^thank you sir. Thank you kindly. That's the reality check that I was wanting. I want all of that. I just have to prioritize it. Kind of knew within certain degree that AC would be PITA. I wasn't thinking $300 for an AC + DC machine. I was thinking that budget for a DC only machine. That's why I was...

MarkL, I've thought about repairing it in the past, but 2 things have held me back besides time to dick with it: I wonder if I'd fuck it up. 2nd, I wonder if it's broken in a way that can be fixed. I've never seen anyone document it. If it was fixable, why hadn't someone in 2007 start up a side hust...

So I have a 2007 Miller Dynasty 200dx with a weak HF start board. It works. I wanted the miller because it performs better than others below 5 amps. It can do 1 amp with just by dialing, and it can mimic 0.5 amps if you fuck with settings. Right now millers still command a good resale. New is absurd...

So I got it all welded up. Before someone points it out, I am not proud of the welds. I was running really low on giveafuckitude. I don't know why, but I just wanted it out of my way. BUT it holds pressure! All hail the immortal booger-welds. Thanks a ton for the input and hand holding. I can't wait...

I finally got my hands on the Blockade. Wasn't expecting a grey colored rod, although the original braze had grey filler metal so may be something similar to the original. What amperage range would you suggest? I had no foot pedal so I tried 120 on the first fat blob, then 70amps for second attempt....

Thanks for the spec sheet. It mentions flux for brazing brass, but does that matter for TIG. I'd assume not with the argon purging.

Tom, I need something that will cap and build up. Silver solder won't do this.

Tried some phosphorous copper brazing rod. It didn't melt through so good on that front. It didn't cook up some oxides though. Not as bad as the first time, but I dunked it acid in between the brazing. One thing I'd like some confirmation or refutation of some kind on is the "weld" pool. I...

So a quick search shows some different melting points. Blockade 1200 aluminum bronze 1900 copper 1800ish brass 1600 So I'm seeing that aluminum bronze really isn't ideal for brazing copper, much less brass with it's super low melting point. I hadn't considered this until I looked into the blockade b...

I'll let the pics do most of the talking, but I'm repairing an espresso boiler for a good friend. It had a brass tube running through it that tore up from a crack. I'm replacing the old tube with a copper tube. I have 4 "welds" to make. 2 "welds" for the brass end caps on either ...

I've posted on the FB variation of welding tips and tricks. Bret Williams was really helpful with trouble shooting this. I figured that I might post up here as well. I bought this used late last year. Used it only once to make sure it worked. I didn't realize back then that the HF start was having i...

I appreciate everyone's input. I've been comparing what you've posted what my peers know about me and what I've reflected on. The owner's son wasn't dickish about anything. I asked him to be explicit. I think he was. After considering everything, I believe it would not have worked out eventually any...

I thought that I'd found a good stepping stone of a job (welder/fabricator). I wanted to hold it for a couple of years. It was as professional of mom and pop shop as I'm ever gonna see in my area (upstate SC). I got let go today after only two weeks. I asked the owner's son (who runs the shop) to be...

Tell me about it. Over the years, I've went from 7th grade to GED to BA to Welding Certs. It makes sense only when I look back or explain it aloud to someone. And my underlying plan is to walk straight through and out of the hell that is the rat race. oh yeah, found this gem on tumblr http://i117.ph...

In the past year, I've watched 90% of Jody's videos, bought some TIG-fingers, join the FB page, and just scored a job alot like Jody's (welder/fabricator at machine shop). I've made a few clueless posts, but I'm hoping that I will be able to contribute and have some fun here. I do alot of research o...

Take a piece of filler rod home and practice the first way he shows you (or some variation of it) and STOP listening. The rest of his input is bad. There's alot of self taught welders out there. Most of them have gotten along just fine because they'll never do work that needs to meet a code. http://...

I live in Greenville, SC so I look at Charlotte NC and Altanta GA on Craigslist for things. I saw alot more welders up for sale than usual. Also, I was about to purchase a L-tec 250 square wave. I looked it up online a month ago and there wasn't much info. I looked it up yesterday. And there's alot ...

so what ever happened?