[Noisebridge-discuss] let's get a TIG welder

[Jake]

at Toorcamp i was reminded of how badly noisebridge, and all hackerspaces, 
need a TIG welder.  It is the soldeing iron of welding, because you can 
melt things without necessarily adding metal or sticking them together.

Also, very importantly, TIG welding does not create noxious fumes because 
the only gas released is Argon or Helium, as a shielding gas (to prevent 
oxidation of the hot metal) and no flux is used.

Harbor Freight Tools carries a TIG welder for $400.  It has good reviews 
and I think it would be worth the money.  Monad has an Argon tank he will 
donate toward its operation.

It seems that its only drawbacks are the lack of a foot pedal (gee i 
wonder if we could make one) and an unusual hose fitting for the argon 
(easily replaced).

I have welded with fancy and cheap machines and the cheap machines are 
fine if you mod them to do what you want.  I had a cheap tiny Arc welder 
with a low duty cycle (overheats fast) and guess what - if you put a fan 
in it the duty cycle goes way up.  Imagine that?

I just talked to the store in Concord and they have one in stock.
$399.  The guy recommended the 2-year extended replacement warrantee for 
$79 or 1 year for $49.  If we get it we should also get a nice automatic 
LCD welding mask (i can donate a regular mask for spectators) and gloves 
and shit.

http://www.harborfreight.com/tig-mma-inverter-welding-machine-with-digital-readout-98233.html

Professionals liked the smooth quiet ark. The highvoltage arc starter 
works great (they should include this feature in the prod description).
Odd gas inlet connector but easily fixed by removing and replacing with a 
1/4" pipe elbow and hose barb. Don't be fooled by the light wieght. Modern 
design uses a much smaller power transformer with a highfrequency power 
supply (like all modern computers) to hold down wieght.
BOTTOM LINE Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Most Liked Negative Review:
Good Machine
I have this machine and was wanting a foot pedal. I might like this 
machine more if I had a foot pedal.

(I'm sure Rusty the Welding Teacher would turn up his nose at this welder, 
because his TIG machine was $2000, but he also turned up his nose at 
helping us with the bus so whatever to that.)