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

Rachel McConnell rachel at xtreme.com
Fri Aug 17 21:27:21 UTC 2012 

AMT's welder is a little MIG similar to [1]this one, currently loaded
with flux-core wire.  There is a helmet and gloves and a jacket as
well.  I did a tiny bit of welding with it and it does spatter
considerably; gas is preferable but for small projects it will work
fine.  We could indeed add gas tanks to it, swap out the wire, reverse
the polarity.  It's not TIG though and I don't think it would be
suitable for anything other than mild steel.  Nevertheless I invite
Noisebridgers to come use it.  We're not open all the time like NB but
I personally volunteer to schedule a time with you to weld there, teach
you how to use the machine if you don't know, and hang out while you
work.  Ping me offlist if you want to set up a time to do this.

I second the fire concerns about welding at Noisebridge.  It's pretty
unlikely that a small machine like Jake is suggesting is gonna make hot
enough large metal pieces to catch anything other than a pile of
sawdust on fire... but, hey, we actually do have piles of sawdust and
that's not gonna change.  If we can manage to segregate welding from
woodworking then I'm for it.

Rachel1.0

On Fri, Aug 17, 2012, at 02:12 PM, David Rorex wrote:

  AMT actually has a welder, I believe it is TIG, we're just lacking
  the gas. Works without gas, just the welds are much crappier

On Aug 17, 2012 2:00 PM, "John Ellis" <[2]neurofog at gmail.com> wrote:

  I agree. Wooden floors, fumes would limit welding at NB.



Is there a more appropriate workspace to use for large projects like
this.
Ace Monster Toys?

-John
On Fri, Aug 17, 2012 at 1:50 PM, Matthew Silvey
<[3]matthew at dancewithdevils.com> wrote:

  I think this is a great idea but maybe not good for NoiseBridge for
  the following reasons.
  You may want to install it in a building not made of wood.  I don't
  think NoiseBridge is in one of these.
  TIG welding does not create noxious fumes in the sense that using a
  welding method that relies on an inert gas doesn't.  The material
  you
  weld might.  Some lightweight reference here:
  [4]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_fume_fever
  Thanks,
  Matthew

On Fri, Aug 17, 2012 at 12:55 PM, Jake <[5]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.
>
>
[6]http://www.harborfreight.com/tig-mma-inverter-welding-machine-with-d
igital-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.)
> _______________________________________________
> Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
> [7]Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
> [8]https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
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References

1. http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us/Equipment/Pages/product.aspx?product=K2471-1(LincolnElectric)
2. mailto:neurofog at gmail.com
3. mailto:matthew at dancewithdevils.com
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_fume_fever
5. mailto:jake at spaz.org
6. http://www.harborfreight.com/tig-mma-inverter-welding-machine-with-digital-readout-98233.html
7. mailto:Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
8. https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
9. mailto:Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
  10. https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
  11. mailto:Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
  12. https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
  13. mailto:Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
  14. https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
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