Rather than a valved torch, does anyone make a solenoid valve for lift TIG..?

[Hood]

The 5 pin connector may be for Up/Dn buttons or a Pot, I would imagine they still utilise the Mig trigger contacts in the Euro for the Tig button.

 

[HughF]

you must be talking a basic scratch start set up
lift tigs still have a gas solenoid triggered by the torch

Not all of them do... The Paton VDI and PSI series are valved + lift arc
I think the Esab Rebel is valved + lift arc too...

 

[Tangledfeet]

Not all of them do... The Paton VDI and PSI series are valved + lift arc
I think the Esab Rebel is valved + lift arc too...

The Paton VDI 200P that you and I have is non-valved lift TIG surely?

 

[Hood]

The Paton VDI 200P that you and I have is non-valved lift TIG surely?

I think what Hugh is meaning is the valved torch and not a solenoid in the machine.

 

[HughF]

I think what Hugh is meaning is the valved torch and not a solenoid in the machine.

This is exactly what I mean...

 

[Appyasme 3]

To me,lift arc is not driven by a solenoid.It has a simple on/off knob on the torch handle

 

[Tangledfeet]

I think what Hugh is meaning is the valved torch and not a solenoid in the machine.

This is exactly what I mean...

Indeed, my misunderstanding!

 

[Tangledfeet]

To me,lift arc is not driven by a solenoid.It has a simple on/off knob on the torch handle

Indeed, I'm just musing on whether it would be feasible and/or worthwhile making a simple device to minimise gas loss for someone as hamfisted as I can be! When I first tried TIG it was lift-TIG with a valved torch and I fair got through the bottle...

 

[Hood]

To me,lift arc is not driven by a solenoid.It has a simple on/off knob on the torch handle

It all depends on the machine.
On a basic one such as my GYS stick welder I set it to Lift Tig mode and the torch will be live with a very small current, touch the material then as you lift the welder senses that and increases the current and slopes up to set current. You have to use a valved torch to control the gas.

On my EWM Phoenix, and for that matter the R-Tech MTS255S I used to have, you set the welder to lift tig mode, you touch the material and press the torch button, the gas will start to flow via the on board solenoid valve, the small current will be present on the electrode then when you lift it will increase the current and slope up to main current.

 

[Appyasme 3]

Indeed, I'm just musing on whether it would be feasible and/or worthwhile making a simple device to minimise gas loss for someone as hamfisted as I can be! When I first tried TIG it was lift-TIG with a valved torch and I fair got through the bottle...

Just turn the gas off on the valve

 

[Hood]

A lever operated valve on the torch would be better than a rotary valve I would think, whether you can get such a thing I have no idea.

 

[HughF]

A lever operated valve on the torch would be better than a rotary valve I would think, whether you can get such a thing I have no idea.

You can get a weldtec torch where you twist the head to turn it on/off

 

[Richard.]

Switches and solenoids haven’t got anything to do with the process. They are used on some lift arc machines generally tig machines that already have Hf but give the lift option.
The difference between the two processes is the voltage/current applyed to initiate the arc.
Scratch is a fully live torch. Basically your welding in MMA mode and touching the tungsten down to start the arc would simply give a dead short and stick the tungsten to the job so you scratch it quickly and lightly to start up.
Lift can be a live torch or a live on switch torch but either way the starting voltage/current applied is much less and allows you to completely dead short out the tungsten to the job and start by lifting it back off. It’s more controlled because the machine won’t give you welding values until you produce an arc gap. If the machine is controlled by a switch then it’s almost certainly lift. If not then it could be either but most MMA machines that offer lift will have a switch to put it into tig mode even if it’s a valved live torch. If there is no tig mode switch and it’s just an MMA machine with sockets and a current knob then this will be scratch by adding a tig torch.

 

[Richard.]

You can get a weldtec torch where you twist the head to turn it on/off

Ck do it on their flex loc torches. It’s quite a tidy thing.

 

[HughF]

Ck do it on their flex loc torches. It’s quite a tidy thing.

I knew it was one of the US torch manufacturers.

Shame it's CK

 

[Appyasme 3]

I knew it was one of the US torch manufacturers.

Shame it's CK

Just to move this forward.CK is a well repected manufacturer of Tig torches. Would you prefer to go to cheap copy manufacturers

 

[HughF]

Just to move this forward.CK is a well repected manufacturer of Tig torches. Would you prefer to go to cheap copy manufacturers

I just think they're over priced and over hyped - Weldtec (Tec Torch) make a better product imho...

But nowadays, yes, I tend to buy cheap and cheerful. The expensive torches don't make me weld any better and I'm forever worrying about breaking them when I go on site, unlike the cheap disposable junk I buy now - which I don't seem to break and seems to last just as long in my small shop.

 

[Richard.]

Ck make nice consumables that perform and last a long time but weldtec torches are superior in quality over ck imo.