The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk welding

so i just got a plasma cutter and it has a tig set up whats tig do you hold a rod and have a gas that burns the rod in i thought i was getting a wire feed but its tig so is there a arc and you melt rod in im copletly in the dark its new for me help me get started can you get the argon tank at napa.

What type of welding are you trying to do? Just send your unit to me and I will send you my MIG welder.

Actually if you have no idea what the function and capabilities of your machine are then you should not plug it in until you do. Certainly do not try to weld on you truck until you are familar with it.

Get a book that describes the various welding methods or hire a compentent welder to show you how to use it.

Right now it sounds like a recipe for disaster.

TIG: "Tungsten Inert Gas" There is an electrode holder that has a tungsten rod in it. This rod is not consumed by the welding process. The arc jumps from this rod to the workpiece. Usually, there's a foot pedal, or a thumb-actuated current control to allow you to vary the current the arc is producing. The arc is surrounded by a flow of inert gas, either argon, helium, CO2, or a mixture, that prevents the metal melted by the arc from oxidizing. Once a puddle is flowing, fill rod is added by hand to maintain the weld bead. It's like oxyacetyline welding, but the heat to melt the metal is provided by an electric arc.

MIG: "Metal Inert Gas". The metal for the weld bead is in the form of a wire, that is melted by an electric arc as it touches the part to be welded. It's fed in a constant-speed advance through the center of the conductor that supplies the electric current. Voltage, and wire speed are controlled by knobs on the machine. Shielding of the arc is supplied either by a flux made into the wire (flux core), or by CO2 or Argon piped down the stinger lead to the welding tip. Plain wire is used on gas-shielded equipment, which makes a smoother bead than flux-core wire.

Both types of welders have their advantages, but you'll need some training before you're qualified to do good work with either one.
Jerry

Very well stated Jerry. I have never seen a plasma cutter that is set up for TIG. Maybe I misunderstood the question.
Ralph

thanks i have a old truck cab for practice i got a unit that has plasma cutter tig and stick all in one unit once i understand i will plug it in and practes i need to get a tank of gas thanks for the info.

Ya can get gas at any welding supply place,, ask them what ya need... They may also give ya some advice.... ya also need the different filler metal rod..for what ur weldin... balin wire will work for old rusty cab metal... hehehe aluminum for that,,also stainless... or titanium if ur gonna use that..