Finally bit the bullet and bought a TIG welder
Sweet. That will get it done!
I had nothing to start with, but any buzzbox with AC/DC will do it. This has been long waiting on my end. I've been doing this for myself and others, for the past 18 years and I've needed something to cut my work cycle down. I'm good with a MIG, but I need something that will not be as counterproductive with sheet metal shaping. It will cut my planeshing and cleaning down, significantly.
The Miller equal to this thing was about 2.5x it's price. Power inverter with an LCD and a computer. Blue paint must be getting pricey. I would have liked to buy one from those guys, but I just don't see a reason for all of the no-brainer add-ons. I don't need pulse function or presetting for thickness/types of metal. I know how to do math and read.
The truth is, most of the stuff I have is hand-me-down. I actually prefer it. Some of the best metal shapers in the world use logs as a working bench. the Morgan factory still planishes their bonnets over a log that has been in their factory since the 1930s. There is a metal shaping outfit in Australia that is run by a guy who moved there from Italy, who uses a stump for a lot of his beating and he makes his own hammer heads and anvils.
No amount of tooling can replace skill sets. No matter how much or little you spend. I couldn't talk either one of my uncles out of their transformer machines, otherwise I would have ended up with one. I only wish I didn't have to spend my hard earned money, to get it.
I compromised on the helmet. I found one of these, WWII production era in an attic;
I spent $18 on an auto darkening lense to drop into it, with a potentiometer to get the right # tint for the arc UV.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/301007664851?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
I may end up having to make a new bezel for it, but I'm ok with that.
The alternative, would be to get a "vintage" one, like the other 121 people on here chose to do -
[ame="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Miller-259485-Vintage-Roadster-Digital-Elite-Auto-Darkening-Welding-Helmet-/130948990169?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e7d2b04d9"]Miller 259485 Vintage Roadster Digital Elite Auto Darkening Welding Helmet | eBay[/ame]
I like the $18 idea.
Never make fun of someone's tools. I wanna see that AC/DC when it's up and ready to go!
Sweet. That will get it done!
I had nothing to start with, but any buzzbox with AC/DC will do it. This has been long waiting on my end. I've been doing this for myself and others, for the past 18 years and I've needed something to cut my work cycle down. I'm good with a MIG, but I need something that will not be as counterproductive with sheet metal shaping. It will cut my planeshing and cleaning down, significantly.
The Miller equal to this thing was about 2.5x it's price. Power inverter with an LCD and a computer. Blue paint must be getting pricey. I would have liked to buy one from those guys, but I just don't see a reason for all of the no-brainer add-ons. I don't need pulse function or presetting for thickness/types of metal. I know how to do math and read.
The truth is, most of the stuff I have is hand-me-down. I actually prefer it. Some of the best metal shapers in the world use logs as a working bench. the Morgan factory still planishes their bonnets over a log that has been in their factory since the 1930s. There is a metal shaping outfit in Australia that is run by a guy who moved there from Italy, who uses a stump for a lot of his beating and he makes his own hammer heads and anvils.
No amount of tooling can replace skill sets. No matter how much or little you spend. I couldn't talk either one of my uncles out of their transformer machines, otherwise I would have ended up with one. I only wish I didn't have to spend my hard earned money, to get it.
I compromised on the helmet. I found one of these, WWII production era in an attic;
I spent $18 on an auto darkening lense to drop into it, with a potentiometer to get the right # tint for the arc UV.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/301007664851?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
I may end up having to make a new bezel for it, but I'm ok with that.
The alternative, would be to get a "vintage" one, like the other 121 people on here chose to do -
[ame="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Miller-259485-Vintage-Roadster-Digital-Elite-Auto-Darkening-Welding-Helmet-/130948990169?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e7d2b04d9"]Miller 259485 Vintage Roadster Digital Elite Auto Darkening Welding Helmet | eBay[/ame]
I like the $18 idea.
Never make fun of someone's tools. I wanna see that AC/DC when it's up and ready to go!
