My tanks are the big ones, at my age the next size down would work better.
I checked my tanks, my argon tank is 110 cubic feet and my mig is 80 cubic feet. Looks like the 80 tank was $167.00 with tax. Can't find the slip for the 110, but I'm pretty sure it was under $200.00. The argon tank exchange is up to $45.00. The 1/16 4043 aluminum filler rod is $5.75 / pound.
I use a sort of local supplier, Cristiano welding. They used to fill them on the spot but now they just exchange them.Sounds about right but who fills your 110 tank?
Hard to get a Visa card to smoke at H.F. prices.Looks like I'm going to be building another cart! While this will mostly be used in my garage, I am installing 2 outlets so I want to be able to work in either the front corner or the opposite rear corner. (and could be used right outside the door if I wanted to) I've decided to mig weld it or I might not get it done until this time next year! All I gotta say is I better be a really good Tig welder for what all I'm going thru.
Just got back from another trip to H.F. for some rear tires for the new cart. I gotta stay home for the rest of the day! My Visa card is smoking.
Bob I use number 6 wire and a 50 amp breaker and run two outlets. Then I made me a 50 foot extension cord out of number 6 wire. Now I can take my welder all the way out in the middle of the driveway. One Outlet in the back of the shop one Outlet in the front of the shop. And if you get a 50 amp plasma cutter you'll be able to run it off those two circuits also.Tungsten came yesterday, romex wiring comes today so I'm almost ready! (this does run on 110 but I'll wait for the 220) Today I'm playing electrician. (I'm not an electrician, I just play one in my garage)
I don't see what all the fuss is about grinding tungsten! It's EASY!!! I did one in a matter of 20-30 seconds. I have a 30 degree angle block I set it on and just rolled the tungsten in my fingers and against the grinding wheel. I think I'll make a gizmo with a 30 degree hole to make it even more simple.
Sharpening tungsten is no big deal. It's when you contaminate it with filler wire, you have to cut off all of the contaminated piece and re-sharpen. I started snapping off the contaminated ends and that was ok, but the tungsten would crack on me(I read that it was from both overheating and the shock of breaking the tungsten) and ruin the tungsten. So I have been grinding off all contaminants and resharpening. I ordered an adapter for a Dremel that has a cut off slot with a diamond wheel sharpener. hopefully this will be more convenient than running back and forth to the grinder. We'll see.Tungsten came yesterday, romex wiring comes today so I'm almost ready! (this does run on 110 but I'll wait for the 220) Today I'm playing electrician. (I'm not an electrician, I just play one in my garage)
I don't see what all the fuss is about grinding tungsten! It's EASY!!! I did one in a matter of 20-30 seconds. I have a 30 degree angle block I set it on and just rolled the tungsten in my fingers and against the grinding wheel. I think I'll make a gizmo with a 30 degree hole to make it even more simple.
Bob I use number 6 wire and a 50 amp breaker and run two outlets. Then I made me a 50 foot extension cord out of number 6 wire. Now I can take my welder all the way out in the middle of the driveway. One Outlet in the back of the shop one Outlet in the front of the shop. And if you get a 50 amp plasma cutter you'll be able to run it off those two circuits also.
I also backfeed my generator through my 50 amp circuit and shut the breaker off to the meter on the pole. That way I won't electrocute the line workers when the power goes out I have power and it back fed to my house through that 50 amp circuit in my shop and goes to the house. There's a terminal right below my electric meter and the breaker is right above it so I can feed my house with my generator by flipping the breaker off. I don't get the line worker when he's repairing the line down a ways.
What do you have for a welding helmet now?
Sharpening tungsten is no big deal. It's when you contaminate it with filler wire, you have to cut off all of the contaminated piece and re-sharpen. I started snapping off the contaminated ends and that was ok, but the tungsten would crack on me(I read that it was from both overheating and the shock of breaking the tungsten) and ruin the tungsten. So I have been grinding off all contaminants and resharpening. I ordered an adapter for a Dremel that has a cut off slot with a diamond wheel sharpener. hopefully this will be more convenient than running back and forth to the grinder. We'll see.
Bob, hopefully you will be so good at tig welding that you never have to worry about contaminating the tungsten.
[QUOTE=" I don't get the line worker when he's repairing the line down a ways.[/QUOTE]That's pretty slick Jim.
I just use my cordless drill on the bench grinder.
I have to resharpen my tungsten too often. I have to weld with my glasses off as my bifocals are too hard to see through under my helmet and I need a new prescription, so.......lots of trips to the bench grinder because the bunch of tungsten I had sharpened are all contaminated. It's funny, on good days, I never have to replace a tungsten, but bad days
I have to resharpen my tungsten too often. I have to weld with my glasses off as my bifocals are too hard to see through under my helmet and I need a new prescription, so.......lots of trips to the bench grinder because the bunch of tungsten I had sharpened are all contaminated. It's funny, on good days, I never have to replace a tungsten, but bad days
Get the magnifying lens that slides in the inside of the welding helmet...