Homemade TIG torch.

[Maker]

Also is your backcap o ring sealing against anything? If not the gas will create a venturi in effect and draw air into the Collet body and cause porosity in your weld.

The back of the body isn't threaded and is bored out to 0.330", the O ring slides in there nicely.

 

[Bill Edwards]

It's a decent job but I think you have far too much time on your hands.

^^^ This!

And from the other posts, can you do us all a favor - the first time you use it, have it on video - so we can see the shriek from the HF belt

 

[mark williams]

Are you not about fifty years too late to be designing tig torches? Unless you can come up with sommething to beat a ck torch!

 

[Maker]

Are you not about fifty years too late to be designing tig torches? Unless you can come up with sommething to beat a ck torch!

I would be 50 years late if I was making them to sell, but I'm just making one so I have a decent one to use without costing me anything (Well, without costing me any more than a superflex cable and consumables).

I haven't found any smaller balls, but I found a brass steam valve with a taper rather than a ball, and it's a hell of a lot smaller so I'm going to make it "flex lock" style.

 

[Barking Mat]

Mastic doesnt melt, it more burns at a certain temperature.

 

[harryb94]

They use some form of mastic for bagging up composites before putting them in an oven/autoclave to cure so I fancy that must be able to withstand pretty high temperatures?

 

[Brad93]

Mastic doesnt melt, it more burns at a certain temperature.

Never heated the stuff really, not sure what's worth melting or burning haha.

 

[Richard.]

If there was profit or savings or even a chance of improving the vast range of designs I would agree. But like the real reason industry in this country is at an all time low. S##t is made cheaper and exported for much less elsewhere. (Including tig torches) fair play to maker it keeps his mind active and out of trouble but like I say. Too much free time.

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

It could be classed as a 'steampunk' tig torch. A piece of art that might sell for fousands.

 

[chunkolini]

Some people have no imagination, Maker, you are doing a great job.

 

[Richard.]

Some people have no imagination, Maker, you are doing a great job.

Must admit it's not my strongest suit to be creative. Yes he is in fairness.

 

[Piero]

To be fair to all the coments.

Maker DID host this tread with the question "what do you think "

There is NO wrong or right reply to this.

He has asked what we think.

I personally think that the cost and availability of tig torches makes this project a no brainer

Maker did reply early on in the thread. When asked why.
He said he was to tight to by a new torch.

As pointed out. They are only a few pounds.

It's not negative to be honest

 

[KemppiFrog]

I am def with Maker on this. It invigorates the mind to try and make something, even if the commercial bits are cheaper. If you have some time to donate to the idea, you will probably learn quite a lot, even if the result is not ideal.

Built several bits of kit, because I couldn't justify the cost of the available off the shelf stuff. Or, more to the point, didn't have the dosh. With no exception, they have proved muliples of their cost. Possibly because I focused on what I needed, rather than the wider range offered.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

I am in the same camp as Maker. I built an electric fence unit from scratch, drew out and etched the PCB, sourced and assembled all the components and then fitted it all into a waterproof box.
I could have bought a used fencer from eBay for a similar amount of money and a fraction of the time involved but where is the fun in that!

 

[Mr shiney]

I am a great fan of utterly pointless projects. This is definitely one of them!!

Why do us amateurs invest in all this workshop kit other than to play!!

I look forward to a recount of the story of the HF belt you get from this project young man. It will make great bar talk when you are old enough to drink....