Quote:
Originally Posted by unclebilly
For aluminum TIG, you need Ac and continuous high frequency to keep your tungsten clean.
MIG welders don’t have continuous HF or even HF start. The welder shown is DC as well as are most MIG welders but could be wrong on this point.
This would be lift arc only and won’t work for aluminum at all.
Neat idea though.
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He said "scratch start" and it would have to be that. No HF but the tungsten would be hot when the trigger is pulled. If you're in contact with the weld material when you pull the trigger all you're gonna do is stick the tungsten.
What he is doing is no different than using s TIG torch with an old buzz box stick (SMAW) welder with a manual gas valve.
I think his current was too high. He could have had a helper turn it down once he had an arc started. That is if the MIG had a continuous voltage adjustment. So many of the little ones are tapped (or stepped voltage settings) machines and can't be adjusted on the fly.
TIG machines are so cheap these days that if you can afford an argon bottle, you can afford the welder. Conversely, you can spend a small fortune on a really nice MIG. I've used one of those and it's miles ahead of anything under $700.