A Foot Switch for Lift-TIG Welding

[Dr.Al]

I've just written up some details of a foot switch I made to break the circuit at the end of a TIG weld with my fairly basic welder.

Here's a (not very good quality) photo:



There's a full write-up with more details and lots more photos available here: https://www.cgtk.co.uk/metalwork/mis...tigswitchpedal

[Crusty]

In a similar endeavor I'm making a current control pedal for my TIG welder starting with the bass drum kick pedal below. I'll mount a 60 tooth timing pulley on the top shaft and a 17 tooth timing pulley on a yet to be made lower shaft that will match the pedal's 90º travel to the pot's 315º travel and couple the two with a 10mm XL timing belt. I got the sturdy Yamaha pedal for $10 and it's saved me a bunch of reinventing the wheel.



If you're interested, there's a guy on Ebay selling High Frequency arc stabilizer kits for welders and I've found the product and the seller to both be of high quality. The kit consists of a spark gap oscillator and HF coupling transformer which attaches to just about any welder. I even added a trigger switch to my stinger handle to use HF arc starting when I'm stick welding and I love it.

ETA: I just checked and the seller Hewad has temporarily emptied his Ebay store due to a move from Ten. to Ark. He says that he'll resume in 2 months, but if you just have to have an arc stabilizer now I have his email address and he might be able to help you before then. PM me if you want it.

[DIYer]

Thanks Dr.Al! We've added your Foot Switch to our Welding category,
as well as to your builder page: Dr.Al's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Foot Switch by Dr.Al

tags: TIG, switch

[DIYer]

Thanks Crusty! We've added your Welder Foot Switch to our Welding category,
as well as to your builder page: Crusty's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Welder Foot Switch by Crusty

tags: welder, switch

[Crusty]

Whoa there - delete that DIYer. It's just a bass drum pedal that's been partially disassembled and is technically nothing at this point. As the text that's included with the picture explains, it's only the beginning of a TIG welder current control pedal. When I've finished and tested it then I'll post it in the appropriate forum.

A welder foot switch and a welder current control pedal are two similar but different things.

[Jon]

Crusty - no problem, we put that listing on hold and removed it from your builder page pending completion of the tool.

[Crusty]

Thanks Jon - I'd rather not have half baked creations posted on my builder page.

I'll start a new thread for it once it's completed and proven successful, but I have to wait for parts shipped from China by (apparently) rowboat.

[Manitoba Man]

Great use of scrap OSB.