[exnailpounder]

2% Lanthanated will cover most of your needs. 3/32" and 1/16"

[Chips O'Toole]

Thanks. So can I assume that any electrode fitting the description you gave will fit my torch? I have never even seen a TIG torch up close, so I have no idea whether all electrodes fit all torches or what.

[exnailpounder]

Thanks. So can I assume that any electrode fitting the description you gave will fit my torch? I have never even seen a TIG torch up close, so I have no idea whether all electrodes fit all torches or what.

You have to get the collet that fits the dia. of the tungsten you will use. You can use any size tungsten in a standard collet body. The collet is what tightens down to hold the tungsten when you twist the back cap. You need collets for gas lens' too. You have to buy a gas lens for each tungsten size. Don't bother with collet bodys, just get gas lenses very cheap and once you use one you will never go back to a collet body.

[Chips O'Toole]

It sounds like I need to have the torch in my hands to see exactly what I need. I found some tungstens on Amazon, so I guess I have that covered.

[Otto Nobedder]

The things your tungsten touches will be sized for that tungsten. If you buy exclusively 3/32 tungsten, regardless of alloy, you will need fitted parts. Standard collet bodies, or gas lenses (gas savers), and the collets that go with them, should both match the size of your tungsten. Other than that, anything goes. I highly recommend CK's wedge collet. I know I'm beginning to sound like I shill for them, but they're really that good. Standard collets will twist and shorten over time, for a faster replacement, but the wedge collet requires so little tightening force that you're unlikely to ever damage them, but simply wear them out over time.

Steve S

[Chips O'Toole]

Wish I knew exactly what came with the welder.

[Otto Nobedder]

Wish I knew exactly what came with the welder.

All you need to know is the dash number.
-9, -17, -20, -26, etc, and you can buy stuff for it.

Steve S

[bruce991]

Wish I knew exactly what came with the welder.

After buying two welders in past yr I found you get two cups, 6 and 8 two collets 1/6 and 3/32 one tungsten 3/32, cables, 110v 220v pigtails, regulator, arc positive cable, maybe a pedal.

[bigfabdaddy]

I ordered my 2017 Alpha TIG 200x. Now just waiting for it to ship. Ordered it on Jan 31s and amazon is claiming it will take till the end of march for me to get it.

I already have
6" bench grinder (just for tungsten)
6 inch Dewalt grinder
flap disks
grinding stones
cutoff wheels
a Chinese gas lens kit (wish I had spent the cash on CK's after seeing what I got)
a Milwaukee organizer (for all the small tiddly bits)
.040, 1/16, 3/32, 1/8 2% lanthanated electrodes
2 weld hoods (2 so that I can teach my little girl how to do it once I figure it out)
25' argon hose (so I can leave the tank mounted next to the table)
Tillman gloves

along with a few other odds and ends that I know I am forgetting.

Is there anything you can see that I clearly missed?

I also have a SP 175 PLUS that I have used for a few years so a have a few other things laying around.

I know I still need to get metal to build a table and a cart but I cant build anything big due to my current work area being set up in my basement. All my clamps seem to have grown legs and walked off since the last time I moved so I will be picking up some of them sometime soon also.

I also plan to get a water cooler for it later. (yes I want to open a shop for work on metal and cars)

['Stang]

Watch Jodys video on comparing tungsten. Really it depends on the application.

videos

Buy Jody's videos. I have a laptop in my shop. I can be welding, and refer to Jody's videos for settings instead of wasting time trying to dial it in.

[Chips O'Toole]

The welder is going to be here next week.

I ordered Tillman gloves. The measurement chart said I should get medium, but I did not have confidence in it, so I ordered large. I figured gloves that were clumsy were better than gloves I couldn't put on. If they're awkward, I can use them until a smaller pair gets here.

I got an assortment of rods for steel, stainless, and aluminum.

I ordered E3 tungsten in 3/32" and 1/8". Also picked up a TIG finger.

Now I'm just waiting around. I have to go out of town next week, so I may have to tell UPS to hold onto the welder for several days. What a bummer.

[Farmwelding]

Isn't that always the way it is. You have big plans and get all excited and something comes up where you can't do it. I was going to run some spray transfer and then we had the ACT and my teacher had a tack conference so that plan went out the window.

[Chips O'Toole]

Here I was, all ready to start making really ugly beads.

[Chips O'Toole]

My tungsten arrived. I decided to throw one on the belt grinder. Does this look all right?

I held it in a drill, to turn it while I ground it. Kind of surprised it's not completely symmetrical.

[exnailpounder]

Tungsten looks ok but you will get better penetration with a steeper grind. How you grind will become a matter of preference over time.

[Chips O'Toole]

Thanks. I can touch it up.

[Otto Nobedder]

My tungsten arrived. I decided to throw one on the belt grinder. Does this look all right?

I held it in a drill, to turn it while I ground it. Kind of surprised it's not completely symmetrical.

How straight is the chuck on the drill? The slightest wobble will give you asymmetry. Also, you'll find this makes very little difference. While I encourage the beginner to make all this stuff as perfect as possible so it's not a variable to question in one's first attempts, you would be stunned at the crapped-up and/or broke-tip tungstens I've finished a weld with.

Steve S

[Poland308]

I've been welding on some zinc coated nuts for a side project. Finished a few welds while I had blobs big enough they were touching the edge of my #7 cup. Good enough for a garden cart.

[exnailpounder]

My tungsten arrived. I decided to throw one on the belt grinder. Does this look all right?

I held it in a drill, to turn it while I ground it. Kind of surprised it's not completely symmetrical.

How straight is the chuck on the drill? The slightest wobble will give you asymmetry. Also, you'll find this makes very little difference. While I encourage the beginner to make all this stuff as perfect as possible so it's not a variable to question in one's first attempts, you would be stunned at the crapped-up and/or broke-tip tungstens I've finished a weld with.

Steve S

I left out the part where I have bent a few tungstens and sharpened like that in a drill and they were lopsided but welded just fine. I also pride myself on forging on with a badly dipped tungsten. The OP is chomping at the bit to get his welder so I guess we should hide the fact that we tout correct techniques here but in real life we rub tungsten on the concrete floor to sharpen it I have a bunch of stubby tungstens in my box of all varieties with the paint wore off from being through the collet so many times and I just grab one and deal with it , blissfully unaware of what it is.

[Chips O'Toole]

The OP is chomping at the bit to get his welder so I guess we should hide the fact that we tout correct techniques here but in real life we rub tungsten on the concrete floor to sharpen it I have a bunch of stubby tungstens in my box of all varieties with the paint wore off from being through the collet so many times and I just grab one and deal with it , blissfully unaware of what it is.

So that's how you do it!

The drill chuck is fine. It's just a long tungsten and a short chuck.

[Chips O'Toole]

I've been welding on some zinc coated nuts for a side project. Finished a few welds while I had blobs big enough they were touching the edge of my #7 cup. Good enough for a garden cart.

I hope you're not breathing zinc fumes.

[Oscar]

My tungsten arrived. I decided to throw one on the belt grinder. Does this look all right?

I held it in a drill, to turn it while I ground it. Kind of surprised it's not completely symmetrical.

Those are ok. I do mine by hand on a Harbor Freight 3" mini grinder.

[bigfabdaddy]

My 2017 AHP Alpha TIG will be here tomorrow between 9:15am and 1:15pm. I work from 10am-4pm then class from 5pm-9pm. Planning on getting it set up tomorrow night then start practicing between classes so I can be a better tig welder than anyone else in the class.

[bigfabdaddy]

My tungsten arrived. I decided to throw one on the belt grinder. Does this look all right?

I held it in a drill, to turn it while I ground it. Kind of surprised it's not completely symmetrical.

Those are ok. I do mine by hand on a Harbor Freight 3" mini grinder.

What do you mean by hand? Just hold them in your fingers and give them a little rotation while you put them to the grinder? I ordered a Wen 6" grinder to be my dedicated tungsten grinder. I have yet to grind a tungsten, I will be shown how tomorrow during the class when we go over the tig machines that are sitting in the shop.

[Oscar]

Yup exactly.