torch head you can turn it on and off when needed
Can any one tell me name of the parts needed to convert
My eyes! F*ck my eyes!!!🙈
Good
very good informative video, thank you!!!
Glad it was helpful!
Good detail! Great video and thanks for sharing. Liked, commented and subscribed.
Touch very slow and easy it will squeak then lift. NOT REALLY A SCRATCH. Scratching will dull the tungsten. ( first touch the cup down then lean over the tig torch until the tungsten squeaks then your ready to weld ) will not squeak if tungsten is dull !!!
Did this with a Hobart XL-225 AC/DC unit and used the tig torch off my 1964 Miller 250 AC/DC-HF Tig-metallic unit that has a broken amp indicator cable....I usually just weld stick with it and set the amps by "feel."
Bought the Hobart for portability and more precise settings.
Additionally you were "pushing" the weld rather than "pulling" it.
Hey.Sir. Can you explain some video about tig welder conversetion to plasma cutter.I think if this circut is working about tig welding can we use this methot adding comprest air change with argon gas will we use it like plasma cutter. Thnks
I would if I could but I dont know enough about that particular conversion. I believe with the available plasma cutters today the cheaper rout would to buy a plasma outright. The conversion seems like an expensive venture due to the fact that tig and plasma work in different ranges of voltage and amps and the same power supply would unlikely be able to be simply "switched" back and forth between process's without major reconfiguration. But I'm no expert on this topic.
Check out this video I did...this plasma was only $220 shipped! th-cam.com/video/nvyA5SaN4rc/w-d-xo.html
Hi absolutely love the video, I’m 15 and I have a MIG welder but would love to learn to TIG on a budget of course. Anyways I was wondering what kind of amps you need to TIG? Also what AMP is the welder you using? Thanks a ton 👍🇺🇸
The amount of amps needed depends on what you want to weld (material thickness) this is an 80 amp welder...since the output of this welder is not very high, I have to weld a little slower than I might with a more capable machine. A good rule of thumb is 1 amp per .001 inch material thickness...for example 1/8th inch steel (.125") would ideally be welded at 125 amps for a single pass weld.
Good deal young man.....Keep it up, welding is an ART, and I am an ARTIST.....Practice, Practice, Practice, you'll get it Young Man, it takes a Passion for it. I'm old now and kinda shaky, but back in the day, could tig two soda cans together, lip to lip. You'll get it!
I know this is an old video, "what your choice of tungsten rod you are using" is important . There are at least 4 different compositions of tungsten rods, picking the right one will give you the best tip performance. With a little practice you can even use the tip of the filler rod to start the arc, so the tungsten doesn't come in contact with the the job, the filler rod does 😎
Very nice I may try this as I already have a good stick welder I can use for the power source. Nicely explained.
Make sure Yr set is a DC welder
Can you do the same with aluminum?
I dont think it's quite as easy to make a quality aluminium weld with this method, I believe it can be done, but requires a higher amperage welder and the results are not very spectacular.
See I pulled a 70 year old Ward Powrcraft 230 stick welder and I thought well hell I can Tig weld with that thing and I can learn how to get better at it
Wow you got some nice looking welds doing scratch start. Thanks for sharing. Dan
Thanks for that. Out of the last hour this is the first video I’ve seen to show the power adaptor actually connected!
pretty cool idea, if this also works with an ac machine it could be used to weld aluminium (?)
Thats a good thought and that might work to some extent..but I have always been under the impression the arc will be unstable if you try to tig with an Ac stick welder because of the ac frequency but I have never tried either so I cant confirm or deny with 100% certainty haha!
Need to use a bridge rectifier.. runing some alternator diodes.. you can make ur ac run in dc.. and weld aluminum..
@@josegante6982 aluminium can only be welded with ac, dc cant break trough the oxide layer
@@TheMadJoker87Sir, with the respect you deserve .. I think you lack experience with the subject .. aluminum can be TIG welded in DC using helium .. and preheating the part .. and of course cleaning very well with a brush stainless steel. I invite you to watch videos here on TH-cam I am not inventing it .. I have 15 years of being a certified welder in my country ..
What you can not believe is that you are going to use an AC machine to weld aluminum without the high frequency arc start and without the pulses ... people believe that only using argon and Ac can be welded ... and it is not So .. the ac current mechanism doesn't work the same .. and it won't be able to sustain a stable arc in any way .. because the argon conducts less electricity than helium and because the current flow will be changing between 50hz at 60hz depending on the electrical network.
Nice man!
Thanks!
to much talking boring
he actually says clever essential important things, maybe too quickly.
Very nice. Did you mention in your video that you have to practice, and get good at tig welding to have god welds.?
No I dont think I did and that's a very good point for sure. Having a way to practice on a budget CAN help you get there though!
@@ImprovisedBuilds I'm doing an apprenticeship myself, I bought myself a cheap machine that came with a tig/stick option. It isn't the greatest but it sure does help to be able to make small things at home and practice while not at work.
@@barrackobama5470 definitely, tig is very handy for the most delicate of weld project work.
@@ImprovisedBuilds What you say is absolutely true.........I have a plasma welder for all my welding needs and I bought one of those cheap 250 amp DC welders on AMAZON in case one day I needed to do some scratch Tig.....that day turned up sooner so I've just invested in a torch, flow meter and soon a gas bottle.
I sold all my welding gear a couple of years ago when I bought the plasma welder and the ability to do some Tig work was something I missed so back to the bank account bashing to relearn with scratching.....I've never done scratch Tig so never too late to learn.
where can i get that little part from ??
Got mine off ebay
It's called a miller weldcraft adapter. $12 on Amazon
Bottle of gas $180. I'm investigating what is possible. How many minutes of tig welding with such a bottle?
It depends on your gas flow rate, for example if your regulator is set at 20cfh ( cubic feet per hour)... than a 80 cubic foot bottle will last 4 hours. Hope this helps!
¿You weld on 110 or 220?
welding steel is notmy problem , i want toweld aliminium . Ifthisfixworked for that i'd be happy, is there a cheaoper way to weld Ali?
Without a proper AC tig welder I'm not sure there is a very easy and economical way to tig aluminum. You can get aluminum brazing rods fairly cheap that can be useful for some applications and only need a propane or mapp gas torch
love the video..lets be friends!
Would this work on a m8ller 225 amp 230 volt ac welder?
NO. Hi Larry, You will need DC welder to scratch start Tig weld as he stated.
Nice welds
What do you do if the tig torch has a trigger do I just join the wires together. Please help
The trigger should function separately from the torch itself. As long as the trigger isn't connected to the welder and the welder has constant power supplied to the torch then it should work fine.
how did you trip the breaker?
The wiring to the garage at the time was basically an extension cord about 100 feet to the house, being a 20 amp input welder and the long run it just wanted too much current from my breaker I suppose. Updated wiring now!
Oh ok, just asking because I have an inverter myself and I'm not very experienced in welding. I'm being a little rebelious and doing it in my appartment complex which so far has held without tripping the breaker. I connect it straight to socket so I guess that's what hopefully helps me out?
@@Rulox999 That definitely helps not trip a breaker, it will also help the welder run the best it can. Sometimes a welder can be a bit difficult to weld with on a long extension cord because of voltage drop. Be careful at the complex and always check for fire before leaving after welding no matter where you are...have fun learning!
@@ImprovisedBuilds Thanks for helping me out man. Keep on doing cool stuff.
Can this setup weld aluminium? Thanks
Twaha Issa fat 1/8 tungsten and 100% helium to TIG aluminum on DC
@@madvtecyo546 so expensive not worth the hassle then
fierrosoft didn’t say it was worth it, was saying it’s possible
MadVtec YO thanks man
setup for stainless steel with dc?
Can i use it to weld aluminum
Yes, but that setup is not very practical unless your welder has a relatively high amp capacity.
No you cannot
I’m pretty sure you need AC for aluminum.
Yeah you need AC for aluminum.
Can this work for aluminum?
No, you need AC to tig weld aluminium.
too good love kodu....
How do you regulate the gas?
Flowmeter on the bottle will regulate your flow (CFH) and the tig torch I have uses a knob near the head to open or close the gas flow after the flowmeter .. similar to a needle valve
We use propane on our cutting torch. Do you think propane would work for tig welding?
No, specifically because TIG stands for Tungsten Inert Gas welding which refers to the process used..not particularly the technique which IS pretty Similar to Oxy-Fuel welding.... You should be able to use a oxy-propane torch to weld mild steel, but probably easier/faster to braze.
lol, no no no propane is like the opposite of an inert gas its flammable. but I see why you asked that because you looked in your shop and seen a propane tank and was like gas ok lets do it. but no propane is not an inert gas its actually somewhat of the opposite because it reacts like its flammable.
Questions:
Sir it can be run ac or dc, or both ?
DC only. Even with an AC stick welder I dont think you can use this adaptation without a high frequency box for arc initiation.
@@ImprovisedBuilds thank you
So cool!! How do you avoid burning out the sensor in your camera with that brightness and the camera being so close to it?
No special precautions.. probably wasn't a good idea in hindsight haha!
@@ImprovisedBuilds I was ready to make investments and everything hahaha. Awesome video nonetheless! And it all worked out! Cheers!
Great vid dude very helpful but cannot find these para lug's for sale nowhere ?
Look up "105z57 Power Cable Adapter" and you should be able to find one on through somewhere like WeldingCity on Ebay...I'm not 100% sure that's the part your equipment will need so check the threads on your hoses to make sure they they match the pitch of the part you ordered.
Improvised Builds i am uk ex pat living in Thailand found one many thanks on Amazon prob sorted 🤘🤘😁😁
@@ImprovisedBuilds Thankyou for details of what to search. Found straight away on Alixpress. $12 plus shipping to NZ