Left or right foot?

[Steve]

I've been using the Everlast Powertig 250EX now for a while and really love the darned thing.
I'm welding aluminum like I never had before and really enjoy learning everything I can about the settings and what they do. Now I've got to figure out how I work!

It seems to me that I have a better control of my foot pedal when I use my left foot. I am right handed and when I weld using my right hand holding the torch, I find that my right foot is not as accurate as it can be as compared to my left foot. It just seems more natural to me for my left foot to run the pedal than the right while holding the torch with my right hand. Maybe it is the right side of the brain vs left side of the brain thing? I do notice that when I weld aluminum using the pedal, I can better sinc my pedal to the adding of rod better when using the left foot and my left hand adding the rod while moving the torch with my right hand.

If I hold the torch with my left hand, then the exact opposite. I can better use the pedal with my right foot while adding rod with my right hand.

Anyone else notice this also? Try it right now by pretending to hold the torch and using a foot pedal. Do it right handed and then left. Switching feet. Pretend to add rod......It may surprise you.

Or maybe I am crazy? ...Don't answer that!

[Adambomb]

I too favor my left foot for the foot pedal operation, but I am constantly challenging myself by switching hands holding the torch and the foot running the pedal. That way it's much less awkward when you have to get at that odd angled out of position weld :-)

[Ray]

Right foot here, I work it like the gas pedal, anymore I don’teven think about it, just kind of subconsciously “speed up” if the weld getscold and vice versa.

[sportbike]

I use whatever suits...Right foot, Left foot, elbow, knee, Occasionally even use the torch switch (although I still feel it is not really practical to use for anything other than consistent thickness and consistent joint work).

[Jason]

I too use either foot but I think I tend to favor my right foot as that is usually where it sits best. The only time I have used the switch on the torch is when laying under a car or sitting on the ground working below waist level.

[jakeru]

I favor right hand for torch holding, as well as right foot for pedal control (most like modulating a gas pedal, I suppose.) Although can reverse sides as needed. Not afraid to use the torch switch in 2T mode with about 2 seconds of downslope, repeatedly triggering on/off allows manually (and continuously) varying the average current output / "duty cycle" without letting the arc go out or getting restarts.

Now of course, using the torch switch isn't going to allow you to have any hope of pulling of tricks like fusing together filler rod stubs, which are easily pulled off when using the pedal. But with some experimentation and setting an appropriate "peak amp" setting on the machine, there is a lot that one can pull off with a torch switch.

[Jason]

I favor right hand for torch holding, as well as right foot for pedal control (most like modulating a gas pedal, I suppose.) Although can reverse sides as needed. Not afraid to use the torch switch in 2T mode with about 2 seconds of downslope, repeatedly triggering on/off allows manually (and continuously) varying the average current output / "duty cycle" without letting the arc go out or getting restarts.

Now of course, using the torch switch isn't going to allow you to have any hope of pulling of tricks like fusing together filler rod stubs, which are easily pulled off when using the pedal. But with some experimentation and setting an appropriate "peak amp" setting on the machine, there is a lot that one can pull off with a torch switch.

I didn't even think about it being similar to a gas pedal but I drive a manual daily so its normal to me to use both feet on a pedal. I also just toss my stubs after I run them down to about an inch. I should keep them and toss them in a small box or bucket or something and then when I have a bunch, fuse them together and use them all up.