Just got my first real tig

More of an art than a science - discuss metalworking and welding here.



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Joined: Sun May 15, 2016 3:33 pm

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PostPosted: Sun Sep 29, 2019 4:54 pm
I previously had a Miller Diversion tig that had some glitch in the mother board, it was garbage but I just sold a car I was working on so with a few dollars in my pocket I found a good used Miller Dynasty 280DX with a Coolmate 1.3, WP-20 torch, good foot pedal and cart. It will take me years to figure out and use all the bells and whistles on this machine and really looking forward to it.
Can anyone recommend a good gas lens starter kit? I've been hunting around and have found everything from the ebay 59 pcs kit for $25 right up to $50 for one Furick cup.
I like the idea of the pyrex cup to help see what I'm doing.
Thanks,
Chris
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Posts: 6214
Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:17 pm
Location: Pahrump NV.
Country:
USA
PostPosted: Mon Sep 30, 2019 11:35 pm
Congrats on an AWESOME! machine I am truly envious! I have wanted that exact machine and set up for YEARS! I had to settle on the comparable Everlast machine.

I would get or better yet build your own cart for it to take care of all the stuff that it comes with.

I have spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars on cups both regular and Gas lens Tungsten etc every thing from .040 all the way up to 1/8 inch
I have bought a few different Gas lens kits and the Pyrex stuff as well.

Just a bit of advise stick to the Standard cups and 1/16" or 3/32" Tungsten stuff till you learn your machine a bit and how to weld with it.
I have and have used the Gas Lens style but I don't get much benefit from it over the normal standard stuff and the standard stuff works just fine for learning.

Get you a few packs of Tungsten sharpen all of them put them all in one container then when you dip and have to change tungsten there ready to go put dipped ones in another container to be resharpened.

I use Chemdip to sharpen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsaZ2YrEYeo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfKjIZijsP0

Great place for picking up consumables
https://www.weldingcity.com/

great intro Beginner video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfJG4cMhIOc

I would also suggest Getting good at Gas welding before getting serious with the Tig.
You need to learn how to control your filler rod and and heat control best learned with Gas welding.
Dennis B.
A&P Mechanic, FCC General radio Telephone Operator
Line Maintenance A&P Mechanic and MOC Tech specialist.



Settled In
Posts: 68
Joined: Sun May 15, 2016 3:33 pm

Country:
Canada
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 6:23 pm
Thanks, those are some good links.



Top Contributor
Posts: 6214
Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:17 pm
Location: Pahrump NV.
Country:
USA
PostPosted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 8:36 am
If you liked those your really gonna like these.

Jody is awesome teacher through his web site at Weldingtipsandtricks.com
Collection of Tig welding page with lots of Tig welding videos : http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/tig-welding.html
Of course he has videos of all welding techniques Tig, Mig, Stick, even some gas stuff.

Justin in the Fabrication series is awesome too
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcxlBL ... Jlg/videos
He runs classes in Vegas welding and Fabrication.
Top 10 mistakes made by Beginners Tig welding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvsyKo8WRx8

Bob Moffet is great too
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCCdiksvXMU
https://www.weld.com/blog/tag/gtaw-tig

ChuckE is a great teacher and speaker as well and has a Great how too Tig weld video series
This link starts off with video 1 and has six parts too it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLUXaLT ... ix5grt2Ykm

ChuckE Sets up and evaluates the Dynasty 280DX Tig runner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6UXl0gBRgQ

These guys are my Favorites there is also Tig time with Mr Tig, sorry but I am not a fan of this guy he knows his stuff don't get me wrong the guy does know what he is talking about and is an ok teacher I am just not a fan of his.
His beginners Tig stuff:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWJt3fFJ6Hk

Like I said before though, I would STRONGLY suggest getting proficient with Gas welding in the basic Flat position before grabbing your Tig, just to learn how to control of your filler Rod and Torch at the same time once you master being able to lay down some decent beads with Gas on Butt joints and Lap joints then pick up your Tig it will make the transition to Tig much easier!!! The Two are VERY similar in welding technique.
The Best training video on Gas welding in my opinion muti part series
Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0uHBCkics8
Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7Vv_gZfHgo

Hope it all helps, You have a Great machine one you are not gonna out grow any time soon! but having the best machine in the world wont make you a great welder!!! Just like the best Paint gun in the world wont make you the best Painter in the world! Only Practice and Study and more Practice and even more Practice will do that!
Your machine is only as good as you are! Its up to you to put the many many hours of learning and practice necessary to perform quality welds Practice makes perfect!

DO NOT EXPECT LEARNING TIG WELDING TO BE EASY!
IT TAKES TIME! LOTS OF TIME AND A LOTS OF PRACTICE TO GET PROFICIENT AND EVEN LONGER TO GET GOOD AT IT! IT TAKES TIME! IT TAKES PRACTICE! BE PATIENT!

Welcome too the world of Tig welding!
Dennis B.
A&P Mechanic, FCC General radio Telephone Operator
Line Maintenance A&P Mechanic and MOC Tech specialist.

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