From: Snag_one@msn.com   
      
   On 10/15/2025 11:00 AM, Bob La Londe wrote:   
   > On 10/14/2025 8:51 PM, Snag wrote:   
   >>    This one is in the foot control of my TIG welder . Infinite   
   >> resistance from any combination of terminals , so I ordered a pair   
   >> from Digikey . The microswitch shows a bit more resistance that a new   
   >> one and the reading is not stable so I'm replacing it too . I don't   
   >> recall what project the switches are left over from but I've got like   
   >> 9 of them .   
   >>    This is NOT a good time for the welder to be down , I'm in the   
   >> middle of a project that includes welding aluminum . And I'm not good   
   >> at controlling the arc with the 2T switch on the torch . It's awkward   
   >> because of the location on the handle .   
   >   
   >   
   > Finger switch huh?  I use a finger switch, but my TIG welder also allows   
   > to me set a start current in addition to a weld current.  I have been   
   > told there are finger switches that can adjust current like a foot   
   > pedal, but I have never seen one.   
   >   
   > I am as cheap as the next guy, but I have been known to throw money at   
   > the problem when time is a constraint.  Time is always important of   
   > course, but sometimes you can work on other things while waiting.  If it   
   > is valuable enough to making waiting an issue Harbor Freight sells a   
   > loose TIG pedal.  If the plug is not compatible you can swap plugs.  Of   
   > course I am working under the assumption that Harbor Freight has a store   
   > within a reasonable distance.   
   >   
   > I recently (month or so ago) adapted a Harbor Freight TIG torch to my   
   > AHP welder in order to finish and ship a job.   
   >   
      
      The problem with the finger switch is it is on top of the handle in a   
   position that makes it impossible to get a steady grip on the torch . My   
   machine also has ramp up/down controls as well as pre and post flow   
   settings . I have the ramp down time set long enough that I can let off   
   the switch for a second or two if the puddle gets too hot . I've seen   
   pictures of torch mounted slider switches but never used one .   
      I'm trying out using a piece of thin plywood as a rest to help   
   control arc length since I can't maintain it due to the compromised grip   
   on the torch . I also have 2 new pots coming for the foot control , one   
   to be installed , the other will be taped inside the control just in   
   case . I have one here somewhere from when the original pedal broke one   
   due to a missing pedal stop screw . They don't like overtravel ... I   
   asked the seller for parts to fix it , they sent me a whole new pedal .   
   I still have a second pedal here if I could only find the damn thing .   
   Right now I'm a noid ...   
   --   
   Snag   
      I appreciated foreign cultures more   
   when they stayed foreign ...   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)