Welding equipment?

[slingsy]

good welding helmets cost like 300bucks
like those 3M auto darkening ones are great
its got lag too so it doesnt go bright straight away after arc dies

but main issue you'll get with that cheap tig is the after arc shielding time
because after arc dies, you need to keep shielding metal with inert gas until it no longer hot enough to oxidize with normal air

how long? depends on metal thickness/amp used

Yeap Speedglas made by 3m, the delay is very handy.. I still occasionally get slight eye strain with the delay set on longest on very hot runs. Pretty much top notch for welding shield brands.

If you get a Tig torch with just a start button try to buy another one with a little threaded gas switch on the hand piece with allows gas to flow when you turn it on, continuously until you turn it off at variable flow rates depending on how loose/tight and switch is. The price range isn't really enough for a good machine that has post flow settings and they aren't necessary if you get the hand piece that I was talking about.
(Coming from EX food grade stainless workshop employee)

[mocchi]

Yeap Speedglas made by 3m, the delay is very handy.. I still occasionally get slight eye strain with the delay set on longest on very hot runs. Pretty much top notch for welding shield brands.

If you get a Tig torch with just a start button try to buy another one with a little threaded gas switch on the hand piece with allows gas to flow when you turn it on, continuously until you turn it off at variable flow rates depending on how loose/tight and switch is. The price range isn't really enough for a good machine that has post flow settings and they aren't necessary if you get the hand piece that I was talking about.
(Coming from EX food grade stainless workshop employee)

i got that manual hand piece cos the good welder just too exxy lol
mugen_ctr, also put in budget of $100+ for pure argon for the big tank
which you will finish in first week of constant practice
oh fcuk, not to mention argon regulator $40+

so probably expect about $1g all up
for proper gear.

but tig is nice, its clean and looks nice when you weld ss

[slingsy]

i got that manual hand piece cos the good welder just too exxy lol
mugen_ctr, also put in budget of $100+ for pure argon for the big tank
which you will finish in first week of constant practice
oh fcuk, not to mention argon regulator $40+

so probably expect about $1g all up
for proper gear.

but tig is nice, its clean and looks nice when you weld ss

haha the list goes on.. will be pricey but to OP you will get your moneys worth out of it.. except consumables. Forget to tell your friends.. you will be welding everything they bring.......... :P at a small cost if they are proper mates.

You may not be that far into it yet but if you want to Tig s/s and m/s don't forget the 2% Thoriated tungstens (red end)

[mugen_ctr]

ouch! welding aint no cheap thing lol.... But its something ive always wanted to do for ages since finish yr 12... so i might start building up the equipment slowly over period of few months... whilst learning to weld at uni...

But defs plenty of helpful tips... thanks guys!

[mocchi]

haha the list goes on.. will be pricey but to OP you will get your moneys worth out of it.. except consumables. Forget to tell your friends.. you will be welding everything they bring.......... :P at a small cost if they are proper mates.

You may not be that far into it yet but if you want to Tig s/s and m/s don't forget the 2% Thoriated tungstens (red end)

they say thoriated is radioactive when you grind it but idk really.
i use lanthanated 2% from ebay, not sure abt purity but it works

or mugen_ctr can pm me for some work done namsayin

or CB Paint & Panel, he does welding jobs too.

[mugen_ctr]

they say thoriated is radioactive when you grind it but idk really.
i use lanthanated 2% from ebay, not sure abt purity but it works

or mugen_ctr can pm me for some work done namsayin

or CB Paint & Panel, he does welding jobs too.

will do man, ive got a design already drawn up, but not sure if its do able or not lol.... but will pm u later on to see if u can or cant or even possible hahaha

cheers man

[slingsy]

they say thoriated is radioactive when you grind it but idk really.
i use lanthanated 2% from ebay, not sure abt purity but it works

or mugen_ctr can pm me for some work done namsayin

or CB Paint & Panel, he does welding jobs too.

Yeah lathenated is fine but I dunno about eBay quality, i've read lots if places are going to lathenated now. would be good enough.
If you are worried just don't breath in the particles when grinding it sharp, use a dust mask or something, but seriously sheet metal fabricators have been sharpening thoriated tungsten for their whole lives and nothing bad has come from it unless you are breathing in the particles every time in large amounts, it's just like the extremists that think your pillows are gunna kill you after they are 2 months old. But in saying that if you are worried just stay away from thoriated tungstens as it contains thorium which is radioactive.