To Hawk and others who put the word out

[orgalmeister]

the Econotig has been sold. I want to thank all who inquired and especially to Hawk plugged it for me on this board. (sorry, no commission, didn't sell it thru here )

Steve

[HAWK]

orgalmeister,

No commission expected. I am just glad you sold it. What are you tigging with now?

[orgalmeister]

Thermal Arc 185. I do mostly bodywork on my own stuff so it has worked out well. I wanted a Dynasty 200 but didn't have the $$$. I don't know at my skill level I'd know the difference.

Steve

PS: I also have a MM185 so I do own Blue. Hopefully more to come.

[HAWK]

orgalmeister,

Let us know how the TA185 does in the long run. I am thinking that machine is made by San Rex and marketed by Thermal Arc here in the USA. It should be a decent machine. I have not had much good to say about any of the TA products in previous posts, but am speaking from many poor personal experiences. I have not spent enough time with the TA185 to give you an adequate comparison to the Miller Dynasty 200DX other than its physical construction is not as solid as in more plastic and less metal and a few less amps with a decreased duty cycle. I am truly interested in its performance now and in the long run if you have the time to post.

[orgalmeister]

Hawk,

I've had the TA185 about 6mos. The reason for the purchase was to get lower amp capability. Old thin sheetmetal was too much for the Econotig.

I read your concerns with Thermal Arc and did searches here and at the Hobart site. Good reviews. Plastic housing doesn't concern me as it stays in my shop and is well protected.

It has more buttons and features than I'll ever understand as I am new to tig. Local tech school won't offer tig classes and wouldn't let me use their machines to learn on even at my expense for consumables.

I did run it at high levels the other day (165 amps) welding 1/2 rod to 1/8 plate and 1" tube w/ .250 wall and was very happy with the results. Very limited Al. experience, no good local source for material... too $$$!!!

Haven't tried lanthenated(sp)yet, mostly thoriated. didn't care for ceriated. Again no good sources locally, never even heard of ceriated or lanthenated(sp).

I use the settings you desribe for the 200DX w/ the TA with good results.More practice is needed.

Sorry for being so loooong winded, it seems I type the same as when I talk.

Steve

[HAWK]

orgalmeister,

Sounds good! Ceriated runs well on the Dynasty, but it not my favorite for the inverters. I prefer the 1.5% lanthanated for general purpose AC/DC tig. For high heat input and helium/argon mixes or even 100% helium on AC I prefer the 2% lanthanated and a steeper taper such as 35 degrees with a .030" flat in a 3/32" diameter. Check out this link for samples as well as a good source for all types of tungsten including preground to your specs.

Home page link: http://www.diamondground.com/

Samples request page: http://www.diamondground.com/Quote.html

Great page on tungsten properties, prep, dangers of thoriated, etc. See the downloads for html and pdf on this page.

http://www.diamondground.com/howto.html

[orgalmeister]

Hawk,

I knew of Diamond Ground Products, I guess I didn't think they'd cater to the hobbiest. I thought they only dealt in high order quantities. I guess I'll give it a shot. Any suggestions for angle and grind in 1/16 and 3/32 1.5 lanthanated?

Thanks Steve

[HAWK]

orgalmeister,


A 20 degree taper with a .020" flat is typical for 5-200 amps. I run a lot of 35 degree taper with a .030" flat to handle the higher heat better. If the TA185 has an arc frequency adjustment on AC, you might want to try a couple pieces ground at 30 degrees with a .030" flat.

Diamond ground has a 50 piece minimum order, but will send out samples for testing before purchasing. I really think you will like the 2% lanthanated with the 20 degree taper and a .020" flat on 1/16" and 3/32" diameters since you are doing thin sheet metal. I get the 3.5" length with the taper on both ends. When the ends degrade I just sharpen and go.

[orgalmeister]

Thanks for the info Hawk. I'll give them a try. Yes,the TA185 has frequency adj. Most of the same features as the 200DX. Someday maybe we can get together and compare machines. (me more for learning)
I thought I read somewhere your in Knoxville area. Not too far from me, I'm just north of Winston-Salem. I hope to be in Pigeon Forge for the Shades of the Past run in Sept. with my truck completed or not.

Be well and thanks for the help.

Steve

[HAWK]

orgalmeister,

Email through the forum and we'll see about getting together later this year.