This is probably going to stay on my wish list for a good long time, but
I've been lusting after TIG welding capabilities for a while now.

Nearly all the projects that I have in mind at the momet involve
welding .03" to .06" aluminum sheet to itself and to 1/8" or 3/16"
bosses, so it looks like this thing is heavy-duty enough.

So, is it a good buy?

http://www.eastwood.com/tig-welders-...dc-welder.html

--
www.wescottdesign.com

On Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 3:50:14 PM UTC-8, Tim Wescott wrote:
This is probably going to stay on my wish list for a good long time, but
I've been lusting after TIG welding capabilities for a while now.

Nearly all the projects that I have in mind at the momet involve
welding .03" to .06" aluminum sheet to itself and to 1/8" or 3/16"
bosses, so it looks like this thing is heavy-duty enough.

So, is it a good buy?

http://www.eastwood.com/tig-welders-...dc-welder.html

--
www.wescottdesign.com


No it's not a good buy. Nothing Eastwood offers is a good buy.

On Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 6:50:14 PM UTC-5, Tim Wescott wrote:

Nearly all the projects that I have in mind at the momet involve
welding .03" to .06" aluminum sheet to itself and to 1/8" or 3/16"
bosses, so it looks like this thing is heavy-duty enough.

www.wescottdesign.com

Be sure to check the minimum current of any TIG welder you buy. The original Miller Econotig had a minimum current of something like 30 amps. So it would not adjust down to a low enough heat to weld .03 aluminum.

And of course remember that you will need a cylinder of argon , flow regulator, and 220 volt power outlet.

Dan

Tim Wescott wrote:
This is probably going to stay on my wish list for a good long time, but
I've been lusting after TIG welding capabilities for a while now.

Nearly all the projects that I have in mind at the momet involve
welding .03" to .06" aluminum sheet to itself and to 1/8" or 3/16"
bosses, so it looks like this thing is heavy-duty enough.

So, is it a good buy?

http://www.eastwood.com/tig-welders-...dc-welder.html


I think it's a "custom" Longevity unit.

A comparison video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oISSe0Itq7U

--
Steve W.

On Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 8:01:54 PM UTC-8, Steve W. wrote:
Tim Wescott wrote:
This is probably going to stay on my wish list for a good long time, but
I've been lusting after TIG welding capabilities for a while now.

Nearly all the projects that I have in mind at the momet involve
welding .03" to .06" aluminum sheet to itself and to 1/8" or 3/16"
bosses, so it looks like this thing is heavy-duty enough.

So, is it a good buy?

http://www.eastwood.com/tig-welders-...dc-welder.html


I think it's a "custom" Longevity unit.

A comparison video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oISSe0Itq7U

--
Steve W.


Longevity and Everlast are just marketing firms for the Chinese.

On Sat, 21 Nov 2015 23:01:53 -0500, Steve W. wrote:

Tim Wescott wrote:
This is probably going to stay on my wish list for a good long time,
but I've been lusting after TIG welding capabilities for a while now.

Nearly all the projects that I have in mind at the momet involve
welding .03" to .06" aluminum sheet to itself and to 1/8" or 3/16"
bosses, so it looks like this thing is heavy-duty enough.

So, is it a good buy?

http://www.eastwood.com/tig-welders-...dc-welder.html


I think it's a "custom" Longevity unit.

A comparison video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oISSe0Itq7U

Thanks for the video link -- it's very helpful.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

On Monday, November 23, 2015 at 2:08:06 AM UTC-5, Tim Wescott wrote:
On Sat, 21 Nov 2015 23:01:53 -0500, Steve W. wrote:

Tim Wescott wrote:
This is probably going to stay on my wish list for a good long time,
but I've been lusting after TIG welding capabilities for a while now.

Nearly all the projects that I have in mind at the momet involve
welding .03" to .06" aluminum sheet to itself and to 1/8" or 3/16"
bosses, so it looks like this thing is heavy-duty enough.

So, is it a good buy?

http://www.eastwood.com/tig-welders-...dc-welder.html


I think it's a "custom" Longevity unit.

A comparison video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oISSe0Itq7U

Thanks for the video link -- it's very helpful.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

And in that video, he really seems to like the AHP more. I plan on buying one of those very soon (hopefully before the end of this year). for an extra $50, I think you get a lot more. AND, you can buy it from Amazon, which gives you another layer of protection.

On Mon, 23 Nov 2015 12:20:23 -0800, rangerssuck wrote:

On Monday, November 23, 2015 at 2:08:06 AM UTC-5, Tim Wescott wrote:
On Sat, 21 Nov 2015 23:01:53 -0500, Steve W. wrote:

Tim Wescott wrote:
This is probably going to stay on my wish list for a good long time,
but I've been lusting after TIG welding capabilities for a while
now.

Nearly all the projects that I have in mind at the momet involve
welding .03" to .06" aluminum sheet to itself and to 1/8" or 3/16"
bosses, so it looks like this thing is heavy-duty enough.

So, is it a good buy?

http://www.eastwood.com/tig-welders-...dc-welder.html


I think it's a "custom" Longevity unit.

A comparison video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oISSe0Itq7U

Thanks for the video link -- it's very helpful.

--

Tim Wescott Wescott Design Services http://www.wescottdesign.com

And in that video, he really seems to like the AHP more. I plan on
buying one of those very soon (hopefully before the end of this year).
for an extra $50, I think you get a lot more. AND, you can buy it from
Amazon, which gives you another layer of protection.

Yes, he really sold me on the AHP.

I've got to decide if I can really justify the $800 to myself, because I
don't need a welder very often -- but when I do I really need it, and
there's some stuff that I just can't make at the moment because I don't
have one.

--
www.wescottdesign.com

"Tim Wescott" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 23 Nov 2015 12:20:23 -0800, rangerssuck wrote:

On Monday, November 23, 2015 at 2:08:06 AM UTC-5, Tim Wescott
wrote:
On Sat, 21 Nov 2015 23:01:53 -0500, Steve W. wrote:

Tim Wescott wrote:
This is probably going to stay on my wish list for a good long
time,
but I've been lusting after TIG welding capabilities for a
while
now.

Nearly all the projects that I have in mind at the momet
involve
welding .03" to .06" aluminum sheet to itself and to 1/8" or
3/16"
bosses, so it looks like this thing is heavy-duty enough.

So, is it a good buy?

http://www.eastwood.com/tig-welders-...dc-welder.html


I think it's a "custom" Longevity unit.

A comparison video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oISSe0Itq7U

Thanks for the video link -- it's very helpful.

--

Tim Wescott Wescott Design Services http://www.wescottdesign.com

And in that video, he really seems to like the AHP more. I plan on
buying one of those very soon (hopefully before the end of this
year).
for an extra $50, I think you get a lot more. AND, you can buy it
from
Amazon, which gives you another layer of protection.

Yes, he really sold me on the AHP.

I've got to decide if I can really justify the $800 to myself,
because I
don't need a welder very often -- but when I do I really need it,
and
there's some stuff that I just can't make at the moment because I
don't
have one.

--
www.wescottdesign.com

Have you ever tried TIG welding thin aluminum with a high-end machine,
at night school for instance?

It isn't as easy as mild steel or stainless. I stopped trying to learn
when I retired and no longer wanted it on my resume.

-jsw

On Monday, November 23, 2015 at 3:20:29 PM UTC-5, rangerssuck wrote:

Nearly all the projects that I have in mind at the momet involve
welding .03" to .06" aluminum sheet to itself and to 1/8" or 3/16"
bosses, so it looks like this thing is heavy-duty enough.


A comparison video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oISSe0Itq7U

Thanks for the video link -- it's very helpful.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

And in that video, he really seems to like the AHP more. I plan on buying one of those very soon (hopefully before the end of this year). for an extra $50, I think you get a lot more. AND, you can buy it from Amazon, which gives you another layer of protection.

Looking at the specs for the AHP , it shows the minimum current as 10 amps. The rule of thumb is one amp per .001 inch of thickness. But I think that is where you set the max current. And then you use the foot pedal to get the current right. So when welding say .063 aluminum you would set the amps to about 90 amps ( 50 % more for aluminum ) , but when you are welding you may only be using 45 amps. And as you approach the end of the material , you would feather off to maybe 20 amps. So the AHP ought to be okay for 1/16 aluminum. But on .030 aluminum , you might want to feather down to ten amps. And that is as low as you can go. Anyway I would want to try the AHP on .030 aluminum before buying the machine.

If you keep looking on Ebay and Craigslist, you may find a older Tig welder for about 3 or 4 hundred. The disadvantage is they are heavy and need more power than an inverter TIG.

Dan

On Mon, 23 Nov 2015 18:49:10 -0800 (PST), "
wrote:

On Monday, November 23, 2015 at 3:20:29 PM UTC-5, rangerssuck wrote:

Nearly all the projects that I have in mind at the momet involve
welding .03" to .06" aluminum sheet to itself and to 1/8" or 3/16"
bosses, so it looks like this thing is heavy-duty enough.


A comparison video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oISSe0Itq7U

Thanks for the video link -- it's very helpful.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

And in that video, he really seems to like the AHP more. I plan on buying one of those very soon (hopefully before the end of this year). for an extra $50, I think you get a lot more. AND, you can buy it from Amazon, which gives you another layer of protection.

Looking at the specs for the AHP , it shows the minimum current as 10 amps. The rule of thumb is one amp per .001 inch of thickness. But I think that is where you set the max current. And then you use the foot pedal to get the current right. So when welding say .063 aluminum you would set the amps to about 90 amps ( 50 % more for aluminum ) , but when you are welding you may only be using 45 amps. And as you approach the end of the material , you would feather off to maybe 20 amps. So the AHP ought to be okay for 1/16 aluminum. But on .030 aluminum , you might want to feather down to ten amps. And that is as low as you can go. Anyway I would want to try the AHP on .030 aluminum before buying the machine.

If you keep looking on Ebay and Craigslist, you may find a older Tig welder for about 3 or 4 hundred. The disadvantage is they are heavy and need more power than an inverter TIG.

Dan

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Miller-Econo-Tig/321929237146

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Miller-Econo...-/161892205413

On Mon, 23 Nov 2015 18:49:10 -0800 (PST), "
wrote:

On Monday, November 23, 2015 at 3:20:29 PM UTC-5, rangerssuck wrote:

Nearly all the projects that I have in mind at the momet involve
welding .03" to .06" aluminum sheet to itself and to 1/8" or 3/16"
bosses, so it looks like this thing is heavy-duty enough.


A comparison video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oISSe0Itq7U

Thanks for the video link -- it's very helpful.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

And in that video, he really seems to like the AHP more. I plan on buying one of those very soon (hopefully before the end of this year). for an extra $50, I think you get a lot more. AND, you can buy it from Amazon, which gives you another layer of protection.

Looking at the specs for the AHP , it shows the minimum current as 10 amps. The rule of thumb is one amp per .001 inch of thickness. But I think that is where you set the max current. And then you use the foot pedal to get the current right. So when welding say .063 aluminum you would set the amps to about 90 amps ( 50 % more for aluminum ) , but when you are welding you may only be using 45 amps. And as you approach the end of the material , you would feather off to maybe 20 amps. So the AHP ought to be okay for 1/16 aluminum. But on .030 aluminum , you might want to feather down to ten amps. And that is as low as you can go. Anyway I would want to try the AHP on .030 aluminum before buying the machine.

If you keep looking on Ebay and Craigslist, you may find a older Tig welder for about 3 or 4 hundred. The disadvantage is they are heavy and need more power than an inverter TIG.

Dan
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/tls/5328865747.html

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/tls/5329685003.html

http://stockton.craigslist.org/tls/5316556006.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/tls/5329061276.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/tls/5328123006.html

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/tls/5327334212.html

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/tls/5328111745.html

etc etc etc.

Best Craigslist search engine:

www.searchtempest.com

On Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 6:50:14 PM UTC-5, Tim Wescott wrote:
This is probably going to stay on my wish list for a good long time, but
I've been lusting after TIG welding capabilities for a while now.

Nearly all the projects that I have in mind at the momet involve
welding .03" to .06" aluminum sheet to itself and to 1/8" or 3/16"
bosses, so it looks like this thing is heavy-duty enough.

Knowing next to nothing about welding, Can you solder the
aluminum pieces together? Or do you need more strength?

George H.

So, is it a good buy?

http://www.eastwood.com/tig-welders-...dc-welder.html

--
www.wescottdesign.com

On Tue, 24 Nov 2015 07:08:58 -0800, ggherold wrote:

On Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 6:50:14 PM UTC-5, Tim Wescott wrote:
This is probably going to stay on my wish list for a good long time,
but I've been lusting after TIG welding capabilities for a while now.

Nearly all the projects that I have in mind at the momet involve
welding .03" to .06" aluminum sheet to itself and to 1/8" or 3/16"
bosses, so it looks like this thing is heavy-duty enough.

Knowing next to nothing about welding, Can you solder the aluminum
pieces together? Or do you need more strength?

I've tried soldering without a lot of success. I've also tried aluminum
brazing, which rapidly turned into half-assed aluminum welding, and then
a puddle on my bench.

I suppose I should try epoxy, but it's for a model airplane muffler and I
have visions of the thing just falling apart in the air.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

On Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at 1:29:25 PM UTC-5, Tim Wescott wrote:
On Tue, 24 Nov 2015 07:08:58 -0800, ggherold wrote:

On Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 6:50:14 PM UTC-5, Tim Wescott wrote:
This is probably going to stay on my wish list for a good long time,
but I've been lusting after TIG welding capabilities for a while now.

Nearly all the projects that I have in mind at the momet involve
welding .03" to .06" aluminum sheet to itself and to 1/8" or 3/16"
bosses, so it looks like this thing is heavy-duty enough.

Knowing next to nothing about welding, Can you solder the aluminum
pieces together? Or do you need more strength?

I've tried soldering without a lot of success. I've also tried aluminum
brazing, which rapidly turned into half-assed aluminum welding, and then
a puddle on my bench.

I suppose I should try epoxy, but it's for a model airplane muffler and I
have visions of the thing just falling apart in the air.

Did you have the right flux? (La-co Aluminum flux paste)
I haven't done a lot but I soldered Al pieces to circuit board and
pieces of copper wire to aluminum foil. (like right off the roll in the kitchen)
I've never tried it for joining Al bits together, but I bet I could do it.

I don't know about mufflers, how hot do those things get?
There are epoxies that claim 500 F. That seem cheaper than a
new welder.. unless you mostly are looking for an excuse to buy one.

George H.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

On Tue, 24 Nov 2015 12:50:48 -0800 (PST), wrote:

On Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at 1:29:25 PM UTC-5, Tim Wescott wrote:
On Tue, 24 Nov 2015 07:08:58 -0800, ggherold wrote:

On Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 6:50:14 PM UTC-5, Tim Wescott wrote:
This is probably going to stay on my wish list for a good long time,
but I've been lusting after TIG welding capabilities for a while now.

Nearly all the projects that I have in mind at the momet involve
welding .03" to .06" aluminum sheet to itself and to 1/8" or 3/16"
bosses, so it looks like this thing is heavy-duty enough.

Knowing next to nothing about welding, Can you solder the aluminum
pieces together? Or do you need more strength?

I've tried soldering without a lot of success. I've also tried aluminum
brazing, which rapidly turned into half-assed aluminum welding, and then
a puddle on my bench.

I suppose I should try epoxy, but it's for a model airplane muffler and I
have visions of the thing just falling apart in the air.

Did you have the right flux? (La-co Aluminum flux paste)
I haven't done a lot but I soldered Al pieces to circuit board and
pieces of copper wire to aluminum foil. (like right off the roll in the kitchen)
I've never tried it for joining Al bits together, but I bet I could do it.

I don't know about mufflers, how hot do those things get?
There are epoxies that claim 500 F. That seem cheaper than a
new welder.. unless you mostly are looking for an excuse to buy one.

vbg Um, pretty warm.
http://eng.fsu.edu/me/senior_design/...haust_temp.JPG
http://assets.bankspower.com/prod_in...pipe-chart.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1197176043.jpg

I recommend against epoxy.

--
The most powerful factors in the world are clear
ideas in the minds of energetic men of good will.
-- J. Arthur Thomson

On Tue, 24 Nov 2015 21:08:57 -0800, Larry Jaques wrote:

On Tue, 24 Nov 2015 12:50:48 -0800 (PST), wrote:

On Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at 1:29:25 PM UTC-5, Tim Wescott wrote:
On Tue, 24 Nov 2015 07:08:58 -0800, ggherold wrote:

On Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 6:50:14 PM UTC-5, Tim Wescott
wrote:
This is probably going to stay on my wish list for a good long
time, but I've been lusting after TIG welding capabilities for a
while now.

Nearly all the projects that I have in mind at the momet involve
welding .03" to .06" aluminum sheet to itself and to 1/8" or 3/16"
bosses, so it looks like this thing is heavy-duty enough.

Knowing next to nothing about welding, Can you solder the aluminum
pieces together? Or do you need more strength?

I've tried soldering without a lot of success. I've also tried
aluminum brazing, which rapidly turned into half-assed aluminum
welding, and then a puddle on my bench.

I suppose I should try epoxy, but it's for a model airplane muffler
and I have visions of the thing just falling apart in the air.

Did you have the right flux? (La-co Aluminum flux paste)
I haven't done a lot but I soldered Al pieces to circuit board and
pieces of copper wire to aluminum foil. (like right off the roll in the
kitchen)
I've never tried it for joining Al bits together, but I bet I could do
it.

I don't know about mufflers, how hot do those things get?
There are epoxies that claim 500 F. That seem cheaper than a new
welder.. unless you mostly are looking for an excuse to buy one.

vbg Um, pretty warm.
http://eng.fsu.edu/me/senior_design/...haust_temp.JPG
http://assets.bankspower.com/prod_in...pipe-chart.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...owing+bmw+m+v8
+headers1197176043.jpg

I recommend against epoxy.

Those are for gasoline or diesel four-strokes, and you're mostly quoting
temperatures that would melt an aluminum muffler off of the engine -- and
in model airplane service, if a muffler isn't aluminum, there's a good
chance that it's carbon fiber.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com