HF adapter for AC welder/TIG

Is the HF adapter a good way to make a TIG? I have a gas MIG so all I would need is a torch.

Your thoughts please and thanks.

Paul

HF units normally jump out HF usage when on DC current slection as there not made to orperate on DC. Well I say that and basicly there nothing more than a radio tranmitter design so in reality it shouldn't bother anything even on DC.

On some machines you can get HF for arc starting only while in the DC mode. That does help with starting electrodes but cuts off the HF once the arc is established.

As far as continous use of HF while using the DC mode, it may very well help some brands of 7018 electrodes. I can't say as I never tried it.

A HF add on unit has a duty cycle to adhere too just like machines but it more critcal of duty cycle usage as alot of untis don't have overload protection.

Most of the more costly HF units have the lock out on DC mode use.

The add on HF units you can find anything possible as there is no standard the mfg's have to build by.

I can say from using Chemtron 7018, I've never seen a finer electrode made. Easy to start with extremely good flow qualitys.

T_Bone

Before I could afford a "real" TIG welder, I had an Airco HF unit hooked onto a little Lincoln 225AC/125DC buzzbox. It worked fine. The control is not the best w/o the foot-type variable amp feature but it worked and enabled me to pretty much avoid the "scratch-start" that was required before I had the unit. The lowest fixed DC amp rating (30) on the buzzbox was really too high for some sheet steel work I was doing. I also had an old 20-70 amp AC Sears welder that I hooked up to feed through the rectifier on the Lincoln to get a little lower-amp DC. That worked also for the 20 or 22 gage steel I was working with. Yes, the HF does seem to help with regular stick, especially since I can't stick weld worth a damn anyway - at least out of position :o). As I recall, the little buzzbox didn't appreciate high AC tig for aluminum though. The 50 amp feed breaker would trip rather easily. I think that was due to some inbalance in the transformer design since it was never intended for that purpose.

Rod