Foot pedals

[seanc]

How vital is a foot pedal when tig welding ?
Im looking at the 160amp r-tech unit im only ever going to use it for thin stainless so i dont require ac or high amperage but this machine doesnt have the option of adding a pedal and the next machine up that can use a pedal is an extra £300

 

[shenion]

For steels, I can do fine without a footpedal.

On aluminum though, I use one a lot. I can stomp on it to get the bead going as aliminum takes a lot of heat to get going. Then as i move along i can lower the current as needed as after a bit, the whole plate will start getting hot.

Fancy controls like ramp up, ramp down, pulse and frequency control are nice (especially on thin metal.) They can help when you do the same weld several times.

Without a footpedal, a ramp down function would be nice for reaching the end of a plate.

If you don't plan on doing aluminum, the basic machine will probably be fine. The next up one may also do AC, that probably is most of the cost.

 

[seanc]

The base machine is 160amp dc
Next up is 200amp dc 300 more but will accept foot pedal.

I may got for the base machine and see how I go, I can always upgrade later if I decide I need to. Will 160 amp do 3-4mm stainless happily ?

 

[GrahamGKD]

Will 160 amp do 3-4mm stainless happily ?

Yes, should be fine.

 

[barny]

I've got my eye on the r tech 200 machine as I'd like to be able to weld aluminium.

 

[RichardM]

I use my pedal on aluminium and thin stainless steel, lots more control.

 

[Tig man aza]

How vital is a foot pedal when tig welding ?
Im looking at the 160amp r-tech unit im only ever going to use it for thin stainless so i dont require ac or high amperage but this machine doesnt have the option of adding a pedal and the next machine up that can use a pedal is an extra £300

The main reason for me was because I have small hands (I'm only 17) and when I'm tigging I like a small torch wp9 best suits me and I hold it like a pencil feels really comfy and I have a lot more control over the weld pool p.s rtech machines are great you will not be disappointed I have the r-tech digital seiries 210 amp ac/dc tig which Im always on ac as I tig a lot of Ali but quite honestlly I can't see any difference in the arc compared to the 4k+ miller dynasty 300dx I use at my college aswell as the kemppi mastertig 2500 I see no difference on ac or dc and 3 year warranty which I like the only downfall of my machine is the torch a big 26 it was huge and I didn't change tithes until a month later a d the 26 it came with wasn't brilliant the threads started going in the head but I wasn't really bothered as it was an excuse for me to get a 9

 

[Balders]

Im looking at the 160amp r-tech unit ...... but this machine doesnt have the option of adding a pedal and the next machine up that can use a pedal is an extra £300

If it's this one...http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/welding_equipment/Tig_Welder/Tig_Welders_R-Tech_Tig160PDC

It has a foot pedal socket (in the middle at the bottom, black plastic cover)

 

[shenion]

If it's this one...http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/welding_equipment/Tig_Welder/Tig_Welders_R-Tech_Tig160PDC

It has a foot pedal socket (in the middle at the bottom, black plastic cover)

If you look at the manual, that is a 2-pin connector for a remote switch, not a 5-pin for a footpedal.

 

[Balders]

If you look at the manual, that is a 2-pin connector for a remote switch, not a 5-pin for a footpedal.

Sorry, my bad. I did own a 160 for about 2 days (tigged in a camper quarter panel with it) then asked very nicely if I could upgrade to the 200.
R-tech along with Steve are always well worth talking to.

Wicked service from R-tech

 

[jakecouling]

How vital is a foot pedal when tig welding ?
Im looking at the 160amp r-tech unit im only ever going to use it for thin stainless so i dont require ac or high amperage but this machine doesnt have the option of adding a pedal and the next machine up that can use a pedal is an extra £300

foot pedal is only really useful for ali i find as ali takes in heat faster but gets rid of it fast to and using the pedal you can control your puddle more

 

[tommy dunlop]

remote pedal

hi as any one used a wireless remote pedal,tom

 

[TwoByFour]

I have never used a foot pedal myself, despite of having done quite a lot of TIG on various metals, both standing or sitting at a welding table and also doing on-site welding standing on my head or cramped in tight spaces.

Despite having no experience with foot-pedals, I can very well imagine that they are very useful when working at a welding table with everything set up neatly in the correct height and so on - but probably too frustrating or even impossible under most other circumstances.

For Aluminium current control is very useful but for most steel I think a simple on-off foot switch is probably sufficient in most cases.

Carl.

 

[langy]

I have never used a foot pedal myself, despite of having done quite a lot of TIG on various metals, both standing or sitting at a welding table and also doing on-site welding standing on my head or cramped in tight spaces.

Despite having no experience with foot-pedals, I can very well imagine that they are very useful when working at a welding table with everything set up neatly in the correct height and so on - but probably too frustrating or even impossible under most other circumstances.

For Aluminium current control is very useful but for most steel I think a simple on-off foot switch is probably sufficient in most cases.

Carl.

You need to learn to operate the pedal with other parts of your body if away from the bench, Chevy2 on here is the best at it i've ever seen, use his knee, head, elbow etc etc

 

[Shox Dr]

I've had to use one between my legs, like a women's thigh exerciser. I sure knew about it the next day

 

[langy]

I've had to use one between my legs, like a women's thigh exerciser. I sure knew about it the next day

Thats what they all say