What all is involved in using an inverter to convert to DC tig?

[Steve]

My next purchase is going to be a stick unit and have been reading about folks who use the inverter for DC tig.

My question is how do you set up an inverter for use as a DC tig machine? Can a foot pedal be used with that kind of set up?

I'm an old school guy with lots of gas welding and mig welding experience but no tig experience yet. Eventually going to get the 250EX tig unit but for now, a stick unit and maybe a tig torch set up would work for me.

[Shield Arc]

Steve I Tig welded with my PowerArc 200. Very nice arc. You'll need a regulator, scratch start Tig rig, and a power block.

[Wrenchtamer]

I use a small stick welding inverter to tig weld as well. I needed something fast that I could run off of 110 power. I bought a little 90 amp HF inverter and hooked up a 17v tig torch to it and it welds beautifully. You can also use a "two piece" torch that has the power cable seperate from the gas line.that is how mine works. I hook the gas line up to the regulator and it feeds into the base of the connector where the torch plugs into the machine. No footpedal will be adapted easily but it could be done. And no HF start of course only scratch start which takes a little while to get used to. You really dont have to modify the machine at all as long as the output is DC. Just remember you have to set the gas flow manually with the valve on the torch. It's easy to disturb the knob while welding and not realize it. I think it would be nice if there was a torch available with the valve a little further down the handle.....

[performance]

Scratch start TIG rig= wp 17V or wp17fv torch with either a lug like Shield Arc's or a DINSE 50 connector.

[I_Love_Plasma]

With the appropriate connectors would an aircooled torch from this place http://weldingdirect.com/tigtoairco.html work with a PowerArc 200?

[performance]

It shouldn't be a problem. We have the 17V's in stock which should be ideal for that unit.

[I_Love_Plasma]

Oh I didn't realize Everlast had them. Do you know a ballpark of what they retail for $?

[performance]

Not sure of hand, but its listed on the site under torches.

[ogorir]

hey mark, does that torch come with a dinse connector? that was the price killer on my scratch-start setup. the weldcraft WP9 torch was $63, but I think the dinse plug with the gas port was $33.

[performance]

Yes, its ready to go.
I THINK it even has an extra remote switch with the torch, though I am not positive on this one...though its not needed and is easily removed for the PA 200. Keep in mind this will be scratch start only, and low end amps are not what the 140 is.

[ogorir]

I guess I should've checked the product page first... they all come with dinse plugs, quick connect gas fittings, and 2t/4t switches. I do have one other question, the dinse plug on all but the 'economy' torch is the larger 1/2" dinse plug. are all the stick welders the larger size, or is the 140 using the smaller 3/8" size. I'm pretty sure my I-mig is 1/2", but I'll check my receipt for the dinse. I think I used a 1/2" drill bit to drill out the machine side plug to work with a std. weldcraft dinse. there's more material past the 1/4 turn key on the weldcrafts than there is on the supplied ground cable.

edit: yes, it appears it's 1/2". http://weldwarehouse.securesites.com...Q5G-150||1|366

[performance]

Yes the PA 140 is smaller. Go to http://www.youtube.com/user/everlast...r?feature=mhee