23 replies to this topic

[Danica Davison]

I don't do the welding personally.. but my guy uses the Miller hand control and seemingly likes it just fine. I imagine a foot controller would be very tough on a cage

 

Jim Drago doesn't do much of anything.  He just sits back and collects the checks! Not a bad way to do it if you ask me 

[Jim Drago]

Jim Drago doesn't do much of anything.  He just sits back and collects the checks! Not a bad way to do it if you ask me 

it's not.. I look forward to the $140.00 I will be collecting in a few weeks from you

[lillyweld]

I like the idea of a hand amptrol unit, but I haven't found one that I am particularly happy with. These seem to come in two versions: one with a side wheel and one with a linear "slidey thing" (i.e.something like a belt that runs on rollers that slide up and down the unit). I have the "slidey" thing version from Lincoln, and I am not crazy about it. Unfortunately, I hear the same thing from the guys who use the wheels. 

 

https://www.millerwe...-welders-m30020

 

http://www.lincolnel...incolnElectric)

 

If you can, find a welding supply store where you can walk in and try the different styles, with gloves on and everything. These things are not cheap, and you may as well get one that works the best for you. (For instance, the wheel-based Miller hand amptrols come in an "east/west" version as well as a north/south version.)

 

Here's some more food for thought: for mild steel, I only need an "on/off" function for my torch once I get my machine set correctly. In my experience, that is much, much easier than trying to maintain a proper amperage with a gloved finger on a movable switch. You should be able to compensate for any small variances by managing the way you feed in your filler metal and the way you maintain your arc length, especially if you have any experience stick welding.

[dstevens]

I don't do the welding personally.. but my guy uses the Miller hand control and seemingly likes it just fine. I imagine a foot controller would be very tough on a cage

I had a hard enough time getting in and out of the Miata period let alone doing out of position welding in it.      Some guys are dead set against using a fingertip/hand control.  They're using knees, squeezing it or other contortions.   

 

Like Cooper I haven't found any I like either.  I've got a second gen Lincoln Square Wave, probably 15 years old at this point so that limits some of my choices.   The cool thing about going to Fabtech is you can use the tools right there.   Prax and Airgas bought everything around here that was local.  They don't stock much like that, don't match pricing for walk in customers though the guys in the shop are great chaps.  Along the profile of the cope the thickness varies from about 20 ga to .120/.188.  I'm not near studly enough of a TIG meister to lay out that bead without varying the heat.  And it's 4130.