Thread: Cigweld Weldskill not working

Gday
My mate has had an issue with the switch at the rear of the unit not clicking on properly (sticky switch) i dont know if this is your problem but its worth a look
thanks caveman

Hi
Gave it a quick wack a short time ago and got it running again, perhaps something is loose. The switch feels ok but the connection to the switch might be dodgy. Think i'll open it up and have a look. Don't wanna have wack the thing to turn it on

They are a right pain to get into too!

How do you find the 'Lift Arc' feature? On mine it means "touch the tip, it fuses, break tip off, an arc starts"!

This is my first welder so i've all my learning on it, that said i got a tungsten bit and just put it in the stick handle to see how it goes and I did find it hard to get an arc. I don't know if tig lift helped any with getting an arc but it did seem to reduce the heat input at whichever current setting.

Yeh having a go at getting into it, took the screws out try to put the panels off and noticed the locking pins thingys on the bottom. Tryed to compress them and snap not made out of the most flexible plastic.

Ahh fair enough. We use Esseti Thor's at work and when you touch the tip to the work you can see the tungsten start to glow, then lift up and arc forms. No sticking, no scratching around etc etc. They are very nice stick welders though!

Originally Posted by macsko

This is my first welder so i've all my learning on it, that said i got a tungsten bit and just put it in the stick handle to see how it goes and I did find it hard to get an arc. I don't know if tig lift helped any with getting an arc but it did seem to reduce the heat input at whichever current setting.

I wasn't aware you could use Lift TIG mode for doing stick welding. Is this a special trick you learnt from someone?

Sorry, in 'mmaw' mode they are great. Haven't tried lift tig mode for mmaw.

Originally Posted by BenM78

Sorry, in 'mmaw' mode they are great. Haven't tried lift tig mode for mmaw.

Does the CIGWeld have a High Frequency start mode for TIG?

There is 3 models, the 130, 170 and 170hf. the hf is double the price of the non hf. I don't know if it has a 2t/4t switch or foot pedal available. I'd hate to have to hold a button down to weld!

Forgive me if I'm wrong but isnt hi-frequency tig more suitable for ally than steel/stainless?
if so then it is just a unnecessary feature as the 170hf cannot weld ally as it isnt AC/DC

cheers Bob

HF is just an arc starting method. It causes a spark to jump across the gap (like a spark plug or Jacobs Ladder) between tungsten and job which initiates the arc.

Originally Posted by aussietrueblue

Forgive me if I'm wrong but isnt hi-frequency tig more suitable for ally than steel/stainless?
if so then it is just a unnecessary feature as the 170hf cannot weld ally as it isnt AC/DC

cheers Bob

HF minimizes stray arc strike and tungstan inclusions on start up , and porosity at the end of the weld. Its a good aid for any weld.
Cheers Col.

I seem to have it working now, just resoldered a joint been ok since. As far a i know the Tig function on this welder just pulses the voltage in a sqaure wave from say 5V to 30V(round that anyway) normal welding voltage or something like that. I've yet to hook it up to an oscilliscope

Originally Posted by macsko

I seem to have it working now, just resoldered a joint been ok since. As far a i know the Tig function on this welder just pulses the voltage in a sqaure wave from say 5V to 30V(round that anyway) normal welding voltage or something like that. I've yet to hook it up to an oscilliscope

Why do you use it for stick welding though? Does it actually help start the arc?