New i-Tig-200 owner and board member

[seanm]

Hi. I'm SeanM and I'm in Illinois, about 1.5 hours West of Chicago. I started with a 90 amp Harbor Freight flux core MIG, then the red 130 amp Harbor Freight TIG, and now I've stepped up to the i-Tig-200. I'm "improving" a 67 Cutlass Supreme Convertible (I don't want to say restoring). http://www.everlastgenerators.com/fo...ies/smile1.png
So far I've practiced with 16 and 22 gauge mild steel, and the foot pedal will come next week. To move up from lift arc to HF start, pulse, slope up & down, adjustable pre & post flow, WOW! So much better.
One question out to the other members - My HF TIG came with a WP-9V torch, and that's a lot lighter than the WP-26 torch that came with the i-Tig-200. Perhaps I could use my WP-9V torch with the i-Tig-200. For 1/8" and thinner it has enough capacity, but:
1. No switch (I understand only an issue when not using a foot pedal)
2. Dinse connector on the WP-9V needs an adapter.

I think I found an adapter on eBay for the Dinse connector, and I've seen TIG torch switches, so I should be able to find a 7-pin connector and run a wire with zip ties on the torch, or maybe get a new sheath (I haven't really looked into that).

Any suggestions for a lighter torch if I'm doing "thin" stuff (everyone has their own perspective, but I'm talking 1/8" or thinner), and/or has anyone adapted a WP-9V similar to what I'm thinking about?

- Sean

[Bigwilly01]

Welcome to the board and I myself am very new to tig so i cant answer your question. But there are a lot of guys on here that can. good luck.

[SeanMurphy265]

Several people have purchased torches from arc zone.

[Rodsmachineshop]

I would go a WP-18 , with 200 amp you will want water cool if you ever want to weld something thick or need a lot of amps . I built my own cooler for my welder coast about 150 buck getting stuff on ebay to build cooler

[zoama]

Several people have purchased torches from arc zone.

I stopped dealing with them and took down any links I had posted due to terrible service and outright lying to me. The last torch I purchased was a CK 210 and beat az's price by more than $50.

Any suggestions for a lighter torch if I'm doing "thin" stuff (everyone has their own perspective, but I'm talking 1/8" or thinner), and/or has anyone adapted a WP-9V similar to what I'm thinking about?

- Sean

I use a CK130 up to 150 amp... it's very light and the cable is as limp as cooked spaghetti. Also note CK torches are rated at 100% duty cycle in AC and DC where others are greatly reduced in AC http://www.everlastgenerators.com/fo...ad-on-my-PP256

[JBnID]

A WP-9 works just fine with 1/16 tungsten and thin materials up to about 150amps. You'll feel it getting too hot to handle if you're asking too much of it. They're much lighter and easier to handle.

[Rodsmachineshop]

most the stuff i weld is aluminum heads , need lots of amps and some heads i use mix gas .