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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
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    Melbourne
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    9,088

    Default First welds with the Metalmaster 215

    Finally got some time to fire up my new welder.

    Connected it all up.

    Selected the factory preset for steel, left it at 25A for 1mm.

    First test piece is my first TIG in 30 years.

    Turns out the only real issue I had was I really need some different glasses. I was wondering why it all looked so strange, turns out I was sitting at least 12 inches closer than I can see. lol

    That sorted onto my first tacks.

    Then a weld.

    Pretty happy with that.

    Is there a thread in here on TIG welder trolleys? I'm going to need one of those.
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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Near Bendigo, Victoria, AUS
    Age
    72
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    3,102

    Default

    Looking good for a new start, Stu!

    Cheers
    Joe
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    4,779

    Default

    Well done Stuart. I'd love to be at your level with tig!

    Cant wait to see more..

    Simon

    Sent from my SM-G970F using Tapatalk
    Girl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
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    59
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    Default

    I have a set of high(er) magnification reading glasses from officeworks/ super market/ cheap as chips that I designate my welding glasses for just that reason...

    Michael

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    9,088

    Default

    Thank you gentlemen, just wait until you see me use filler

    I'm not T2ing correctly, I just lift. You'd think having done so much MIG releasing the trigger would come naturally. (although I'm not sure there is a down slop on the defeat setting, something to check)

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael G View Post
    I have a set of high(er) magnification reading glasses from officeworks/ super market/ cheap as chips that I designate my welding glasses for just that reason...
    Thanks for reminding me. I have a 1.5 cheater lens but it doesn't fit either of my helmets, so I was just using my normal glasses, don't know their correction but it seems about the same as the 1.5. I think I have a set of the cheap +2 around here some place I will have a look see. I think I will need something more like +3. I guess I could dig out my magnifying visor and try out some different lens powers.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
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    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
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    59
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    Default

    I bought a cheater lens once but was not impressed with it. The field of view was not uniformly clear. For around the same price a cheap set of reading glasses does the job.

    Michael

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
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    Melbourne
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael G View Post
    I bought a cheater lens once but was not impressed with it. The field of view was not uniformly clear. For around the same price a cheap set of reading glasses does the job.

    Michael
    I found them!! a pair of +2.5. I can get down to about 11 inches, which should be good enough for starters.
    The 1.5 cheater I have doesnt seem "to bad" but as you say, as you go higher it would help to have the lenses closer to your face.
    Maybe both is the way to go? I'm going to be useless for most anything else with the +2.5 on. Perhaps a +1.5 cheater and my normal glasses would be an improvement.

    Now to find the time to practice. I am limited to welding in the driveway ATM lol

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    N.W.Tasmania
    Posts
    1,407

    Default

    Looks good Stu, I have been following your new welder venture on the side as I have been in the same situation myself, just a bit further behind you. Like you I have chosen a Metalmaster 215, but my 2 boxes are sitting at Tullamarine as they have since Friday Wednesday is supposed to be the day, which is not so good as I will be away most of it. I may have to reorganise a more suitable delivery time.
    I have struggled a bit over the years with my welding, partly because I probably don't do enough to keep current, also my old Arlec transformer welder is AC only, and that combined with an inadequate supply has me in strife with sticking rods a lot of the time. I have never tried Tig welding, but its more precise nature and suitability for thin workpieces has been tempting me for ages and I finally decided that if I was ever going to give it a go, it had better be now. Even Sco-Mo was offering assistance and encouragement, so I bit the bullet.
    I doubt that I will get the chance to even plug it in before the new year with a fair bit happening even without the festive season. I also have decided to get a new welding helmet, as my old ones won't be making things any easier for my 70+yo eyes, and I have some questions which I will ask in the thread that Grahame Collins has started on that very subject. I have yet to decide on a gas supplier, am thinking Bunnings atm, because I believe that I can get my money back by returning the bottle and not sure other suppliers do that. Who did you go with Stu, you most likely have far more choice than I do, I have 2 that I am aware of +BOC, but I am yet to fully research that. Anyway lots t look forward to, and lots and lots to learn in my case.
    Finally for the benefit of anyone looking to get welding gear, TokenTools gets a good report on the forum here, I have never seen any negative reports and I can only say that my experience has also been good. Peter from TT advising of stuff I would most likely not need in the near future, where I simply did not have the experience to know. I found his advice most helpful, and he even fitted a flex head free of charge, so its a thumbs up for TokenTools from me

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
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    Default

    Welcome to the club lol.

    As I recall the Arlec welders only had a switch for current control? I never used one. I was ok with stick but am interested to see what I'm like with an inverter stick, I'm told its much easier.

    I own a gasweld cylinder for my non functioning MIG(though it may be possible to swap it for argon)
    I currently have a Bunnings cylinder for the TIG. D size bottle as the local store doesn't carry E size, so the gas costs about 30% more. If I use much I may make a change(or perhaps they will stock it locally). A big plus for Bunnings is they are open long hours 7 days. BOC is an option but only if I have to.

    Damn I didn't give Peter the chance to give me free stuff lol I had meant to give him a call about this and that but it had already taken me so long I just ticked options on the web site and sent him some money. I only dealt with Peter v email but things went so smoothly there wasn't even much of that.

    I know what you mean about getting time. I'm yet to do any more welding than you see above

    Re helmets I have a Miller and a cheapie. The Miller looks way cooler with flaming skull stickers and a big window, it also has replaceable batteries. The cheapie I hacked to be able to change the batteries. 15 years on they are both still working and I don't care which one I pick up.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
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    Default

    New glasses on the way matched to a 1.5+ lens in the helmet to give me minimum focus distance of about 10" while welding and pretty much reading glasses without helmet. Fingers crossed.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
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    Default

    Cheater lens in and new glasses on.
    Welding up some 30 x 2mm SHS
    Started out at 50A, It was way to low so kept cranking it up until I got to 140A, then noticed the current control on the hand piece was set on 2. No job is so simple that some fool cant screw it up . That fixed and back down to 70A.

    This little filler rod feeder doohickey is fantastic! Maybe the thinner gloves has something to do with it. Thanks to who ever it was that put me onto them, cant find the post.

    Likely needed to clean the gal back a little further.

    I'm using the 2.5mm tungsten ATM for no other reason than that's the one I picked up first. I've only ever used 3.2mm before. How does one know when I've reached the max current on 2.5mm?
    Attached Images Attached Images

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
    Age
    59
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    6,540

    Default

    try this
    TIGBook_Chpt4.pdf

    Michael

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Bungama SA
    Age
    52
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    960

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Stustoys View Post
    How does one know when I've reached the max current on 2.5mm?
    When the tip drips off into the weld, it either deteriorates rapidly or balls up.
    2.5mm electrode, did you mean 2.4mm?
    2.4mm can go pretty high over 150a depending on what blend used.
    ....................................................................

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    NSW
    Posts
    586

    Default

    This is also a good resource:
    CK-worldwide Form 116 Technical Guide.pdf

  15. #15
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    Jul 2010
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    Melbourne
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Harry72 View Post
    2.5mm electrode, did you mean 2.4mm?
    Well that will teach me to measure things.
    Turns out I have 1.6mm and 2.4mm.
    So I was using 1.6mm

    Still pretty sure I have only used 3.2mm before. But hey I likely got that wrong as well.

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