Advice for a TIG beginner?

[California]

I received a TIG welder (160 amps, 130 amps stick) as part of a combo deal. Grizzly brand, now an unsupported orphan. Left unit in this photo. I have since put a plug on it.

I haven't decided whether to set this up to use, or sell it which would more than recover what I paid for both welders. I'm inclined to sell it but I want to play around with it first.

Question: would practicing with this without argon give me any sense of what it would do if I set it up properly? I don't need strong welds, this would just be playing around to get the hang of it. And do I need to get some proper filler rod or would similar size steel rod represent the process well enough.

I can't imagine an application for this here. My welding is mostly repairing farm hand tools and tractor implements, and minor fabrication. None of it has to look pretty. So for now I want to play with this a little before putting it on the shelf, or selling it.

Any advice to this beginner would be appreciated.

 

[Lnk]

Trying to tig without a shield gas will cause you to burn up tungsten. You will receive no benefit from trying it. Either get set up with a bottle and flow meter or don't bother.

Lnk

 

[coherent]

If you will ever have a need to weld aluminum, stainless, thin metal or joining dissimilar types metals you really need a TIG. TIG brazing is also easier than using a O/A torch in my opinion. Rent or buy a tank of argon and just practice running beads on some cleaned scraps. That's really the only way to get proficient. You can use some ER70 Mig wire (twist 2-3 strands or more together) for steel if you don't want to buy tig rod.

 

[CincyFlyer]

TIG (or GTAW) is extremely versatile; the old joke is that you can weld a razor blade to an anvil with TIG (and you actually can.) You can also weld aluminum, and in some cases you can weld [fuse] things together with no filler. For fixing hand tools, it is likely the best method. It's only real disadvantage is that it's not a quick process, but for general repairs you can use the stick, for small or tricky or aluminum items, you can use the TIG.

 

[k0ua]

You will be in for a really big surprise when you strike the arc without argon. I have accidently done that a couple of times and failed to turn on the argon knob. TIG is a wonderful process, actually my favorite process because of the control you have of the heat. If you know how to gas weld, TIG is similar. Not the same but puddle control is similar. I would keep the TIG rig and learn how to use it. You will find many uses for it in repairing household things. I have.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I would certainly keep the welder. Stick and TIG along with your MIG machine gives you all the welding versatility one would ever need.
Please note that you cant TIG weld without a shielding gas, normally Argon but you can substitute Helium and weld aluminum with it without a high frequency add on unit. You cant weld aluminum with a TIG using argon shielding without putting on a high frequency unit unless your machine has a build in high frequency control. After reviewing your photo, it looks like you have a pulse control but I am not familiar with that machine to tell if it also is a high frequency pulse. Pulse control usually just raises and lowers the amps in a set time up and down.

 

[California]

Trying to tig without a shield gas will cause you to burn up tungsten.

Lnk

Thanks! I hadn't realized this could be harmful, you helped me avoid damaging my new toy.

Everybody: You are convincing me to go get a bottle and flowmeter, and start from there. This does sound like a useful tool.

 

[California]

You cant weld aluminum with a TIG using argon shielding without putting on a high frequency unit unless your machine has a build in high frequency control.

Here's the manufacturer's product description;
22V Tig Pulse Welder | Grizzly Industrial
It includes:
"Built-in high frequency stabilization for DC TIG starting" and
"Pulse frequency: 0.5-25 Hz". Is that what's needed?

From what I've read online this unit (Grizzly #H8153) lacks an AC mode, which was included on its near-twin H8154, and this limits the ability to weld aluminum. ???

Most of the comments online at the time it came out, 10+ years ago, were in the world of gunsmithing. Perhaps that's where it was advertised.

 

[CincyFlyer]

I would certainly keep the welder. Stick and TIG along with your MIG machine gives you all the welding versatility one would ever need.
Please note that you cant TIG weld without a shielding gas, normally Argon but you can substitute Helium and weld aluminum with it without a high frequency add on unit. You cant weld aluminum with a TIG using argon shielding without putting on a high frequency unit unless your machine has a build in high frequency control. After reviewing your photo, it looks like you have a pulse control but I am not familiar with that machine to tell if it also is a high frequency pulse. Pulse control usually just raises and lowers the amps in a set time up and down.

I've never seen a TIG machine in the last two decades without integrated HF. If it has pulse, it most certainly will have HF. But I will say that this one doesn't appear to have an option for AC TIG! Yeah, that takes aluminum off the table, for sure.

 

[sd455dan]

I've never seen a TIG machine in the last two decades without integrated HF. If it has pulse, it most certainly will have HF. But I will say that this one doesn't appear to have an option for AC TIG! Yeah, that takes aluminum off the table, for sure.

It appears to have HF at least according to this


The high start-up frequency gives you the ability to easily weld thin materials at low amps.

doesn' tseem to have HF high voltage though... looks to be an inverter.

California -get the argon and start with some mild steel scraps, you will see the versatility and how handy tig can be for fine work to. Once you try it you won't want to get rid of that welder.