From: Snag_one@msn.com   
      
   On 10/15/2025 7:35 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:   
   > 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.   
   >   
      
      Yeah , but most of my welding is steel with the MIG machine . I have   
   cut some strips of the stuff I'm using on the project so I can practice   
   . The new parts will be here on Friday afternoon so I should have the   
   TIG machine back online by Saturday AM . A new microswitch and pot   
   should give me another 12 years ...   
   --   
   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)