TIG Welder Advice

[javand]

Of course, that assumes that your MIG welded billet and /or handle actually stays stuck together during the forge welding and forging process.

Hehe, of course that's always the "assumption"


I think I've still got a photo somewhere of Zoe Crist standing on a chair with the lid off his vertical forge, a 3ft long set of tongs, two layers of gloves which are completely engulfed in flames, trying to pull a feather billet out of the pool of molten flux at the bottom, from where the handle broke off and we lost the billet inside.


I've actually taken to welding a "nub" of round stock onto the end of a billet about 2" long and using a big set of round jaw tongs with a handle lock. It's nice because you can remove the tongs while re-heating, quench, and the billet and the "handle" heat evenly in the forge.

Of course I'm using a ribbon burner forge now with the billets laying on the bottom instead of suspended like in a vertical forge.

The other advantage is that I can run the entire thing through the rolling mill without having to reverse. With a long handle that's not evenly heated you can't do that.

 

[marauder6]

Thanks everyone for your candid input and quick responses. I simply don't know enough about this and will do some additional research and do some more reading! I have a small MATCO MIG with gas that handles light stuff and a cutting torch setup already in the shop; simply wanted to be able to shop around and add TIG capability to my arsenal! Again, with all your comments, I clearly understand that I have much more to learn!:thumbup:

 

[Sandeggo]

Thanks everyone for your candid input and quick responses. I simply don't know enough about this and will do some additional research and do some more reading! I have a small MATCO MIG with gas that handles light stuff and a cutting torch setup already in the shop; simply wanted to be able to shop around and add TIG capability to my arsenal! Again, with all your comments, I clearly understand that I have much more to learn!:thumbup:

If you have an oxy-acetylene rig, get a welding/brazing tip for it and pick up some low fuming bronze and rg45. It's good practice for when you buy your tig welder. You'll be able to braze and weld.