ok well a while back i bought a smiley/harbor freight tig...what do i need to start welding..like supplies...i know i need arogon 2 tanks 1 for back purging and one for the welding gas its self..but beside that what else do i need...i plan on welding stainless..what tungsten size would be good 304 shed 40 or should i use shed 10?...how much gas?...maybe a few tips...what kinda rods should i buy?...i know its kind of a newb question but im just starting this tig thing and i dont want to spend money on welding supplies i'll never use

 

no helpers..i know csaddict should have a few suggestions

 

So what is it? A harbor freight or a smiley? Their two completely different welders. So you spent a couple of hundred bucks and don't even know how to hook it up? :1

 

exactly. Well your going to need a regulator. Well two of them, i would get 3/32 2% thoriated (sp?) its the red one. 309l filler if your going to welding ss to ms, you can use that too to weld ss to ss. Just go with schedule 10 its much cheaper. Gas really depends upon how much you use it. I got like a 70 cu bottle and i weld on occasion it'll take me a month to go through it. I dont weld very often just when i feel like it. If your trying to crank out manifolds. I would get the biggest bottle you can afford. Or two since your back purging. And your going to need misc consumables. I would suggest reading up or going into your local welding shop and asking questions becauses its just stupid to get into something you dont know about.

 

i have the harbor freight tig..and i also have a mig but the concepts are different....i was just curiouse of how different the set ups are ..thanks for the help

 

You want to sell the Harbor Freight tig welder??