Stainless welding options

[Walkin Horse]

This is the assembly of a tig rig. The gas lense cup the gas lense the collet the plastic adapter. Throw away the collet body.

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[dstig1]

I am thinking about hi freq to use it for starts on steel/SS instead of lift or scratch and to allow Alum welding if I decide to go that way. It seems like ~$400 for a used Miller 251D would save me a lot of time and aggravation in the long run. My limited TIG experience is all of a part of an evening class at the end of the semester (we had extra time, so the teacher showed more stuff to those of us who actually stuck around). That was a Lincoln unit with hi freq start.

I was planning to get a gas lens setup with a torch. I'm not real worried about the money as this still isn't too bad to do, but I'd rather spend a little extra here and make my life easier in the long run. I have way too much going on with the house build to try and do more things the hard way..

 

[Big Barn]

I am thinking about hi freq to use it for starts on steel/SS instead of lift or scratch and to allow Alum welding if I decide to go that way. It seems like ~$400 for a used Miller 251D would save me a lot of time and aggravation in the long run. My limited TIG experience is all of a part of an evening class at the end of the semester (we had extra time, so the teacher showed more stuff to those of us who actually stuck around). That was a Lincoln unit with hi freq start. I was planning to get a gas lens setup with a torch. I'm not real worried about the money as this still isn't too bad to do, but I'd rather spend a little extra here and make my life easier in the long run. I have way too much going on with the house build to try and do more things the hard way..

The high freq will be nice for your XMT but it won't be much help for aluminum as your power source is DC only.

Terry

 

[dstig1]

The hi freq supplies the AC for Alum when set to continuous vs just starts. At least that is my understanding. Perhaps i am clueless here... wouldn't be the first time...

 

[Big Barn]

The hi freq supplies the AC for Alum when set to continuous vs just starts. At least that is my understanding. Perhaps i am clueless here... wouldn't be the first time...

I may be clueless also. Hopefully someone knowledgeable will shed some light on this. I've hesitated to get one for my XMT as I'm fine with the lift start and using the gas valve on the torch.

Terry

 

[dstig1]

I was also trying to avid the manual valve. I know me. I would forget that any time I had a difficult setup where I needed 4 hands to hold everything. I could also just wire in a gas solenoid into the pedal circuit, I'm sure. But then again there is that time thing... If I can get easier starts, a gas valve, and possibly even AC for alum for some future need, then it makes sense. Somewhat.

 

[Sodo]

So much concern for the correct filler metal! Sodo is welding S/S towel holders with S6 wire and C25. No time for all this, just use what ya got.

haha Git'er done. I'da done it with a hanger and O/A if my MIG wasn't around, but probbly not stick. Wouldn't do a stainless railing on my house with iron.

 

[ThomasH]

The hi freq supplies the AC for Alum when set to continuous vs just starts. At least that is my understanding. Perhaps i am clueless here... wouldn't be the first time...

Unfortunately, that is not true. When you put it on continuous, it keeps the hi-freq on in case you are welding something like expanded metal so it will restart instantly instead of there being a slight delay. The hi-freq is a higher voltage and frequency DC superimposed on the existing DC (20 or so volts) welding voltage.

It is possible to TIG weld aluminum with DC if it is not cast and fairly pure (I did it once), but the results are not strong or pretty as there is no cleaning action and therefore all of the oxides, silica, etc. are inclusions in the weld instead of puddling on the top or being burned off.

That is really the only shortcoming to the Miller XMT welders, they are designed for steel. Mine have been flawless for up to 16 years of use, but I am looking around for a inverter TIG unit for use with aluminum. I will probably end up getting one a Everlast PowerTIG 210+ amp or a Miller Dynasty 200. I want a unit that I can vary the pulse frequency and amplitude, etc, and those units give you excellent control over the arc...

 

[dstig1]

Bummer. Maybe I will just stick with lift-start then. Dunno yet.

 

[Big Barn]

Bummer. Maybe I will just stick with lift-start then. Dunno yet.

Put the $450+ you were planning on spending on the hi freq box towards an AC -DC inverter tig instead.

Terry