My projects with my Everlast 200DX Tig-a-ma-jig

[vicrc]

I received my Everlast 200DX during the first week of November 2012 and so far have been enjoying practicing beads and making my first projects. I had a mig that I sold recently because it was pretty useless in making any small things that I wanted to make. My main hobby is flying RC airplanes and thought that having a tig welder machine can help me make small metal parts like engine mufflers, mechanical retracts and other small tools that will help with my hobby. To be honest I love having tools, I even have CNC machine I built, and small mini lathe that I rarely use. I just love having tools! . As with my mig I am basically self thought in welding, the online video really help me a lot and people like Jody from weldingtipsandtricks.com basically guides noobs like me in figuring things out, it got me started for sure. His comments about Everlast welders paved the way in making my decision to get one. I was actually looking at the Miller Diversion 180 but the price and a 5 year warranty on the Everlast cannot be beat. I was also told to get an used equipment, I looked at them and most that I can afford was the of my fridge, well maybe not as tall but its big. I have a small shop and space is a premium. I am not welding to make money but to make things for myself so it has to be reasonably priced.

So far I have around 12 hours of 'hood time' and some of them were not always good times for a newb. If I had a class in welding it would be great but I really don't have a lot of time to take classes, I have a day job, a family and of course RC airplanes. I would say its another hobby to help with another hobby.

Anyways here are some first pics during my first week noob welding.



I got bored practicing welding scrap, I know I know it will help, anyway I made a welding cart/table, basically the same thing I did with my mig was make a cart. Since I have very little room it would also be a table as well. It probably cost me more money to make it but I know it will be a good practice run and will learn a lot from it.

I used 16 gauge 1.25" and 1" square tubing.



Was very happy with the result that I actually painted this one. Tig is wonderfull and clean, no mess like tig.

[vicrc]

While cutting the metal with my portable band saw, I thought it would be nice to have a portable base to hold it place so I can cut small parts. I have seen other with examples and made one that fit mine and it had to be easy to mount and remove from the base for portability. I have this cheap band saw from HF that actually replaced my industrial band saw which was way too big for my little shop. I wanted the base to be strong and lightweight so I made it out of 1/4" aluminum that I already have and some parts that I picked up as rems from a metal shop. The 200DX tig welded through the project without a hick-up and the only thing that is not perfect of course is my noob welding techniques. However it works, its not going to fall apart and its not like I will be riding on it at 150 mph. I can look back at that project and say to myself that I can do a lot better. The removable platform table was held on with 1/4-20 bolts on to the vertical post.

[vicrc]

Recently I have been practicing beading thin aluminum and trying to make some welds. I know its not perfect yet but will practice on welding pipes together. I actually got a larger 80CF argon tank, that 50CF tank goes way fast. Its a little heaver so I might try and make a dedicated carrier for it.

I made a make shift torch holder that could really use some improvement. Making fillet joint is really hard for me and I struggle a lot trying. Getting better at the 1/8 plates but no so with the 1/16 as I can really burn easily through them.

[cbmkr]

Looks like you are headed in the right direction, For being new at this and just starting it looks like you are making very good progress. 12 hours is a lot of hood time and a lot of gas.You will overtime learn some little tricks and things not to do. It just takes time. I tried a little .025 and .030 sheet and had success using the pulse setting seemed like it helped warpage on the thin material. I learned on a 400 amp Lincoln barrel welder when i was 16 ( used to burn 1/4" 7018 36" long rods) and a year later was thrown into the world of mig that everyone then said the welds would not hold. ( we all know how that turned out ) After that an introduction to Heliarc on a giant old linde machine. Later running our plant was mostly .045 solid wire, 1/16" and 5/64" Flux core wire and stick for maintenance.

[225]

Looks good. I love that welding cart.

[vicrc]

I went through 4 tanks for 50CF argon in a month, lots of gas for sure and its not cheap, cost me around 47-57 each time. Just recently upgraded to the 80CF, luckily filler is not too expensive.

I am still looking around for a thicker table top. Its only around 20"x 36". Currently the top I have now will bow a little with heat. You guys think a 1/4" plate might be okay for the top?