Scratch start AC tig.

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Subject Author Date
Scratch start AC tig. mandelbrot5 02-11-2008
Posted by on February 11, 2008, 7:34 pm
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 Is it possible or safe to do AC scratch start tig on aluminum with an
AC/DC stick welder?

Posted by Ernie Leimkuhler on February 11, 2008, 11:06 pm
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 In article
mandelbrot5@gmail.com wrote:

> Is it possible or safe to do AC scratch start tig on aluminum with an
> AC/DC stick welder?

NO!!!!

AC TIG requires constant high frequency to maintain the arc.

Posted by mandelbrot5@gmail.com on February 12, 2008, 11:50 pm
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wrote:
> In article
>
> mandelbr...@gmail.com wrote:
> > Is it possible or safe to do AC scratch start tig on aluminum with an
> > AC/DC stick welder?
>
> NO!!!!
>
> AC TIG requires constant high frequency to maintain the arc.

Thanks for the quick reply Ernie. If I were to get my hands on a hi
frequency device of some sort, would you have any idea how to wire it
a welder?

Posted by Richard Smith on February 13, 2008, 5:59 am
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> wrote:
> > In article
> >
> > mandelbr...@gmail.com wrote:
> > > Is it possible or safe to do AC scratch start tig on aluminum with an
> > > AC/DC stick welder?
> >
> > NO!!!!
> >
> > AC TIG requires constant high frequency to maintain the arc.
>
> Thanks for the quick reply Ernie. If I were to get my hands on a hi
> frequency device of some sort, would you have any idea how to wire it
> a welder?

"Mandelbrot"

There won't be a TIG welding machine for Al which does not have HF.

SMA/"stick" AC is simpler than DC SMA/"stick"

"AC" TIG for Al is much more complicated and expensive than DC TIG.

Apparently - the oxide on Al has electrical effects which mean that a
simple transformer cannot be used for AC Al TIG - it's not as if you
can put a TIG torch on an AC "stick" welding transformer to get Al
welding capability.

What I do know is that when TIG'ing Al on AC, you can see the
electrical effect of the reverse current flow blowing off the Al oxide
- which is serious stuff.

Rich Smith

Posted by David Billington on February 13, 2008, 7:10 am
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mandelbrot5@gmail.com wrote:
> wrote:
>
>> In article
>>
>> mandelbr...@gmail.com wrote:
>>
>>> Is it possible or safe to do AC scratch start tig on aluminum with an
>>> AC/DC stick welder?
>>>
>> NO!!!!
>>
>> AC TIG requires constant high frequency to maintain the arc.
>>
>
> Thanks for the quick reply Ernie. If I were to get my hands on a hi
> frequency device of some sort, would you have any idea how to wire it
> a welder?
>
I think the sort of thing you are looking for is this type of unit
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/accessories/frequency/ . I used a
similar one for some years connected to my oil cooled welder in order to
provide HF for starting and maintaining the arc when doing AC and DC
TIG. I got both the add on HF unit and the add on rectifier unit 2nd hand.

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