So I started welding all the way around tonight doing about 3-4" at a time and skipping around. So far no distortion. I'll have to pick up some of that filler to try I've never used it before. It doesn't need to be water tight. In fact I'm going to drill a whole and weld a piece of pipe on the...

Yes, I'd weld all the way around. You likely want water tight. I prefer 4943 from Hobart Maxal. It melts at a slightly lower temp than aluminum base metal, and has more strength than 4043. A copper bar clamped in the corner will benefit distortion. Keep welds as quick as you can, don't pile excessiv...

TIG welders should be divided into steel, and aluminum. Welding steel doesn't require as many features. Second hand serviceable steel welders are plentiful, and cheap. Aluminum needs more amps than steel. Duty cycle is very crucial in aluminum. Square wave is important, balance control nice, frequen...

Until 2013 for me TIG was something on my bucket list. $2500 entry price was only a teaser. My $2500 first machine was gone as soon as a buyer could be found. The big obstacle was where do I get an answer to my "HOW?" I bet most buy junk before they know enough about it to recognise junk. ...

I have SMAW rods of manganese component. They work harden, seem bullet proof, and I'd contribute to the experiment if you like. Without this discussion I'd say strength, ductility, and impact tolerance are more important than hardness. I'd use Hastelloy. I have some in small diameters. Wanna try som...

Thanks, I'll tighten up the drive a little and put a new tip on. And see if that helps, if not, I guess it's time for a new liner. It's top quality MIG wire, Blueshield. If it is sticking, it may be in the tip. They are available a little oversized from some manufacturers. If your wire is old, it c...

I bought a number of books. I never knew how to choose good books on welding. Those I've bought in recent years have been of better quality. Books always said hold the electrode at a 45 degree angle. WTH does that mean??? Jody is the best, though he doesn't seem to make youtube videos any longer. Hi...

I thought you were in Canada. Canadian tropics?

Some sort of contamination. Oil, dirt, bad gas coverage, or rust on the wire.

We do not.

I don't believe he needs to limit himself to one variety, or avoid thoriated, unless he is concerned about radioactivity. Head moderator over on another network welds all day for 40 years, uses nothing but red tungsten, no ill effects. I find in both the sine wave Dialarc, and the square wave Dynast...

A hurried, or not enough amps TIG weld will fail to wet to the bottom of a filet. Where you aim the arc is very important. If you focus on the edge of the puddle, you will introduce enough heat to wet all the way down. Think WET, you want it to flow a little. That parent metal must be very hot, eith...

I claim no level of familiarity with Idealarc. In 50 years as an electrician, I've never seen a welder using 208 or more volts needing a neutral. All I've ever seen, even those with 115 volt receptacles for grinders need 230 volt power only. Most equipped with convenience outlets do that in the tran...

For aluminum what would I need? Basically the same stuff as listed above. Add a couple of good stainless steel brushes dedicated for cleaning the ally. Only difference might be tungsten choice. These days, inverter-based boxes are frequently TIG welded using 2% Lanthanated (blue band), or some use ...

I feel I've seen everything Jody has done. He's into measurable, or at least repeatable destructive tests. How big is the hammer? Who, or whom? swings the hammer? What your hammer test does show is that penetration is not what it could be. Single pass welds have attributes we desire. Less distortion...

I believe people tend to lay the torch down too far. Hold a very close arc length, and focus the arc on the edge of the puddle. You likely could weld with less argon. I don't think filler size is a significant factor, you just have to consume more of it. Don't move ahead until the puddle penetrates....

If 4 electricians with extensive training did your project in relay fashion, three of them would tear out what the others did, and start over. While NEC tells you what to do, it is spread throughout a very large book. I could, with enough pictures, give step by step instructions, which you would mak...

As a teenager, I started working very young, lived with my parents, had gobs of energy, money in the bank, and desperately wanted a Jag. I missed a 1952 XK120 basket case with sandblasted body, and frame, rebuilt engine, and transmission, new leather upholstery. I agreed to pay asking price, but a m...

I had a Diversion 180. I would not attempt a repair on a very expensive hood with it. You work under a serious handicap with it. Could an expert salvage your project with a Diversion? Maybe.

Emailed Zap yesterday, haven't heard from him.

Willie

Miller has been great at solving problems. The Dynasty has not given any problems, but other Miller products have. Miller has fixed, or replaced, no questions.

While I don't like the way Airgas does business, in the corporate sense, local employees have been great!

Willie

rick9345 wrote:$$$----- 2 Everlast = 1 Dynasty

Highways are full of cars. Some drive high end cars, others drive low end. And there are a lot in between. Is it bad to buy a cheap car? Is it wrong to buy a Mercedes?

I weld in the basement. TIG is a pretty clean process, and I don't do a great deal of grinding there. I've never had complaints from family about it. Once, I decided to try the Dynasty as a stick welder. I tacked a T joint 15" long of two pieces of 1/4 x 1-1/4", and proceeded to weld a thr...

Update: I just tried to log in, it doesn't work.

cj737 wrote:

Bill Beauregard wrote:My third aluminum TIG machine is a Dynasty 280DX. As you learn more about aluminum TIG, your craving for a Dynasty will grow. I sometimes wonder if I should have bought a 350. I absolutely love my Dynasty by miles and miles.

Willie

FTF Lt Badd

FTF?