TIG Pedal Modification

[krisnanj]

I did not like the way my TIG foot pedal was configured, so I used an idea I got from a drum pedal. I mounted the original pedal to a piece of aluminum plate (this was actually an old aluminum threshold that I cut down to a 4" width), then hinged another piece so it would depress the TIG pedal. The long bottom piece is about 18" and the top piece is about 12". Works much better now. Pedal doesn't slip and I actually have more control over the variation in power. Build would also work on similar variable power pedals with similar configuration.

I used aluminum because that's what I had on hand. You can use anything including plywood for this. Just make sure the top plate that you set your foot on is rigid enough not to flex when you depress it. Also, my original pedal had some ridges on it. I suggest that you do your build, set the original pedal on it with the top plate about half-way on the pedal. Then depress it fully. This will cause the pedal unit to move slightly as the top footplate finds its position between two ridges. Mark your pedal location and screw it to the bottom plate.

Good luck!

[Tuomas]

That's a great improvement. I have pedal for mig at work. I reach much longer when i don't need to reach to press button on the torch.

Simple but good improvement.

[tonyfoale]

I use foot switches on my drill presses. It is much more convenient and safer as well. If the drill catches and the work starts spinning it is much easier to lift a foot and run, rather than hang around reaching for the ON/OFF switch with a damaged hand.

The switch on one of the drills was not nice to use because of its angle to my foot and often I would inadvertently release the switch. A foot control where it all moves with your foot is much better to control. I already had the switch mounted on a bit of scrap steel plate to add some weight to hold it steady so all I had to do was to weld a door hinge to the plate and screw the other side to some old plywood. To add a finishing touch I glued a rubber sheet to the wood. The rubber was cut from an inner tube. I love it now.



On the left is the detail of the hinge fixing, on the right is the operational side.

[Responsible]

I use one of these pedals for the shop vac I use in the shops. It's nice not to have to listen to the vacuum running unless it's actually being used. Or worrying about accidentally sucking up that small part you just made.......

Pete

[olderdan]

It is a very good idea to have a foot switch on a pillar drill and I cant believe I have not yet fitted one but I will now. Like most of us I will sometimes freehand drill a small part and its the only time I will use a thick leather glove which makes it awkward to use the drill switch. Foot switches are cheap enough and I will see if I copy your mod. Thanks for reminding me to do the sensible thing.

[tonyfoale]

It is a very good idea to have a foot switch on a pillar drill and I cant believe I have not yet fitted one but I will now. Like most of us I will sometimes freehand drill a small part and its the only time I will use a thick leather glove which makes it awkward to use the drill switch. Foot switches are cheap enough and I will see if I copy your mod. Thanks for reminding me to do the sensible thing.

Alan, I have two foot switches on drills, both much shorter than my foot. They are different, one has the pivot at the rear and one has it at the front. The one with the pivot at the front was the one with the poor action and is the one to which I added the large pedal. The other one works well as is and I have left it stock.
Apart from the pivot position the "good" one had a flat top surface the "bad" one, shown in the pix. had a top with two angled surfaces, the designer must have had strange feet.

[mklotz]

It is a very good idea to have a foot switch on a pillar drill and I cant believe I have not yet fitted one but I will now. Like most of us I will sometimes freehand drill a small part and its the only time I will use a thick leather glove which makes it awkward to use the drill switch. Foot switches are cheap enough and I will see if I copy your mod. Thanks for reminding me to do the sensible thing.

If I were to do that (I won't) I'd want some sort of arrangement that prevented me from accidentally stepping on the switch at an inopportune moment such as the key in the chuck or my hand holding a drill to extract it from the chuck.

Also, if you allow a pet in the shop, ensure that the spring on the pedal is strong enough that Fido can't trip it.

[tonyfoale]

If I were to do that (I won't) I'd want some sort of arrangement that prevented me from accidentally stepping on the switch at an inopportune moment such as the key in the chuck or my hand holding a drill to extract it from the chuck.

Also, if you allow a pet in the shop, ensure that the spring on the pedal is strong enough that Fido can't trip it.

Would you avoid a foot pedal on a TIG welder for the same reasons?

[mklotz]

Would you avoid a foot pedal on a TIG welder for the same reasons?

I don't weld so I'm not in a position to answer your question.

I suppose that, if accidentally pressing a TIG pedal could cause an immediately dangerous situation as is the case with the drill press, I might but, as I said, I'm not in a position to say.

Actually, I no longer have a drill press. The bench model I had was taking up so much room in my overcrowded Garaj Mahal that I sold it. Since then I've done all drilling on my mill-drill which works well for me. Still, if I did have one, I wouldn't want a foot pedal on it.

[ozepool]

I use foot switches on my drill presses. It is much more convenient and safer as well. If the drill catches and the work starts spinning it is much easier to lift a foot and run, rather than hang around reaching for the ON/OFF switch with a damaged hand.

With all the health and safety these days i would think manufacturers would have a plug in accessory foot switch for most machines where feasible. Even a knee operated off button as reaching up to the button on the drill is bad, just as the button on my lathe. Most imports have the duo on/off buttons with a off button in a lid, most inconvenient, my lathe is particularly irksome, thanks, I'll be doing a foot switch. In the 60s, lathes came with a reversing switch at thigh level, no reaching up over the lathe.



The trend in on off switches, the lid had to go!