Thanks Stephanus, but 1/8" tungsten didn't solve the problem. (Notice I tried that here a while back, but it didn't help: http://forum.weldingtipsandtricks.com/viewtopic.php?p=1361#p1361) The problem ended up being (surprise!) overheating my "WP-17" torch's power/argon supply cable. T...

I thought Diamond Ground told me their 2% lanthanated was from "wolfram industries". (German made I think)

Thanks Ji. No removable bearing shell; its just precision machined metal (aluminum rod) on precision machined metal (polished cast iron or steel crank journal), with oil splash for lubrication.

Thanks for the info guys.

I was eyeing an infrared thermometer that I saw recently at harbor freight going for only about $25 (maybe it was even less) after a coupon. http://www.harborfreight.com/non-contact-laser-thermometer-96451.html I haven't tried it or have any idea how it would compare to a Ryobi or other brand. (Edit...

LOL,, I thought that was the tung lay method.... Seriously... not... I was welding over the top of a customer's aluminum welds he said he "did at work", and I think he was using this "lay tung" method Steve speaks of. :lol: I was filing down some of the material I added to make ...

It seems like there are enough factors to consider (which side points "up", which is out, which is visible and important aesthetically, from what direction torch access and good torch control would be easiest) that making this call without seeing more pictures would be difficult. However I...

The times I've had arc wander were when I wasn't running enough current for the tungsten size, or when I had contaminated shielding gas. I would go with a 1/16" tungsten, which should be good for 150 amps on DC (according to this oh-so-handy CK Worldwide TIG welding specifications document): ht...

On that machine, no AC TIG function = no aluminum welding. I'd spend a little more and get AC TIG functionality, unless you really have no interest in ever welding aluminum for some reason. Also, consider keeping plasma and TIG functions in separate machines, if you really even need both in the firs...

Angle your torch so the tungsten is pointing more at the thicker, continuous plate than the thinner, pipe edge. That should transfer more arc heat into the thicker, continuous section, to the point where if you do it just right, you'll have similar sized puddles on both sides, at about the same time...

That's indeed what I understood from Mike (Everlast Support). I think he mentioned Everlast WP-18 torch could run without water with as much current as the Everlast aircooled WP-17 can handle. His point was that there would be no "usability drawback" to switching from the Everlast WP-17 to...

Interesting, I've never heard of oil sand before. But yeah, I'll bet economics dictated the manufacturing technique on this. Otherwise it wouldn't have fractured when I put the stress on it. :lol: Anyhow, I was just amazed how much oil leaked out of it. Probably a teaspoon, which is perhaps 20% or m...

No problem. By the way, the Diamond ground guy I spoke to actually steered me away from their tri-mix tungsten for my application (multipurpose electrode, capable of doing thick aluminum / lots of power/heat). He said the 2% lanthanated would be a better choice. However I think my contamination prob...

I ran into something I thought really strange playing around in my shop the other day, while trying to kill off an argon bottle that was almost dead. I had broken a harbor freight tailpipe expander tool, (like the one pictured here:) http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/3...

It may have been this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Flat-Round-3-9-Wheel-Glass-Diamond-Grinding-Disc-/320605245371?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aa58fcfbb#ht_1812wt_1139 A whopping $6.60 shipped. :lol: My bench grinder is 6" harbor freight model 37822. My comments on that grinder: a little und...

I just did a 3/8" aluminum project, welded with 200 amps (no pulse, 20% EP balance), and the frosted, splitting tungstens were back. Tungsten was 1/8" diameter, 1.5% lanthanated, prepared on a diamond wheel. *But* I think I finally figured out what is causing it! Overheating TIG torch, or ...

Nice looking work. You might consider picking up some leather welding sleeves to protect your arms. Harbor freight actually has a pair for just $4. (There may be "better quality" available elsewhere.) Great to throw on over your bare arms when your welding short sleeved. I picked up a &quo...

Thanks gurew. I just melted my 150 amp air cooled torch on a 3/8" aluminum sign project using my machine's max 200 amps. I need to upgrade the torch, but 125 amp air cooled would be a step backwards for my needs. I am considering water cooled now, or perhaps 200 amp air cooled.

Thanks for the info. Whenever I restart on aluminum, I get a frosty cleaning band around the restart area on the previously laid down weld beads. I think I can see that in some of your beads too. I think a flex head torch might help a lot with being able to put the torch in the position I need while...

Hey gurew - nice looking work. Just curious, to weld around those aluminum bungs/nipples, how many arc stops / torch repositions / arc starts are you doing? I've always had trouble maintaining a constant torch angle while welding around small circular things like that, without doing a whole lots of ...

I TIG welded an old Chevy truck panel. I measured the metal thickness at .050", which if you look at the sheetmetal thickness charts, is 22 gage. Almost certainly a modern car will be made of even thinner material. If you are butt welding, do yourself a favor and spend lots of time working to g...

By the way, here is a picture of what the flowmeter looked like before I modified it with a second outlet.

The parts for the conversion so far are only about $23.

Hey guys - thanks for giving me your attention on this. :) I think my setup is going to work fine for setting and controlling flows individually out each outlet; in fact I have already tested it (just for setting flows so far- not for actually doing any welding yet) and the flow adjustments seem to ...

I am getting my TIG setup ready for doing back gas purging, to do stainless steel tubing like headers, containers, etc. (Without relying on solar flux.) I wanted to share what I've done so far for this, and get some advice on how I should finish setting this up. So far I bought an extra outlet valve...

If you polish (such as by using sandpaper starting with rough grit and ending very fine, to a mirror like finish), and then etch (using an appropriate acid for the material involved) your cut surfaces, the different zones of the metal (base metal, deposited weld bead) will become visually apparent. ...