aluthman

I have the 2014 version of the AlphaTIG 200 and live in Griswold, CT if you want to try it out before buying. THey have added a few nice features in the last two years though like AC freq. adjustment and high freq. pulse.

Edit: Just saw that you said you were borrowing one.

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

I'm borrowing a diversion 165, I'd love to try your alpha tig out! Shoot me a pm if you're going to be around next weekend and I'll try to get freed up for a bit.

I did get a number 10 gas lens instead of the number 7 and it helped a bit, I didn't back purge what I was testing on so the inside was crusty but the outer coloring looked a lot better. Buddy that welded my headers stopped by and verified my settings and gave me a couple pointers, which helped a bunch

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

I'll put a picture up in a bit

aluthman

I should be around pretty much all weekend. I have a little bit of stainless and aluminum scrap to play with, but no mild steel. I also only have a couple hundred pounds of argon left, but it should be enough to play around with. I'll probably try to go get a fresh tank on saturday.

Adam

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

Thanks Adam a little stainless would be fine as that's what I've been working with the most and would make the most sense to get an accurate comparison.

Trying it with alum would be cool too just because I know that tests a whole separate set of settings and also a different setup on the machine.

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

Latest weld stainless butt weld, 45 amps on the diversion 165. Number 10 gas lens, not the diffuser cup type just the larger number 10, 20cfm of gas flow.

aluthman

Some welds on my downpipe. The tubing was welded autogenously, while the bungs used 1/16" 308L filler. Ignore the shitty weld on the cat, That's me joining the new tubing to a pre-used cat that already had shitty welds.



Here's my methanol tank while it was being built. (my first TIG project ever)




And after completion.

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

Good looking work for sure. Looks like that alpha machine is more than capable but if love to try it. Possibly Saturday evening or Sunday I might be free have to see.

truckdoug

iTrader: (25)

here's my alpha in action

Blown06

iTrader: (32)

All you tig welders out there, answer the 3 following questions:

1. How long have you been tig welding?
2. About how many bottles of argon have you been through?
3. How many bad (contaminated) bottles of argon have you gotten?

aluthman

1. 1 year, 2 months
2. Two 150 cf bottles
3. None

truckdoug

iTrader: (25)

1 10 years on and off
2 about 4 or 5 125cf bottles since I got the ahp this time last year
3 one and it didnt show until the bottle was 3/4 empty and I was getting porosity and contamination like crazy. had to grind it all out. learned something new.

I tried everything, new tungstens, new filler, different material. the only thing constant was that gas so I took it back early. of course airgas claimed no such thing is possible but w/e new bottle on there and I was back at it, good as new.

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

Seems this topic has been coming up alot lately. Ive heard of a few instances with bad argon fills in the last couple months.

Biggest problem, is that we as the consumer have no way to test it to see what the issue is, we know it's not good but have no way to take a measurement, etc to prove it.

Toddoky

1.) 17 years
2.) Can't remember
3.) 3 bottles- all in the last 4 years

ben husen

i went and ran some beats tonight on stainless
1/4in bar 3/32 2% thoriated red tungstun 3/32 rod 80amps ( no pedal)

how important are making dimes? few months ago i was doing decent dimes and tonight i couldnt get any but they were solid welds penatration wise and i was diping not just laying the rod down i turned the amps down once but it wouldnt burn in good enough and just built up to much

Blown06

iTrader: (32)

Reason I ask, is that over the last 2-3 years, nearly 1 out of every 3 bottles I get is contaminated in some way. I just could not believe that I had this bad of luck, but I have done everything known to man to fix it and it just the cratering/porosity and **** welds just don't go away till I get a good bottle. I have always used the same supplier and last week I decided enough is enough. I've got one good bottle to run through and from then on I have found a different company that will work with me doing swap outs. I own my bottles and some companies, airgas for example, won't refill or even accept any bottles that are not their own. Also, I'm in a state that allows the consumer to own the bottle, so I'm not doing the rental bullshit either.

This new company that I found that will do exchanges with me does not do their own refills. They are sent out to a proper facility, vacuumed and then filled.

The company I had been working with just uses a huge mother bottle(s) hooked to a manifold and was just doing top offs. I would compare it to being a *****. You're likely to get anything and everything all other dudes gave her before you fucked her.

ablakez28

iTrader: (9)

That is nuts. I have used Praxair and Airgas and have never had a problem.

Also figured I would post that if anyone wants to see my welds I post a lof of the fab/turbo kits im building on my instagram but don't really often upload any online.

ablake211 if anyone wants to check it out. Just finished up a few f-body turbo kits that came out pretty cool.

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

Lol that's funny

ablakez28

iTrader: (9)

His ***** filler station? ha

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

Right.