explaination of quality in tig welding

[grumpyvette]

let me try to explain quality in tig welders

heres the least expensive TIG Ive ever seen listed
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=66787

imported dirt cheap, harbor freight welders,and similar low cost welder tend to give less than ideal results even in skilled hands
represented here

http://www.stockcarracing.com/techartic ... index.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_2266192_prepare ... lding.html

http://www.ehow.com/video_2327758_prepa ... lding.html

http://www.ehow.com/video_2327755_picki ... elder.html

http://www.ehow.com/video_2327756_setup-mig-welder.html





the higher quality welders from name brand suppliers tend to make even moderately skilled welders look good
miller, or lincoln,or HTP=

http://www.htpweld.com/

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/tig/

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/tig-welders.asp


viewtopic.php?f=60&t=72

viewtopic.php?f=60&t=1562

viewtopic.php?f=60&t=295

viewtopic.php?f=60&t=77



represented HERE!

 

[grumpyvette]

one of my friends was recently working on an older corvette with a rather large, thin,flimsy and complicated aluminum bracket that held the air conditioner compressor and serpentine belt tension-er, to the block and used its multi bolt, secured base for its strength, during the removal he forgot one bolt and tugged hard on the bracket and twisted it enough that it broke, or the previous owner had used air tools and overtightened it, pricing a new one at salvage corvette yards showed that it cost several hundred dollars to replace.
SO, I got out my TIG welder, figuring even if I totally destroyed the bracket during the repair process he would be no worse off.
now Ive learned years ago to do some test welds on some similar size scrap aluminum and to use the minimum amps required so as not to warp the component.
he was surprised when I grabbed some scrap aluminum to do some test welds on ans when I took the effort to re-grind the tungsten torch electrode, but once I worked the amps up to about 83 amps Id found the required heat, and gas flow rates and while the bracket was obviously not new , under a close visual inspection,its now very serviceable and it takes a close look to see it was welded.something I doubt would be true if I,d been testing the amp range on the weld while adjusting the welder

watch these videos

http://www.usaweld.com/TIG-WELDER-Invertig-221-Welder-p/70221-12.5-1.htm

http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/tig ... minum.html


http://www.millerwelds.com/swf/flv/flas ... &h=250&v=8

http://www.millerwelds.com/swf/flv/flas ... &h=250&v=8

http://www.millerwelds.com/swf/flv/flas ... &h=250&v=8