Hello from Washington, D.C.

I just bought a Power i-TIG 200T. I've received it, but haven't tried it yet. I've been brazing bicycle frames for 40 years. My doctor ordered me to stop brazing, but gave me the okay to TIG weld bicycle frames with a, "full respirator". I believe that covers the whole face, including the eyes. I'm not sure how practical that is with a welding helmet. I may have to go with a half mask respirator and see how that works. I haven't TIG welded before, but I'm pretty good with the hand-eye stuff, brazing and feeding brazing rod. The 200T included what looks like flex cable on the 26 torch and the pedal looks like the wide, low Nova pedal. The pedal movement feels smooth. Two tungsten collets included look like they are both for 3/32" tungsten and the two included cups are one number 5 and one number 6. I just need to get some argon, tungsten and filler rod. I have plenty of scrap I can use to practice.

So sorry to hear you've been limited. What was the reason he ordered you to stop brazing?

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Originally Posted by performance

So sorry to hear you've been limited. What was the reason he ordered you to stop brazing?

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Respiratory disease caused by toxic fumes from brazing alloys and brazing fluxes. 40- years ago, brazers didn't often wear respirators, but fumes were somewhat of a concern. In later years I did start to wear a respirator mask, but it wasn't until later I learned of the dangers of the dust from filing, sanding and cutting brazed joints and residual settling of the fumes in the shop and on my clothing. The doctor said no more brazing for me, but considers TIG welding steel fumes a bit less toxic, but still not healthy. He says they're still harsher than cigarette smoke, but I never smoked. I need to find a good welding helmet that fits my big head and over some type of respirator.

I'm fairly well known in the international bicycle community. If this TIG welding works out, I want to branch out into welding lightweight steel frame dog sleds with wheels and brakes, for dog sled practice without snow. I've brazed a few wheeled dog sleds before, but nowhere near the number of bike frames I've made in 40 years.

Nice,

That digital 200T unit will undoubtedly be just the thing for you.

I mean, I saw a video with Mr. TIG using one to TIG weld aluminum foil together via DCEN. It was pretty amazing, I thought.

The low 3 amp arc is about as good, or better, than any non-aerospace TIG welding unit at any price.

Please do show us some pics of your bike frames.

I'm guessing that you mostly use drop-ins.

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Originally Posted by christian

Nice,

That digital 200T unit will undoubtedly be just the thing for you.

I mean, I saw a video with Mr. TIG using one to TIG weld aluminum foil together via DCEN. It was pretty amazing, I thought.

The low 3 amp arc is about as good, or better, than any non-aerospace TIG welding unit at any price.

Please do show us some pics of your bike frames.

I'm guessing that you mostly use drop-ins.

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I used lugs and fillet brazed bike frames. I've machined my own head tubes, bottom bracket shells, dropouts and some custom lugs. I've made a few custom tubes. i worked with a silver brazing alloy supplier to make a couple of custom blends of silver brazing alloys.

I've heard it's difficult to learn new s\kills at my age, but I don't think the transition from brazing to TIG welding is too much of a stretch. In my younger days I did do some gas welding when my late uncle owned some crop dusters.

I make mostly road racing bikes, touring bikes, some mountain bikes, some track bikes and a few tandems, which require the most custom work and fitting.

The dog sleds were fillet brazed and fitted with bicycle brakes on small spoked wheels.

There is now light weight air hardening steel tubing available that responds well to TIG welding.

I understand the super thin stuff is most difficult to weld, so I'll start out with the thickest bike tubes available for welding and maybe move to lighter tubes when my welding improves.