Tig 102

[Sieg]

Hey Wes, is your middle name happen to be Charles?

[Sieg]

While a few of you were shoveling coal in the Text Train I actually made forward progress on my midget table. Base is .188 2x4, uprights and top frame are .083 2x2. 9' of 1/16" filler made for decent practice. Took my time and played with pulling angles with the welds to get a feel vs. just blocking and clamping everything solid.

I have no idea how many laps I made around this stupid thing to obtain the proper welding positions. At one point yesterday when welding mounting tabs on the top which was flat on the floor I was running the foot pedal with right elbow while holding the torch and feeding rod with the left hand........goofy sport this TIG Welding is.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Originally Posted by Sieg

While a few of you were shoveling coal in the Text Train I actually made forward progress on my midget table. Base is .188 2x4, uprights and top frame are .083 2x2. 9' of 1/16" filler made for decent practice. Took my time and played with pulling angles with the welds to get a feel vs. just blocking and clamping everything solid.

I have no idea how many laps I made around this stupid thing to obtain the proper welding positions. At one point yesterday when welding mounting tabs on the top which was flat on the floor I was running the foot pedal with right elbow while holding the torch and feeding rod with the left hand........goofy sport this TIG Welding is.

LOL...I kow how you feel....I use to duct tape the pedal to my foot when I get into the funky angle cages.

I always tell people when you are first learning how to tig, start off by mastering the finger wheel. The foot op stuff is almost natural.

[GregWeld]

It's better and cheaper than Therapy!


TIG = Therapy In Garage



Only Sieg would TIG where most would MIG.... LOL



I've told other people when they've asked about TIG -- If you have MIG and TIG -- you'll end up choosing to TIG and the MIG becomes a tack welder or only used on something you don't care about. LOL but it's true.

[Sieg]

This project has been the best practice I've had to date. Besides the additional material prep and cleaning my speed has improved and so have the beads.....go figure.

Today I was installing .5" x .5" shelving stringers that required fabbing a fitment jig and due to the bow in the 2x4 lower frame tubing I had gaps at the top of the .5" tubing that required using a lay-wire technique with 3/32" filler.

It's also forced numerous ambidextrous torch and foot control situations.



Yes, I could have run and gunned the thing with the MIG and it would have been solid............but I plan on having this thing the rest of my life and the TIG welds look so much better that to me they're worth the extra effort......and this type of practice is invaluable.

If I could afford the welding table and fixturing that shares my last name this stuff would be easy : http://www.stronghandtools.com/siegmundtables/index.php

[GregWeld]

I totally agree - but I'm going to give you crap regardless.



Personally - I'd give my MIG machine away... it's just way more fun and looks way mo' betta with TIG. Plus - it requires SKILLZ.....

[Sieg]

Practice, practice, practice.........



Why do I want a larger welding table?