Been doing a lot of work at a thoroubred farm repairing pasture fence. This has been a really great job for me and am loving it. I work four hours a day at $50/hr. What's not to love? That little Millermatic 140 powered by the trailblazer 301G is a real workhorse. I am so glad I started this busines...

I own an Everlast 250EX with the water cooler set-up. This is a serious machine. Take a look at the half inch plate of 6061 I ran at full power just for fun. It ran it without breaking a sweat. The AC frequency adjustment set to 20 hz is amazing on this thick stuff.

This type of weld requires a little bit of puddle control and a steady hand on the torch. Direct the arc on to the 1/8" material and create your puddle there, then try to wash it into the thinner material. This may work without adding filler depending on how lucky you are. If filler is required...

That's a mighty fine deal there, Tombstone. I looked on Craigslist for months for such a deal. In fact, I just bought 80 LBS of 1/8 Excalibur rod for $40 and a full can of 6010 5P+ for $50. But been looking at the rod for months. I've used my little stinger set now extensively. I took the suggestion...

Wonder what type of machine you're running? Does it have DC capability? If you're are running DC, two things; 6011 is an AC rod, both rods are designed to be run EP if you're running DC. Your beads look as though there may be erratic filler deposits. Try laying your rod at appx 45 degrees, let your ...

The thought of .068 or 5/64 wire should of never entered your mind. All you will ever use is .035 for everything your welder can do . Large wire like your talking is for 300 amp welders and larger. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong. John John, no argument here. 180 amp machine, 035 wire max, ...

Just guessing, but in the ship building environment I would imagine the work is mostly done outdoors where the welding is subjected to wind and breezes. Bye bye gas shielding. Assuming this is true, using stick is going to get the job done. But, a MIG using a flux-core wire (FWAC) setup with a Mille...

My only suggestion would be to turn on your machine, take a lighter an hold the flame in the area you do your work. If the flame moves around, then you may have a draft in the area blowing your argon away.

Nils[/quote] Negative terminal? He should be on AC for aluminum. Lots of people store in nice containers and it's good practice - mine are in the open though. I just wipe them off (usually I remember). :D[/quote] Yes, AC is (I'd hope) the mode for aluminum welding. However, balance is based on the t...

vwmann1, This is not good. Some things to look at: Is the torch plugged into the negative terminal? Can you hear argon gas flowing out of the torch? Are all the torch fittings and collet, cap, etc.. tight? Cuz it looks like you got some nasty gook on your metal or you're fighting the oxide layer big...

In January I bought my first TIG machine. It is a very capable unit with adjustments in ac freq, balance, slopes, pre/post flow. It is the Chinese Everlast 250EX and it works very well. But, my next machine will be a Miller Dynasty 350DX, Brand new it is 5 times the cost, but a used one should be ab...

Thanks for the juicy post! What, no rod in the house so you have to draw a picture? Have to say, that's a first. In my humble opinion, the value of which I mostly entrust, but not all the time, and though it is not valued by all by any means, I have to say the practice of bending a rod when you don'...

I apologize, I misread the OP, it is an Eastwood unit not an Everlast. But, the pure tungsten may not be compatible with the Eastwood inverter either. I would try some Red coated or Blue and see how it does. the green works decently but I agree with you that perhaps the red would work better. I wat...

I was preheating some 1/2 inch alum plate prior to TIG welding it when I notice moisture forming on it. I was wondering where in the hell that came from? Now I know. That's funny.

Got a call from a local guy who runs a small business making aluminum mailbox posts. He had to let his full time guy go and needed a welder to come in and finish a job that he was midway through. As I have never welded aluminum with a MIG setup, this sounded like a unique opportunity for me to get u...

I apologize, I misread the OP, it is an Eastwood unit not an Everlast. But, the pure tungsten may not be compatible with the Eastwood inverter either. I would try some Red coated or Blue and see how it does.

In the PowerTig 200 DX manual, page 27, "Tungsten Selection Guide For An Inverter", pure tungsten (Green coded) is not recommended in an inverter type machine. BUT, I strongly suggest, before you do anything, you watch the three part video series Jody did on the Everlast settings. He does ...

fdude, Yes I have used them and they work beautifully. Hot? Whoever told you that is misinformed. Firstly, the 2 gauge wire used in theses jumper cables is almost a half inch in diameter. Secondly, the Miller Trailblazer 301G manual, under "Selecting Weld Cable Sizes", shows this gauge wir...

Looking pretty good. You might try bumping up the amperage a notch and maybe slow it down, maybe. That will flatten it out a bit and get the toes to dig in a little more.

I was told yesterday that the Miller was an AC but after some research and your comments I am now more informed. So the 7018 is different to 7018 A C? So I am welding from left to right and leaning 15 degrees towards my right, correct? Also what is the best way to weld vertical and which rod please...

lazerbeam wrote:You could also add the new cables to the heavy cables at the end so you would have a light weight "whip" at the end.

Totally awesome idea!!!

That Miller CST is a high-end unit. :-) Also, while moving slower, be sure your rod is traveling adjacent to the leading edge of the puddle. If you can see molten metal ahead of your rod, then you're probably moving too slow, or your rod angle is not enough. This will swirl the puddle around with ad...

I have burned stick with the PowerTig 250EX, PowerArc 160, and the PowerTig 185. The 160 does not like 6010, but loves 7018. The 185 burns 6010 like a dream. The 250EX was great with 7018, but I never tried 6010. The PA200 does have a special 6010 port, though I have no first hand experience with it...

When I started my mobile welding rig I bought two 100ft of 2/0 leads to run SMAW on my Trailblazer 301G. This heavy cable isn't too bad to wrangle when needed, but a little on the stiff side and there are those few jobs where something lighter is all that is needed, not to mention a little more nimb...

Pete, I know exactly what you're asking here. I have encountered the same thing many times. I am a newbie alum/tig welder too. Many of Jodie's videos, as the one referenced, do not show the very beginning process on this type of joint. Omitting the start of a fillet weld on a alum tutorial is a big ...