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

[Ever Falling]

don't forget to buy some of those plastic curtains that keep people from
looking directly at the arc. You wouldn't wanna blind an innocent bystander
walking past the shop.

On Fri, Aug 17, 2012 at 1:00 PM, Hao <hao at dorabot.com> wrote:

> Sounds awesome to me! We can build huge hydraulic robots if we are able to
> weld.
>
>
> On Fri, Aug 17, 2012 at 12:55 PM, Jake <jake at spaz.org> wrote:
>
>>
>> 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<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.)
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>>
>
>
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