Use for new TIG machine

[Gary Fowler]

Today the exhaust for my Kubota RTV900 completely broke off right at the flange onto the exhaust manifold. Tomorrow I will look at it and see I need to TIG weld it or use my FCAW machine . If I need to TIG it, I have to go buy a bottle of argon. I will post results later and possibly post some photos.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I didnt take photos, but the little Titanium 125 amp FCAW machine from Harbor Freight did a great job on the exhaust pipe on my Kubota. Except for the excess amount of buckshot that it generates, it did a fine job with pretty good penetration and only a couple of blow outs that filled in easily. I also found a piece of muffler pipe in my scrap yard that was just a bit larger than the OD of my pipe and was able to make a reinforcement sleeve to weld to the pipe and the manifold attachment plate. I think now it is better than new.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I did purchase a 125 CF Argon bottle yesterday to run the TIG with but my 220 plug for my welding machine is different from the one that came on my Everlast 206 machine. I have to go to town to find a 3 prong flat plug for it. I Think it is a typical 30 amp plug whereas my welding receptacle is 4 prong.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I did ask my LWS if they sold 240 CF cylinders and they DONT. One reason is because most folks wouldnt want to pay the $600 cost. The other reason is because many of the commercial end users buy their own bottles and just swap them out so they only have a few that they actually own.
My 125 CF bottle cost me a bit over $300 after tax.

 

[Dirt Guy]

Gary, Most of the newer welders,Tig, Mig, Etc. come with the 3 prong flat plug. It uses 2 hot wires and a ground ,no netural, Where as the 4 prong uses the netural as well as 2 hot wires and a ground. An adapter you can buy from Miller at most welding supply stores. I ran into the same problem in my shop. Got the adapter and all is great. You can make your own adapter by buying a 4 prong male plug and a 3 prong female flat plug. A 2ft. piece of 4 wire and wire it yourself, Much more cost effective than buying Millers adapter. I paid around 80 dollars for mine, Then made some myself, way less money.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I got a buddy to pick me up a receptacle at my local hardware store. He said they had 6 or more different plugs/ receptacles for welding machines. The one I have wired to my Miller is a 50 amp 4 slot but it accepts a 3 prong 50 amp plug also. It is a little too wide for my Everlast plug though. I solved the problem by scavenging the circuit that I had ran for my 50 amp camper plug. It was 3 number 6 (or maybe 4 gauge) with a bare ground which is required for the 50 amp camper plug. I used the black, red and white wire (white is ground wire) and it works great. I built a hanger and coiled up a few feet to use as an extension if needed.
I had sold my camper last year and that wire was not ever going to be used again. I couldnt salvage the underground portion, but it had about 40 feet of wire inside my shop that I just rerouted and got about 15 feet to use as an extension if needed.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have used all the functions on the Everlast 206 and it welds very good. I picked up a furniture mover at HF today just for the wheels. Caster wheel were $4.99 each for the cheapest ones and the 4 wheel mover dolly was just $10. I will use those to fab a new welding dolly for my little MIGLite 100 machine. It is just too busy for two machines on one dolly. I think I have enough tubing to fab up a nice table top roll around.