TIG welder - this one big enough?

[mk1mark at gmail.com (Mark F.)]

On 9/6/07, Dan Bubb <jdbubb@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Awesome deal! I paid ~$1600 for mine new many years ago, plus the argon bottle is ~$170.
> As Larry pointed out on thin sections you also need to protect the backside of the weld or you'll get really crusty looking stalactites. Argon's pretty expensive at $75 an 80 cu.ft. refill so generally I use a product called Solar Flux. I imagine you can get it at your local welding shop but you can also get it at www.burnsstainless.com.


Thanks for the tip Dan!  I was considering getting my MIG bottle setup
filled with argon as well, but Solar Flux sounds like a perfect
solution!   You mention "thin sections" - is schedule 10 SS pipe
considered thin?  It might be difficult to apply the Solar Flux when
welding up my 'snake-style' turbo manifold...


> Also, you might want to think about getting a second argon bottle. Like I said the stuff is expensive and I always found myself about running out right before a big weekend project. No sense giving them back an only partly empty bottle!


Maybe in the future, but for now I will have to make do with the one.
I managed to find a local shop that'll fill my bottles so it's no big
deal if I run out in the middle of a project...
 (I had to drive an hour to get them filled before because all the
other places around here would only fill their own bottles)

Bottles run $240 up here in Canada, which I can't justify at the
moment...  If I had a wife at home she'd have already killed me for
the money I've spent on this project!  One of the benefits of my
bachelor lifestyle I guess, but if I listen to my married friend's
whining they're not getting their dick sucked either, so I can't
complain.  At least I get to spend my money like an idiot without the
nagging...  :D


> I trust you'll start posting up pictures of your work as it progresses??
> Dan


Of course!  I've been lazy about updating my build threads, but I've
been still getting parts in the mail, so the bulk of the actual work
is ready to happen now and in the next few weeks...

Later,

Mark.
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