odd TIG welding question

[coondog]

Hey, so I found something odd at work this week, buried in the back underneath everything.

I found an old lincoln arc welder with like a buzz box mounted to the top of it, set up on a welding cart. The thing has an odd TIG torch, that has me puzzled. Like nothing I've ever seen before. I did some googling, and couldnt really find what I was looking for, so I decided to throw it up on here for some discussion.

Ill try to describe the TIG torch, and see if anyone knows about it...

This TIG torch, has no power lead coming out of it. It is a normal looking TIG torch with all the pieces youd expect; gas lense, cup, etc. But the thing has NO LEAD COMING OUT OF the torch. Only a gas line. And there is a knob on the torch to control gas flow. Halfway down the gas line is this union, with a big 1.5" diameter ring on it, and my employer says the positive ARC welder lead is suppose to clip on this ring. I asked him if he has ever used it as he described it, and he said his brother used it to weld stuff on his aluminum tow truck bed.

Has anyone ever seen a TIG torch with no lead coming out of it, and a ring to clamp a positive lead halfway down??

IF need be I can upload a picture tomorrow, to hopefully see what we got.


Any help is appreciated, Thanks.

 

[readhead]

I have one. You can tig weld steel with any DC machine. You attach the stinger to the lug or you can attach the lug directly to the machine. The box on top probably is a high frequency converter used for welding aluminum. This was a very common setup thirty years ago. Actually works pretty well.

 

[Kidder02]

I'm guessing the "gas line" is the lead. The "lead" to the torch is braided and molded into the rubber and the gas flows through the center to help cool it. Seen them setup like this before.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[Thumper68]

I have one. You can tig weld steel with any DC machine. You attach the stinger to the lug or you can attach the lug directly to the machine. The box on top probably is a high frequency converter used for welding aluminum. This was a very common setup thirty years ago. Actually works pretty well.

This^^^^

I learned Tig on a machine set up like that.

 

[Hephaestus29]

Sounds like it's just a set-up for
scratch start tig. ?

 

[readhead]

The first process I learned was scratch start tig welding on stainless steel. It was four years later when I changed jobs that I found out that tig machines come with a pedal. It was a Linde water cooled machine that was literally the size of a small refrigerator.

 

[Siegel1719]

Its a one piece cable. Most older tig units use them. The conductor is inside the hose and its air cooled. The weld lead is usually attached to the cable using a gas adapter block that allows gas to flow through and the weld cable to attach to the body.

 

[dogdog]

I think it's just a regular manual scratch start tig torch with gas valve. Lot of people that use these converting the Lincoln tombstone welders. They even have a high frequency lift arc unit attachment to this.... its a fun project if you have the $$$ to spend and interest. It can be ac or dc dependent on your unit and setup..
But probably cheaper to just buy a unit these days.

Always interest in this project, just never mustard the $$ or justification and interest.


http://hildstrom.com/projects/ac-225/

I think HF also sells an el-cheapo that is manual tig torch with manual gas control.

 

[OccupantRJ]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65000.

This is what I use in my shop. Similar to what you describe. It is a portable tig scratch start rig used on construction projects by attaching to the nearest welder and using an argon tank.

 

[95vette]

Hello, There are hundreds of them used in any paper mill you have ever seen. Jim

 

[Hornman]

I have one of those. Scratch start TIG. Bought it in 1979. Mine's a Linde.

 

[coondog]

Well gentlemen, thanks for all the feedback. I am one of them damn young guys, and had never seen one before, and wanted to be informed about it before using it. I didn't want to risk injury, so I figured this was the best place to ask.
occupantRJ, mine is set up very similar to the one in the link you added, Thanks! I am going to go get some electrodes, and see if I can fire that ol tombstone up. I had a 76 VW beetle come in for new floor pans, and figured it would be a good job to use the old school TIG on.

 

[readhead]

Hardly old school. The torch is still available. I have one set up for field repairs on stainless steel projects.

 

[OccupantRJ]

If welding steel, you need DC straight polarity. The attached box is likely a high frequency converter for AC welding aluminum.

 

[coondog]

Ok, so I walked by it today, and made a couple mental notes...
Lincoln AC-220, no option for DC that I could tell. Only amp dial and on/off switch
The buzz box it a 60Hz frequency converter box, that I believe is implicated to be able to start an arc just by holding the torch close to the aluminum, instead of scratching. (correct me if I am wrong)

The only TIG unit I remember ever using was a synchrowave, and it was pedal controlled, so I am going far out of my realm bringing this unit back into use.

I found some 2% thoriated tungsten electrodes, but I am thinking those are not the best for aluminum. I am going to pick up some 2% ceriated electrodes, in multiple diameters when I go to the welding supply to get my tanks filled this week.

The torch has a number 5 cup on it, so I am thinking thats just fine for aluminum. It also has the knob on the torch to adjust gas flow (?) so I am going to set my regulator around 15CFH and mess with the knob until I get a pretty wide cleaning area around my weld.


Get this.... I also uncovered a hobart plasma cutter sitting next to the welder, and the torch is only missing two parts in the tip. It has a bunch of extra electrodes and cups, so I am going to see if my supplier has the two pieces I need.

Damn boys, by the end of the week, Ill be cutting stuff, and TIG welding things. I don't know a lot about these things, but I am posting what I think I know, and maybe I will pick up some good advice. Thanks, Connor.