XMT-304 What do I need to TIG

[HTZ]

I recently purchased a used XMT-304 CC/CV with leads for stick welding. What do I need to get in order to have TIG welding capability? I was thinking that all I would need is a torch and a remote, however, I don't see any gas fittings on the unit, so I'm guessing that I'm going to need something else. I have never TIG welded before, just thinking it might be something I could learn. Is this machine a good starting point for TIG? Thanks

[raferguson]

You can get a torch with a manual gas valve, cable, and the DINSE power connector. You would need a gas flow regulator, and a tank of argon. You may need some extra hose and adaptors to make it all fit together. If you are serious about TIG, you should probably buy a foot pedal control.

I have bought a torch from TIG Depot in the past, go for the superflex cable. They were much cheaper than my LWS.

I am not aware of any way to retrofit an XMT-304 for a gas valve. I believe that the XMT-350 will accept a gas valve as a retrofit.

Richard

[cruizer]

You get a dinse connecter and weld on a Tig block, then get a tig torch with a gas valve

[coxey2]

You can get a torch with a manual gas valve, cable, and the DINSE power connector. You would need a gas flow regulator, and a tank of argon. You may need some extra hose and adaptors to make it all fit together. If you are serious about TIG, you should probably buy a foot pedal control.

I have bought a torch from TIG Depot in the past, go for the superflex cable. They were much cheaper than my LWS.

I am not aware of any way to retrofit an XMT-304 for a gas valve. I believe that the XMT-350 will accept a gas valve as a retrofit.

Richard

clamp the stick lead to the lug on the tig torch cable and remember to change the polarity. It needs to be EN or straight and have a torch with the gas valve on it.

[cruizer]

Pretty darn simple to braze a tig block on to a dinse connector

[raferguson]

TIG block?

You get a dinse connecter and weld on a Tig block, then get a tig torch with a gas valve

What is a TIG block and why do you need one? Why can't you get a torch with a dinse connector and then hook up the hose to the gas regulator?

[cruizer]

Tig block is just a brass block with the large tig torch and small gas hose connector, and it has the terminal mounting hole say if you have it connected to a stud.
So on a 304 with the Dinse connector, I just remove the outer rubber and braze the block onto it. Presto, elcheapo adaptor, that I don't need a special freaking tig torch connector

Plus say if one were to blow the torch, pretty much any (I think) 5/8 npt torch will fit, and I don't have to track another Dinse one down