I just bought a Tig rig

[3l]

Hi Folks:

I just bought a 90 amp tig/stick welder.
I took Richard Hester's advice and bought a Krazeweld.
I will soon find out how to tig weld.
Phil (Fostini) has graciously donated filament post insulators.
How does one weld the insulator with destroying it?

Happy Fusoring!
Larry Leins
Fusor Tech

[r_c_edgar]

Hey Larry,

Where did you pick up your welder, and was it reasonably priced? I had just come to the conclusion this weekend that I can't put it off any longer, and my next major purchase would be a welder.

--Ryan

[3l]

Hi Ryan:

The rig is on sale at $399.00 with a tig torch included.
It is an inverter rig.
Weight 7 lbs.
RUNS ON >>>>>> 115Volts<<<<<<<<<
I was impressed by the folks at Kraze-Arc.
Here's their website:
http://www.krazearc.com/inverters.htm
They seem to know their stuff.
You just need a small bottle of argon and you are ready to go.
Like you I had put this off because of cost 800 & up!
This rig is used by the street car guys as a portable fixin rig.
It has more than enough umph to do fusor metal work.

Happy Fusoring!
Larry Leins
Fusor Tech

[Richard Hester]

The Kraze-arc rig has almost everything you need except for the argon bottle (I got a small one), a flow regulator (I already had one, though they can be bought new for about $35-40 or on Ebay), a helmet and gloves (Home Depot) and electrodes. One guy in the local welding shop suggested starting with 3/32" electrodes, but that is way out of line with the usual current demands of our work. I would lay in some 1/16" and 0.040" electrodes, get some scrap steel, and start practicing. If you want to do stick welding, (I haven't tried it yet) you'll probably need 1/16" rods. I don't think that 90 amps is enough to handle the usual monster rods...

[3l]

Hi Guys:

I just added a self darkening helmet to my welder purchase.
The website lists a welder and helmet for $ 499.00 but...
If you pay $520.00 you can get a helmet that has variable tig on delay.
I've had the autodarkening helmets before ...sometimes it is handy on long welds for the helmet to stay dark for a few seconds more while welding long seams. That way the helmet does not prematurely clear while you are working.

Happy Fusoring!
Larry Leins
Fusor Tech

[Richard Hester]

You can use an auto-darkening lens to retrofit a conventional welding helmet. I picked up a lens on Ebay for about $50. Usually they are a lot more, but still cheaper than a whole helmet.

[Richard Hester]

As far as TIG welding feedthrough insulator skirts - unless you are as skilled as Joe Zambelli, I wouldn't try it. For my setup, I plan to use good old proletarian silver solder. There is a post a year or two back where Joe describes welding an insulator skirt with a 0.020 or 0.040" electrode and about 20A. (my memories - search out the actual post for the exact figures).