Anyone doing scratch start TIG with a Power Arc ? (Adding a pedal ?)

[someguy]

I have a Power Arc 300. Awesome stick machine. Has anyone tried scratch start TIG with it ?

If it works, I'd like to add a pedal to it. The current potentiometer controls the current on that machine. I'd like to open it up and intercept the wiper lead on the current pot, put it to a switch and input jack that would allow me to control the current with the voltage output from a pedal.

If I did that, it would allow me to adjust the current while welding and also to shut the current down at the end of the weld, thus eliminating fish eyes.

While I was at it, I'd take the contact output from the pedal and use it to control the gas solenoid.

Wouldn't it be awesome to have a heavy duty 300 Amp 60% duty cycle DC TIG box for heavy duty TIG work ? Being its DC, it wouldn't work on aluminum, but it would work for everything else.

I think it would also be great to have a pedal on a Power Arc while stick welding. Miller stick/TIG boxes have them.

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/stick/cst-280/

Notice that the Power Arc 300 kicks the CST280's butt other than the pedal. The CST 280 is only 200A on single phase power. The PA 300 is 300A. The CST 280 is only 35% duty cycle. The PA300 is 60%. And the CST 280 doesn't have a 6010 output, nor Arc Force adjustment, nor Surge Current adjustment. And the PA300 is less than 1/4 the price.

I'd really like to get a pedal on my PA300 and try TIG with it.

[someguy]

It appears that Jody at Welding Tips and Tricks is doing scratch start TIG with a PowerArc 160 in this video. Listen to his comments at the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJW2S...ture=endscreen

I haven't wired or plumbed a torch into my Power Arc yet, but I am going to. I've got a bunch of pressure welding to do and I think that TIG would work the best.

[Rambozo]

The PowerArc 160STH has HF start and lift arc start, no need for scratch. Jody has the first of those pipe joint videos with the 160 posted, as well.

[undercut]

The PowerArc 160STH has HF start and lift arc start, no need for scratch. Jody has the first of those pipe joint videos with the 160 posted, as well.

Nice video. I hadn't seen that one before. I see he used chem sharp on his tungsten again for this one ....

[Rambozo]

And here is part two.

[DaveO]

The PowerArc 160STH has HF start and lift arc start, no need for scratch.

Someguy, the OP, has a PowerArc 300, though: I think he was just referring to the WT&T.com video (using the 160STH) as an example. The PA300 specs page says the PA300 is capable of TIG and that an optional TIG torch is available, and I'm *guessing* it's scratch start.

I've got a bunch of pressure welding to do

Just curious, what kind of pressure vessels are you talking about?

[performance]

Yes, it's scratch start. I may end up doing a video with the units as a scratch start tig rig.

[BorderBrewer]

I was looking into adding a pedal to my PA 200. I have collected the pedal, connectors, and switch to do it. I found out from Ray that the current control pot is a 22k ohm. I'm just waiting now for my warranty to expire since the mod will likely void the warranty.

Regards,
Mark

[performance]

5 years is a long time to wait.

[BorderBrewer]

5 years is a long time to wait.

Yes it is. I'm coming up on two years of flawless service from my PA 200 now, so a little more than three more to go. Might be a less invasive way to do the mod if internal connections will support it. I need to look into that.

[Rambozo]

Yes it is. I'm coming up on two years of flawless service from my PA 200 now, so a little more than three more to go. Might be a less invasive way to do the mod if internal connections will support it. I need to look into that.

I saw a picture one of someone's pedal mod to a HF welder. He used a pedal with a throttle cable that actually turned the knob on the welder. Kinda a roundabout way to do things, but skirts the warranty issue.

[Brian Ski]

I saw a picture one of someone's pedal mod to a HF welder. He used a pedal with a throttle cable that actually turned the knob on the welder. Kinda a roundabout way to do things, but skirts the warranty issue.

That is sure thinking out of the box!!!!

[performance]

Saw it too. A push pull cable with a pully mounted on the knob with a wrap around cable would be best.