Help me find my tig problem

[Shield Arc]

Technically you need to have grade T hose, and you'll need a propane tip. But I'll bet you have a propane tank around some where. Propane takes just a little longer on the preheat, but it cuts very nice.


Propane & Oxygen Torch Cutting Instructional Video - YouTube

 

[adirondackmtnman]

Technically you need to have grade T hose, and you'll need a propane tip. But I'll bet you have a propane tank around some where. Propane takes just a little longer on the preheat, but it cuts very nice.

Propane & Oxygen Torch Cutting Instructional Video - YouTube

How about heating tips? Dows the oxy-propane mix properly with a standard rosebud or is that special as well? (Sorry to highjack the thread by the way folks, my apologies)

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[adirondackmtnman]

Technically you need to have grade T hose, and you'll need a propane tip. But I'll bet you have a propane tank around some where. Propane takes just a little longer on the preheat, but it cuts very nice.

Propane & Oxygen Torch Cutting Instructional Video - YouTube

How about heating tips? Does the oxy-propane mix properly with a standard rosebud or is that special as well? (Sorry to highjack the thread by the way folks, my apologies)

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[Shield Arc]

Seems as we all hijack threads here.:laughing:

No for propane you need a propane rose bud. Personally I don't like propane for heat shrinking items, but for general heating it works fine. Now a days the majority of my heat shrinking is done with a cutting tip. Back in the day when I had to do beams I'd use a couple #12 rose buds, but those days are long gone.

First picture is a propane, and acetylene rose bud side by side, third picture is the propane rose bud, and third is an acetylene rose bud.

 

[cqaigy2]

Kind of out of the line of shielding gases, but I picked up an acetylene refill yesterday. 75 Cu. Ft. bottle= $77.82+tax...I'm still picking up teeth from when my jaw hit the floor...

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Ouch!

 

[adirondackmtnman]

Seems as we all hijack threads here.:laughing:

No for propane you need a propane rose bud. Personally I don't like propane for heat shrinking items, but for general heating it works fine. Now a days the majority of my heat shrinking is done with a cutting tip. Back in the day when I had to do beams I'd use a couple #12 rose buds, but those days are long gone.

First picture is a propane, and acetylene rose bud side by side, third picture is the propane rose bud, and third is an acetylene rose bud.

Looks like I'll be picking up some new hose and a couple tips...I've already got a 100# propane for my gas forge...a tee with a shutoff from that in the shop will work well I think. For outside/offsite I'll stick to the acetylene though, that propane's a b**** to move around. Thanks for the kick in the pants Shield Arc!!!

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[BukitCase]

"that propane's a b**** to move around."

Keep in mind, that even a size 5 acetylene is barely adequate for ANY rosebud, if you stick to safe withdrawal rates -

I have 4 of the 100# propane tanks, a couple of "bigfoot" hand trucks, a "K" size Oxy and size 5 acetylene on a big wheeled cart - BOTH O/A tanks on the cart are about the same difficulty in moving as ONE propane.

If you add a large Oxy tank to "keep up with" that size propane tank, you'll be even heavier than the largest O/A rig.

Use a smaller Acetylene tank at your own risk -

Fuel your safety knowledge - Safety Tech Cell - TheFabricator.com

I've mentioned my own "personal near death experience" here before, just tryin' to keep others from "having better luck" at success... Steve

 

[adirondackmtnman]

"that propane's a b**** to move around."

Keep in mind, that even a size 5 acetylene is barely adequate for ANY rosebud, if you stick to safe withdrawal rates -

I have 4 of the 100# propane tanks, a couple of "bigfoot" hand trucks, a "K" size Oxy and size 5 acetylene on a big wheeled cart - BOTH O/A tanks on the cart are about the same difficulty in moving as ONE propane.

If you add a large Oxy tank to "keep up with" that size propane tank, you'll be even heavier than the largest O/A rig.

Use a smaller Acetylene tank at your own risk -

Fuel your safety knowledge - Safety Tech Cell - TheFabricator.com

I've mentioned my own "personal near death experience" here before, just tryin' to keep others from "having better luck" at success... Steve

I don't use a rosebud at all with my 75 cu. Acetylene...and I have to keep it limited to the small welding tips. Most of my heating is done with a cutting tip, as i rarely heat anything larger than a bolt, and the cutting tip pinpoints those pretty well. When bending, I'm usually using small stock as well, and for larger pieces, i'll pass them through the gas forge. I'm pretty aware of the withdrawal rate...I wouldn't want to be on the business end of an accident with that stuff

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[BukitCase]

Glad you're aware, I feel it's better to mention things like that when they're NOT needed, than to NOT and have someone get hurt or worse - your question, "Does the oxy-propane mix properly with a standard rosebud ?" made me think it might be necessary.

By your later comments, my advice would be to go back and NOT read my previous post ... Steve

 

[Arc weld]

Unless you get a newer inverter based AC/DC TIG welder, you'll never find a 3 phase AC welder. Even the Lincoln AC 1200 for sub arc welding is single phase.

Where I work we have not had any problems getting Helium. We still sell a lot for balloons. It is still ungodly expensive though. It is in relatively short supply and the best reason I have heard why it is so hard to get is because the bigger gas suppliers like Praxair, Air Gas, Air Liquide, Linde, etc. all have contracts to supply it to medical facilities for cooling MRI machines. Liquid Helium(-452 F) is colder than liquid Nitrogen. These medical contracts have a stipulation that if the gas supplier can't supply helium when required, they pay huge late fee's, not unlike large construction projects. The big players keep it in stock for their medical customers to avoid huge late fees. I work at an independent supplier that is part of a large co-op of welding suppliers.

 

[adirondackmtnman]

Glad you're aware, I feel it's better to mention things like that when they're NOT needed, than to NOT and have someone get hurt or worse - your question, "Does the oxy-propane mix properly with a standard rosebud ?" made me think it might be necessary.

By your later comments, my advice would be to go back and NOT read my previous post ... Steve

Not a problem...The rosebud question's pretty novice, but since I've never used one other than an acetylene tip with a large set of tanks at work, I asked it out of pure ignorance...always something to learn. The acetylene safety was (thankfully) pounded into my head in trade school...

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[adirondackmtnman]

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[adirondackmtnman]

......

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[BukitCase]

Did a bit of research on converting to propane a while back, just generically acetylene tips' orifices are flush with the end of the tip, and propane tips have a built in recess; changes how they behave if not used on their "gas of choice" ... Steve

 

[dfkrug]

I cant remember exactly, but I believe it had something to do with a US govt
decision/announcement. It was something about their large helium reserves.

Just got back from my gas supplier in San Jose. Regarding helium, they tell me they have only one 80 cf tank
in inventory ($56) but don't know if or when they will get more. I was told something about how US govt
controls the biggest He source in the US (Texas) and is limiting the supply.

Anyway, DIY TIG with He is out.

For reference, here in CA, 20cf tanks of Ar/CO2 run $22, Ar is $20, and O2 is $19. Forgot to get an acetylene
price.

 

[CNC Dan]

This is an OK article on some of the causes of the helium shortage.:
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/204863351.html

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Good to see such awesome advice on here.

I am trying to re-teach myself how to weld. Haven't done it in about 30 years. My biggest hurdle is up close eyesight. I am trying to tig weld thin wall small (1/16") sst tubing to a SST swagelock fitting modified to accept the tubing on one end and a npt 1/16" on the other end. Can't have any leaks.

I try to wear my readers, but it just seems like I can't see good enough close up. Also, I need to practice, practice, practice. It sure is nice seeing some of you guys' beautiful welds.

Next up, learning to mig and tig weld aluminum. Spool, and filler rod.

At work, I even have access to an orbital welder for welding stainless tubing end to end.

 

[Shield Arc]

My biggest hurdle is up close eyesight.

What I did was go to Wal-Mart go through their reading glasses, for Tig welding hold something up with real fine print about 12-inches from your face. For Mig and stick welding hold the same thing up to your face about 18-inches away. Sometimes the dollar store as the same glasses as Wal-Mart for 1/10th the price.

 

[yomax4]

I use readers and cheater lens. **** to get old. As for the Helium.. I was at a plant that does tons of Stainless sanitary fittings and was going to show them Digital High Def Mig welding on SS. (Looks like a tig weld) I needed a tank of 85% Ar.13%He.2% Co2. The distributor could not get anything with Helium mixed in it. It was pure for a huge price or nothing. Oh well. The drillers are not collecting the Helium when they drill for some reason. They are letting it go up and out. Not sure on the Gov. Helium deal but it is true that they have a few million liquid tons of Helium that was stock piled during WWII. Not sure why or what they are doing with it.

 

[dfkrug]

My biggest hurdle is up close eyesight. I am trying to tig weld thin wall
small (1/16") sst tubing to a SST swagelock fitting modified to accept the tubing on one end and a
npt 1/16" on the other end. .

I wear prescription progressive bifocal glasses. These are way better that traditional bifocals or drugstore
readers in that they have varying magnification, depending on where you point your eyeballs.

Anyway, in TIG-welding SS above (1/16" tubing) I was very happy how easy it was to see the puddle.
I can not always see the puddle in stick-welding, which I have done since the early 70s. Too much smoke.