More:
http://imglib.************/index.cgi?...wimage&id=3431
http://imglib.************/index.cgi?...wimage&id=3432
http://imglib.************/index.cgi?...wimage&id=3433
http://imglib.************/index.cgi?...wimage&id=3434

I have never welding anything before, so do not make fun of my first weld there

Dustin

 

Nice Tig Welder =

 

congrats dustin! very cool. man the fun i would have with that thing. i wanna get one to try a little d series go kart action

how much did you end up spending on the setup?

 

how much was your welder? Way better than the Mig stuff I've used before. Oh, does your's use a regular ol' power outlet? or do you use an industrial one?

 

It will run off 110v, 220v, or 460v. It autodetects.

I have it wired to a 220v 30amp circuit.

It ended up being pretty expensive:

Maxstar 200 DX: $1750
Foot Control: $200
Torch + Regulator + cables: $200
80 cu ft tank of argon: $140 ($35 to refill)
Hornell Speedglas 9000X helmet: $265
Connectors to wire it up: $40
TIG gloves: $10

Then I bought some extra stuff like a 200A torch, a bunch of lanthanated tungsten, a bunch of gas lenses and collets/collet bodies to accompany them.. a bunch of mild/stainless/alum filler rod.. all came to $300. I haven't received this stuff yet.. UPS says it will be here the 24th.

Dustin

 

damn that's expensive...do you think it's worth it over a $300 MIG machine? The welding in your picture looks like it is, but did you need all that stuff? Can you just get away with the welder itself?

Is that the cheapest TIG machine they have? What kind of Wire does it use?


[Modified by Slow_ass_4dr, 11:33 AM 12/20/2001]

 

TIG does not use wire.. just filler rod that you add manually.

Honestly, if you want a decent tig machine get the Maxstar 140. It comes with EVERYTHING for about $1000... It also weighs about 10lbs and can run off 110 or 220.

I almost bought it but I wanted to do some heavy fabrication on really thick steel so I needed 200 amps.
http://www.brwelder.com has them on sale.

You do not want a cheap MIG machine. They can only weld 1/8" steel AT MOST and have very low duty cycles (like 10% on 1/8" steel). Also, mig is pretty lame. You can weld with no filler metal with TIG in many scenarios. MIG always adds material because the electrode is consumable.

Dustin

 

haha... i thought he said not to bitch about the weld...

damnit! i want one!

 

I really need one of those.

 

That your Christmas gift to yourself?

 

Yes, and next year's christmas present too hehe..

 

no Imeant that the welding in his picture looks like it's way better quality than an expert using a MIG (wire feed) welder...

WIll the Maxstar 140 be adequite for trying to weld manifolds and stuff?

can taht thing weld aluminum? aluminum sheet metal and welding sticks included


[Modified by Slow_ass_4dr, 12:35 PM 12/20/2001]

 

The Maxstar 140 will do 1/4" steel very nicely and you can do 3/8" steel if you go slow and maybe do a 2 pass weld. It can also do 1/8" aluminum if you do DCEP. (reverse polarity)

Read this, a very good writeup on the 140:
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=er...mindspring.com

The new model is even better and comes with a torch mounted amperage control (instead of a foot pedal).

here is a link: http://www.cyberweld.com/milmax140tig.html

It is $965 there but it does not come with the torch amp control. The one with the amperage control (recommended) is a little more. http://www.brwelder.com has the one with the torch control on sale on their specials page.

Dustin

 

hehe... well you know you're first weld came out a lot better than mine. Mine cost me my original oil pan.... DOH!

 

Dustin are u really good at welding

 

I might be eventually

 

So when is the Dustin turbo kit coming out?

 

hahaa, my first welding was with a MIG wire feed welder...it looked like cottage cheese holding the piping together...

 

that looks like a desktop computer at first glance

 

Cool, thanks dustin. I am gonna start on this intercooler piping of mine now...

Good to have you as a friend...hehe


[Modified by Blown90hatcH, 10:57 PM 12/20/2001]

 

So when are you going to start making us stuff?

 

Well, I am definately good at destroying metal. Now I just need to get the hang of doing something constructive with it.

Dustin

 

hell yeah, you don't live too far away from me either!

 

You gonna post some pics of your "construction"?

 

I would also suggest the Hobart Tigmate. I'm considering buying this unit. It retails for around 1200 bucks. Comes with everything you need (except for gas tank).