So I bought a Smiley TIG/ARC/PLASMA welder. With the intent of using itas my beginner welder and using it for everday grime things that I like to do, like making brackets and downpipes etc

First off, it came with ALOT of pieces, an air filter, lots of cups and tips and electrodes and plasma consumables and such.

Obviously Im going to have to buy a tank, how big would you guys suggest? I cant see it being used much, maybe once a week, mabe more if i get into it and start making **** for locals. But how big should the tank be?

What type of gas do you fill them up with?

Do I need two tanks? one for plasma and one for tig?

I dont even understand how the plasma portion of it works yet, or what makes it function.

I'll ask more questions later, I guess I need to buy some welding rods aswell right?

So much to learn

Would love any sites or reading material anyone can provide me with online

Thanks

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
So I bought a Smiley TIG/ARC/PLASMA welder. With the intent of using itas my beginner welder and using it for everday grime things that I like to do, like making brackets and downpipes etc
First off, it came with ALOT of pieces, an air filter, lots of cups and tips and electrodes and plasma consumables and such.

Obviously Im going to have to buy a tank, how big would you guys suggest? I cant see it being used much, maybe once a week, mabe more if i get into it and start making **** for locals. But how big should the tank be?

What type of gas do you fill them up with?

Do I need two tanks? one for plasma and one for tig?

I dont even understand how the plasma portion of it works yet, or what makes it function.

I'll ask more questions later, I guess I need to buy some welding rods aswell right?

So much to learn

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I was in the same place as you about 7 months ago. Yes there are a few things that need to be setup:

First, the tank for welding. I bought an 80 cubic foot tank, which sounds big but it's only about 3 1/2' tall. It's filled with 75% argon/ 25% c02 mix gas, lasts for quite a while really. Usually you can either rent or purchase a tank. I chose to buy mine, they just switch it out with a different one when yours is empty for a small fee, cost me some money, but worth it I think. Also you have to purchase a regulator for the tank. A cheap and semi-reliable version can be bought from harbor freight. Works fine for How much I use it. Definitely purchase different size welding rod, also pick up some extra tungsten, different sizes, also a few different collet bodies. Don't worry if you don't know what this stuff is, just ask about it at a welding shop and they'll help you out. The supplies for this stuff are suprisingly cheap.

As far as the plasma cutter goes, you need an air compressor with a reasonably sized tank, say at least 10gal. The air goes from the compressor, into the supplied filter, then into the back of the unit.

It takes a little bit to get it all set up, but it's easier than it sounds, and trust me, you'll love playing with it

 

75/25 is the wrong gas for tig. you need 100% argon.

just goto your local store, also figure out what size torch you have, and get all your torch parts from aglevtech on ebay. i use an 80ft^3 tank and it only lasts like 5-7 hours of welding, which isnt a ton, but thats the biggest size tank you can buy, the bigger ones you have to rent.
for rod, go to tig depot and welding depot online, one has a better stainless selection and the other has a better mild selection. read what the applications are and then figure out what youll be doing and buy them.

good luck.

 

Ok so I need a 100% argon tank, and that covers all types of welding I will be doing with my TIG?

Does the plasma cutter use gas at all?

 

yes

yes, air, it uses an air compressor like the other guys said.

 

thats it? simply cuts with an air compressor? I have a 2.5hp 10gallon that I guess would work

Dont get how it would work with just air

So are there any sites I can read up on online to get me STARTED with Tig welding?

Like to actually weld a piece of metal together without shocking myself? Preferably without a pedal lessons being as the smiley doesnt have a pedal

Thanks

 

get a rope.


plasma runs of compressed air only 100 % argon for tig and stick feature youll most likely never use.

 

Thanks for giving ZERO helpful information

 

What about welding rod and such? Which would I need to make exhaust's out of mild steel and some stainless?

I would be doing a lot of bracketry and heatshields probably to

Any links to any of these manuals for welding? Just to get me started on basically how to go from knowing nothing to laying your first bead

 

yeah the compressed air cuts steel, lol. just look around on the internet and you can find answers to all of your ?s.

the plasma gun emmits electrons and when compressed air pushes them it cuts the steel more or less.

you need mild rod for mild and stainless to match whatever type of stainless youre using. a good description of some rod types is here http://tigdepot.com/products/p29.html
for exhausts youll be fine with a lower strength rod, but since you seem like you arent super into this "hobby", lol, yet then i would get some ER70s-2 rod. stronger than 70s-3, welds well, a general mild alloy rod, and can also weld on chromoly w/ it. probably start with 1/16" rod and 1/16" red tungsten for exhausts, and get some 3/32" red tungsten for thicker stuff

check the articles portion of my site http://www.fox-stock.com and under other theres a great welding rod selector chart for tons of different types of stainless.

for technique theres a quick tig guide on the miller site, i would do an advanced google search on that domain (millerwelds.com) for tig guide or something.


if you want a book theres a welding guide on amazon.

good luck

-derek

 

What is tungsten?

 

oh geez.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PINKS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What is tungsten?</TD></TR></TABLE>

dude...for real now, let's get serious here. You now own a TIG...a cheap TIG, nevertheless a TIG. Surely those Chinese slapped together some kind of instructional book which will certainly answer the most basic of questions such as "what is tungsten".

Let's say though you bought it used from some crackhead down at the bodega tryin to score some Christmas fun, and there is no book. Check out Miller's website, Lincoln's website, google, etc. Alot of these questions are easily answered here.

Are you actually going to weld with this unit on your own? If so we're all in trouble, because if your asking what tungsten is, then actually welding is going to need several question answering sessions.

Good luck with that...you typed on here so you can't be illiterate..start reading.

 

lol, didnt know it was a stupid quiestion. I just dont understand the diferent rods, sizes and materials they go with I suppose or why one would differentiate itself from another

Im not "new" to welding, I have a fluxcored and have been using it for 2 years, works fine, Ive also used a HF Mig but stil know nothing about how to properly setup, practice and improve on a weld once I figure out how to lay it down

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PINKS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What is tungsten?</TD></TR></TABLE>

lol i was searching and i saw this

surely he knows what TIG stangs for ?

 

if you are lucky and the torrents are still working, check out this link

http://www.homemadeturbo.com/f...101.0

and if you dont know what a torrent is, use google

 

Which tig welder did u buy??? Is it the HF tig??? Just trying to figure out what is a Smiley Tig???

 

my god did google breakdown or something? Google smiley tig dude. It will give you pictures and everything geez.

To the OP

Read the manual.
Get 3/32 red tungsten(you dont need 1/16)
get a bottle of pure argon
get some er70s-x filler rod
Strike a ******* arc and report back(if you arent dead)

 

Simple question was asked no need to be a complete jackass....