Greetings All,
While looking for a manual for this welder I just bought I came across
an options list for the thing. One option is a spot/stitch timer. I
can see how this would be VERY useful welding thin materials. Further
searching for one of these timers has been fruitless so far. I still
may find one. However, I'd rather make my own just for fun. And If I
need to end up buying one I'd rather buy one from someone here than
some stranger. It's nice to keep some money circulating among the rcm
denizens and my internet acquaintances. It looks like Lincoln no
longer has the manual in hard copy to mail to me but they do have it
in pdf format which I'm downloading as this is being written.
Thank You,
Eric R Snow

Eric R Snow wrote:
Greetings All,
While looking for a manual for this welder I just bought I came across
an options list for the thing. One option is a spot/stitch timer. I
can see how this would be VERY useful welding thin materials. Further
searching for one of these timers has been fruitless so far. I still
may find one. However, I'd rather make my own just for fun. And If I
need to end up buying one I'd rather buy one from someone here than
some stranger. It's nice to keep some money circulating among the rcm
denizens and my internet acquaintances. It looks like Lincoln no
longer has the manual in hard copy to mail to me but they do have it
in pdf format which I'm downloading as this is being written.
Thank You,
Eric R Snow

You'll probably have to build your own.
For some reason, this option, seem to nolonger exist.
I have an SP-150 with the spot/stitch option.
The machine I bought was a floor model, so I got the option
at no cost. I figured I might have a use it.
After using it, I dont think I would want a machine without it.

I think it be easy to build. Maybe a solid state relay & a timmer,
in series with the trigger. A switch for normal, spot, stitch.
I think I would add an off timmer. On the SP-150 the on time &
off time are the same, works fine.

I built a belt guard for a Roto-Hoe chipper/shreeder copy
I made. It was about 36"x18"x4" 16ga. Very little warping,
on something that would tied itself in a knot, otherwise.

Have you used a machine with the stitch option?

Now a question:
Can stitch mode be used with an autodark helmet,
without the helmet or operator going nuts?

--
Gary A. Gorgen | "From ideas to PRODUCTS"
| Tunxis Design Inc.
| Cupertino, Ca. 95014

On Tue, 09 May 2006 10:15:51 -0700, with neither quill nor qualm,
"Gary A. Gorgen" quickly quoth:

Have you used a machine with the stitch option?

Now a question:
Can stitch mode be used with an autodark helmet,
without the helmet or operator going nuts?

I would think that switching the helmet to the "slow" mode would solve
that problem, Gary.

http://www.harborfreight.com/manuals...1999/91212.pdf
See page 6 for some examples.


- Metaphors Be With You -
http://diversify.com Web Application Programming

On Tue, 09 May 2006 10:15:51 -0700, "Gary A. Gorgen"
wrote:



Eric R Snow wrote:
Greetings All,
While looking for a manual for this welder I just bought I came across
an options list for the thing. One option is a spot/stitch timer. I
can see how this would be VERY useful welding thin materials. Further
searching for one of these timers has been fruitless so far. I still
may find one. However, I'd rather make my own just for fun. And If I
need to end up buying one I'd rather buy one from someone here than
some stranger. It's nice to keep some money circulating among the rcm
denizens and my internet acquaintances. It looks like Lincoln no
longer has the manual in hard copy to mail to me but they do have it
in pdf format which I'm downloading as this is being written.
Thank You,
Eric R Snow

You'll probably have to build your own.
For some reason, this option, seem to nolonger exist.
I have an SP-150 with the spot/stitch option.
The machine I bought was a floor model, so I got the option
at no cost. I figured I might have a use it.
After using it, I dont think I would want a machine without it.

I think it be easy to build. Maybe a solid state relay & a timmer,
in series with the trigger. A switch for normal, spot, stitch.
I think I would add an off timmer. On the SP-150 the on time &
off time are the same, works fine.

I built a belt guard for a Roto-Hoe chipper/shreeder copy
I made. It was about 36"x18"x4" 16ga. Very little warping,
on something that would tied itself in a knot, otherwise.

Have you used a machine with the stitch option?

Now a question:
Can stitch mode be used with an autodark helmet,
without the helmet or operator going nuts?
Greetings Gary,
I came to the same conclusion today. Looking through my timer stuff I
find one I built from a Velleman kit that fills the bill. All I need
to do is change the pots to ones that can be used with knobs. I even
have the knobs. I have not used a stitch timer before but can clearly
see how it would be a good thing to have. How does the spot feature
work? I can't see how it could be used as a spot welder because the
voltage is too high and the amperage too low. Is it for plug welding?
Eric

Eric R Snow wrote:
On Tue, 09 May 2006 10:15:51 -0700, "Gary A. Gorgen"
wrote:



Eric R Snow wrote:

Greetings All,
While looking for a manual for this welder I just bought I came across
an options list for the thing. One option is a spot/stitch timer. I
can see how this would be VERY useful welding thin materials. Further
searching for one of these timers has been fruitless so far. I still
may find one. However, I'd rather make my own just for fun. And If I
need to end up buying one I'd rather buy one from someone here than
some stranger. It's nice to keep some money circulating among the rcm
denizens and my internet acquaintances. It looks like Lincoln no
longer has the manual in hard copy to mail to me but they do have it
in pdf format which I'm downloading as this is being written.
Thank You,
Eric R Snow

You'll probably have to build your own.
For some reason, this option, seem to nolonger exist.
I have an SP-150 with the spot/stitch option.
The machine I bought was a floor model, so I got the option
at no cost. I figured I might have a use it.
After using it, I dont think I would want a machine without it.

I think it be easy to build. Maybe a solid state relay & a timmer,
in series with the trigger. A switch for normal, spot, stitch.
I think I would add an off timmer. On the SP-150 the on time &
off time are the same, works fine.

I built a belt guard for a Roto-Hoe chipper/shreeder copy
I made. It was about 36"x18"x4" 16ga. Very little warping,
on something that would tied itself in a knot, otherwise.

Have you used a machine with the stitch option?

Now a question:
Can stitch mode be used with an autodark helmet,
without the helmet or operator going nuts?

Greetings Gary,
I came to the same conclusion today. Looking through my timer stuff I
find one I built from a Velleman kit that fills the bill. All I need
to do is change the pots to ones that can be used with knobs. I even
have the knobs. I have not used a stitch timer before but can clearly
see how it would be a good thing to have. How does the spot feature
work? I can't see how it could be used as a spot welder because the
voltage is too high and the amperage too low. Is it for plug welding?
Eric

The spot mode IS a plug spot.
It uses the timmer in one-shot mode.
I don't use it much, just aim & tickle the trigger.
I made a spot nozzle from a 3/4" copper pipe coupling.
Milled 4 1/4" slots on one end and sawed 4 slots on the other
so it has a spring fit on the nozzle, works good on my Tweco gun.

If you build the timmer with variable on/off, build it in such
a way that you can remove one of the pots, so on & off times are the
same. The more I think about it, it may just be added complication.

If you can come up with a simple low-cost circuit, others here
may want to use it. As I mentioned before, stitch mode does NOT exist
on modern machines that I've looked at.
I guess it was dropped because it didn't sell.
It was a $400 option on my SP-150. If I had to pay for it I probably/
wouldn't have bought it.

Keep us posted on what you come up with.

--
Gary A. Gorgen | "From ideas to PRODUCTS"
| Tunxis Design Inc.
| Cupertino, Ca. 95014

Larry Jaques wrote:
On Tue, 09 May 2006 10:15:51 -0700, with neither quill nor qualm,
"Gary A. Gorgen" quickly quoth:


Have you used a machine with the stitch option?

Now a question:
Can stitch mode be used with an autodark helmet,
without the helmet or operator going nuts?


I would think that switching the helmet to the "slow" mode would solve
that problem, Gary.

http://www.harborfreight.com/manuals...1999/91212.pdf
See page 6 for some examples.


- Metaphors Be With You -
http://diversify.com Web Application Programming

As you can tell from my ignorance, I've never used an auto-dark helmet.
I use a 1960 state-of-the-art nod-dark helmet.

--
Gary A. Gorgen | "From ideas to PRODUCTS"
| Tunxis Design Inc.
| Cupertino, Ca. 95014

On Wed, 10 May 2006 04:57:16 -0700, "Gary A. Gorgen"
wrote:



Eric R Snow wrote:
On Tue, 09 May 2006 10:15:51 -0700, "Gary A. Gorgen"
wrote:



Eric R Snow wrote:

Greetings All,
While looking for a manual for this welder I just bought I came across
an options list for the thing. One option is a spot/stitch timer. I
can see how this would be VERY useful welding thin materials. Further
searching for one of these timers has been fruitless so far. I still
may find one. However, I'd rather make my own just for fun. And If I
need to end up buying one I'd rather buy one from someone here than
some stranger. It's nice to keep some money circulating among the rcm
denizens and my internet acquaintances. It looks like Lincoln no
longer has the manual in hard copy to mail to me but they do have it
in pdf format which I'm downloading as this is being written.
Thank You,
Eric R Snow

You'll probably have to build your own.
For some reason, this option, seem to nolonger exist.
I have an SP-150 with the spot/stitch option.
The machine I bought was a floor model, so I got the option
at no cost. I figured I might have a use it.
After using it, I dont think I would want a machine without it.

I think it be easy to build. Maybe a solid state relay & a timmer,
in series with the trigger. A switch for normal, spot, stitch.
I think I would add an off timmer. On the SP-150 the on time &
off time are the same, works fine.

I built a belt guard for a Roto-Hoe chipper/shreeder copy
I made. It was about 36"x18"x4" 16ga. Very little warping,
on something that would tied itself in a knot, otherwise.

Have you used a machine with the stitch option?

Now a question:
Can stitch mode be used with an autodark helmet,
without the helmet or operator going nuts?

Greetings Gary,
I came to the same conclusion today. Looking through my timer stuff I
find one I built from a Velleman kit that fills the bill. All I need
to do is change the pots to ones that can be used with knobs. I even
have the knobs. I have not used a stitch timer before but can clearly
see how it would be a good thing to have. How does the spot feature
work? I can't see how it could be used as a spot welder because the
voltage is too high and the amperage too low. Is it for plug welding?
Eric

The spot mode IS a plug spot.
It uses the timmer in one-shot mode.
I don't use it much, just aim & tickle the trigger.
I made a spot nozzle from a 3/4" copper pipe coupling.
Milled 4 1/4" slots on one end and sawed 4 slots on the other
so it has a spring fit on the nozzle, works good on my Tweco gun.

If you build the timmer with variable on/off, build it in such
a way that you can remove one of the pots, so on & off times are the
same. The more I think about it, it may just be added complication.

If you can come up with a simple low-cost circuit, others here
may want to use it. As I mentioned before, stitch mode does NOT exist
on modern machines that I've looked at.
I guess it was dropped because it didn't sell.
It was a $400 option on my SP-150. If I had to pay for it I probably/
wouldn't have bought it.

Keep us posted on what you come up with.
If it turns out that the pulse and pause times are always the same
I'll just gang the pots. I am keeping a list of parts and the cost,
including shipping, of some mail order stuff.
ERS

Eric R Snow wrote:
snip

If it turns out that the pulse and pause times are always the same
I'll just gang the pots. I am keeping a list of parts and the cost,
including shipping, of some mail order stuff.
ERS

I looked at the Idealarc SP-150 manual, my machine is 50 miles
away currently.
It HAS seperate controls for on & off times. So you need that.
My head was someplace else when I wrote, you may not need it.
Times for the SP-150 are .5 - 2 on, .25 - 1 off for stitch,
..5 - 3 for spot.
The dials are numbered 1 - 10, which doesn't help much.
For thin material 22ga & up, you need short on times &
long off times, to keep from buring through.
Also, the gas has to flow while the trigger is on.
I think this may help cool the weld zone & prevent oxidation,
durring the off time. There is a huge difference using stitch
vs. pulsing the trigger.
When you start using it, it helps to have someone there to twiddle
the times for you. Once you get it dialed in, just point the gun
where it needs to be durring the off time, the machine sets the
pace.

--
Gary A. Gorgen | "From ideas to PRODUCTS"
| Tunxis Design Inc.
| Cupertino, Ca. 95014

On Wed, 10 May 2006 04:59:45 -0700, with neither quill nor qualm,
"Gary A. Gorgen" quickly quoth:



Larry Jaques wrote:
On Tue, 09 May 2006 10:15:51 -0700, with neither quill nor qualm,
"Gary A. Gorgen" quickly quoth:


Have you used a machine with the stitch option?

Now a question:
Can stitch mode be used with an autodark helmet,
without the helmet or operator going nuts?


I would think that switching the helmet to the "slow" mode would solve
that problem, Gary.

http://www.harborfreight.com/manuals...1999/91212.pdf
See page 6 for some examples.

As you can tell from my ignorance, I've never used an auto-dark helmet.
I use a 1960 state-of-the-art nod-dark helmet.

Spend the money and get one. It -will- make you a better weldor
immediately. Seriously. I was amazed at how much better I could -see-
to weld and the few beads I've laid since then were better. This
summer I'll be working on "good" and "excellent".

I need to weld up some square steel framework for ceiling-hung
(lightweight) shelving in the shop.


Sign up for free email ads at www.harborfreightusa.com .

Top right link says:

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On Wed, 10 May 2006 13:23:50 -0700, "Gary A. Gorgen"
wrote:



Eric R Snow wrote:
snip

If it turns out that the pulse and pause times are always the same
I'll just gang the pots. I am keeping a list of parts and the cost,
including shipping, of some mail order stuff.
ERS

I looked at the Idealarc SP-150 manual, my machine is 50 miles
away currently.
It HAS seperate controls for on & off times. So you need that.
My head was someplace else when I wrote, you may not need it.
Times for the SP-150 are .5 - 2 on, .25 - 1 off for stitch,
.5 - 3 for spot.
The dials are numbered 1 - 10, which doesn't help much.
For thin material 22ga & up, you need short on times &
long off times, to keep from buring through.
Also, the gas has to flow while the trigger is on.
I think this may help cool the weld zone & prevent oxidation,
durring the off time. There is a huge difference using stitch
vs. pulsing the trigger.
When you start using it, it helps to have someone there to twiddle
the times for you. Once you get it dialed in, just point the gun
where it needs to be durring the off time, the machine sets the
pace.
Thanks Gary for the info. The way my timer works means I should be
able to have up to 5 second periods for both pulse and pause. Since I
work alone I'll have to do the knob thing myself. That's no problem
though.
Eric