From: none@none.com99   
      
   On 10/15/2025 12:33 PM, Snag wrote:   
   > 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 ...   
      
   Setting up a rest, and practicing the entire path of the weld is (should   
   be) a normal part of welding for most of us who don't do it everyday   
   anyway.  I'll even go get some scrap out of the piles out back and   
   practice a weld on similar materials sometimes before making the actual   
   weld, but you probably weld more often than I do.   
      
   --   
   Bob La Londe   
   CNC Molds N Stuff   
      
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