- Joined
- Dec 18, 2019
- Messages
- 6,464
CK World-wide makes a slider amperage control for TIG torches, although I haven't tried it. It just clamps around your torch.
There are a variety of hand controls available. I've tried the kind with a slider that moves along the same path as the handle and one that had a little wheel that turns perpendicular to the handle. I like the perpendicular wheel better...it has a detent that you pass and the HF arc starts, you turn it to the right for more power, and turn it left to lower power, then past the detent to stop the arc. I can manipulate that with my thumb pretty easily.Having a ankle problem, instead of a foot pedal how do the hand controls compare?
This one is inexpensive and works OK. I still like my foot pedal, but there are times which this comes in real handy.Having a ankle problem, instead of a foot pedal how do the hand controls compare?
You typically TIG weld aluminum. I never seen or heard anyone MIG those. Aluminum is tricky to weld and IMHO if you can make the same part out of steel I'd do that. At least you can weld steel.I would appreciate some advice from those of you who have experience welding or brazing aluminum: I have made a side mount license plate for my motorcycle, and I am looking to assemble the pieces together. I would either need to weld the pieces together or braze them. I have made the small brackets for reinforcement otherwise vibration and wind forces can fatigue and brake the main bracket from the license plate holder. I have both a brand new mig welder with a spool gun, and a torch with aluminum brazing rods. Problem is, I have never welded anything nor brazed aliminum!
Brazing the main bracket to the license plate holder would be easy. I have machined a ~1mm groove in the plate so that bracket will stand on its own for either welding or brazing. I am trying to figure out how to fixture the two small reinforcement brackets to weld or braze. I suppose I could tack weld them in place and then weld, but brazing may be more complicated since heating the assembly up may melt the braze in other places while I work to braze the pieces in stages.
The main plate (largest piece) is 1/8" think (~3mm) and the brackets are 3/16" (~5mm). Any recommendations on the best approach considering I am a complete novice to both methods?
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MIG is a very common process for use on aluminum. Pretty much every aluminum trailer, truck body, boat, etc is welded using some form of MIG since TIG would be terribly slow. You have to use 100% aluminum rather than Co2 or Co2/Argon blends. Some MIG welders will feed aluminum wire with their normal wire feed system, but many/most won't and require either a spool gun or a push/pull gun to work well.You typically TIG weld aluminum. I never seen or heard anyone MIG those. Aluminum is tricky to weld and IMHO if you can make the same part out of steel I'd do that. At least you can weld steel.