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#51
The Lounge / Re: Tig Welders
Last post by 94touring - February 27, 2026, 01:16:01 PMLooking good 
#52
The Lounge / Re: Tig Welders
Last post by MiniDave - February 27, 2026, 01:09:47 PMOK, spent some time with the new welder - I think once I get the setup nailed it should be terrific.
To that end today I got the gas plumbed up and installed the 10lb spool of .23 wire, then I tried to run it thru the torch and it would not drive. spent some time scratching my head, then I pulled the drive wheel out and saw that the grooves in it were either for flux core or .35 wire. I dug around for a while till I found the alternate drive wheel that came with it and could see that not only were the grooves not as deep, they were knurled! so, fitted that wheel and it moved smoothly once I got the tension set right and sure enough, it drove the wire smoothly till it came out the end of the torch. I switched over to the .23 tip and set up to run my first welds.
I started by just making some dots, since most of what I'll do will be plug welds.
But first - I watched some more "You Tube Welding Academy" videos on setup - this thing is wildly different that anything I've used before in the variety of setup options there are besides just wire speed and amp - in fact once you set the thickness of metal you're welding and the size of wire it will automatically set the wire speed and amps for you. The issue for me was learning what the metric equivalent was to the thickness of the metal I'm using, so I could pick the right numbers. I'll make a small chart to tape to the inside of the door with those baseline numbers on it to save some time on setup in the future.
So I did about 5 or 6 dots on the factory setting, then I added a little more power just to see the results, then I added some inductance to see if I could see any difference there....I think I'm going to have to burn a lot of wire before I can see the subtle differences these adjustments make, but for now I think I'm ready to melt some metal together.
More as it happens. One thing I've learned, I built my little welding cart so it would fit under my bench, but I have to get clear down on the ground to see the buttons and dials on this welder so I can set it and that is hard for me to do. So I may wind up buying a more modern cart that moves the welder up to like waist height....we'll see. The problem there is where the heck do I put it?
A pic of my efforts today.
To that end today I got the gas plumbed up and installed the 10lb spool of .23 wire, then I tried to run it thru the torch and it would not drive. spent some time scratching my head, then I pulled the drive wheel out and saw that the grooves in it were either for flux core or .35 wire. I dug around for a while till I found the alternate drive wheel that came with it and could see that not only were the grooves not as deep, they were knurled! so, fitted that wheel and it moved smoothly once I got the tension set right and sure enough, it drove the wire smoothly till it came out the end of the torch. I switched over to the .23 tip and set up to run my first welds.
I started by just making some dots, since most of what I'll do will be plug welds.
But first - I watched some more "You Tube Welding Academy" videos on setup - this thing is wildly different that anything I've used before in the variety of setup options there are besides just wire speed and amp - in fact once you set the thickness of metal you're welding and the size of wire it will automatically set the wire speed and amps for you. The issue for me was learning what the metric equivalent was to the thickness of the metal I'm using, so I could pick the right numbers. I'll make a small chart to tape to the inside of the door with those baseline numbers on it to save some time on setup in the future.
So I did about 5 or 6 dots on the factory setting, then I added a little more power just to see the results, then I added some inductance to see if I could see any difference there....I think I'm going to have to burn a lot of wire before I can see the subtle differences these adjustments make, but for now I think I'm ready to melt some metal together.
More as it happens. One thing I've learned, I built my little welding cart so it would fit under my bench, but I have to get clear down on the ground to see the buttons and dials on this welder so I can set it and that is hard for me to do. So I may wind up buying a more modern cart that moves the welder up to like waist height....we'll see. The problem there is where the heck do I put it?
A pic of my efforts today.
#53
The Lounge / Re: F1 2026
Last post by MiniDave - February 26, 2026, 05:57:44 PMThat would certainly make it easier to watch!
They have a separate section just for F1, when you open the Apple app, it's in the column on the left under Home - when you click on that the drop down menu opens and it's right below Apple TV, when you open that you get a bunch of windows one for each upcoming event, and it shows the date they'll be on. March 5 for P1 for example.
Drive to Survive is on there too, the new one (for 2025 season) will be up tomorrow.
They have a separate section just for F1, when you open the Apple app, it's in the column on the left under Home - when you click on that the drop down menu opens and it's right below Apple TV, when you open that you get a bunch of windows one for each upcoming event, and it shows the date they'll be on. March 5 for P1 for example.
Drive to Survive is on there too, the new one (for 2025 season) will be up tomorrow.
#54
The Lounge / Re: F1 2026
Last post by BruceK - February 26, 2026, 04:59:55 PMI can't believe the F1 season is starting already. But I'm happy about it.
Now I need to figure out my situation so I can watch F1 races. It's entirely possible we have an Apple subscription (we have too many subscriptions!) and we don't know it.
Now I need to figure out my situation so I can watch F1 races. It's entirely possible we have an Apple subscription (we have too many subscriptions!) and we don't know it.
#55
The Lounge / Re: How's the Weather Today?
Last post by BruceK - February 26, 2026, 04:57:49 PMHave a great trip Dave.
#56
The Lounge / Re: I think I killed my Laptop...
Last post by MiniDave - February 26, 2026, 09:37:03 AMMine has been working perfectly since the repair, it's still not happy if there's a static spark, sometimes it shuts down but it always pops back on again. I'm pretty careful to touch the metal table that it sits on first to try and discharge any static, but sometimes it zaps anyway. As warm weather returns the static seems to go away...so maybe it will be ok till I figure out a better solution.
Update: it turns out the cover she put on the sofa to save the upholstery is what's causing the static sparks! She's on the lookout for one made from 'natural" materials now.
Update: it turns out the cover she put on the sofa to save the upholstery is what's causing the static sparks! She's on the lookout for one made from 'natural" materials now.
#57
The Lounge / Re: Who will be the first to t...
Last post by MiniDave - February 26, 2026, 09:31:23 AMSo not only did they have to replace the transmichigan in Don's wife's Countryman, the transfer case (it's an All4 version) also had to be replaced at the another $2K, so $5500 and the car is back on the road working perfectly and she's happy as can be.
My bride has no interest in electric cars, so there's no point in even looking at them for us, used or new. I suppose I could buy one for my town driving and keep one car for road trips.....
My bride has no interest in electric cars, so there's no point in even looking at them for us, used or new. I suppose I could buy one for my town driving and keep one car for road trips.....
#58
The Lounge / Re: Tig Welders
Last post by MiniDave - February 26, 2026, 09:18:39 AMI'm excited to get the new welder out for a spin today, I injured my foot a few days ago and haven't been able to stand for more than a few minutes but it's starting to feel better so I'm planning to go down to the shop today and burn some wire. I'll post some pics of the results a little later.... 
#59
The Lounge / Re: How's the Weather Today?
Last post by MiniDave - February 26, 2026, 09:12:52 AMWell as predicted by the weather guessers, it did warm up nicely here in Kansas - this whole week has been brilliantly sunny and pleasant, each day getting a little warmer till Sat when we'll have 70+ temps, followed on Sunday by a high of 30!
I'm headed to Phoenix for a week to help my kid with a project - he has his own shop that is mostly a hobby shop but he does take on some customer jobs from time to time. This job is a TR3 that won't run - right in my wheelhouse! Leaving the 10th and back on the 15th - flying out this time. I haven't flown anywhere in probably 20 years now - we always drove to see the kids so we could haul the Pups with us, but they're staying home and so is the other half.
Temps should be in the 90's there - but it's a dry heat.....
I'm headed to Phoenix for a week to help my kid with a project - he has his own shop that is mostly a hobby shop but he does take on some customer jobs from time to time. This job is a TR3 that won't run - right in my wheelhouse! Leaving the 10th and back on the 15th - flying out this time. I haven't flown anywhere in probably 20 years now - we always drove to see the kids so we could haul the Pups with us, but they're staying home and so is the other half.
Temps should be in the 90's there - but it's a dry heat.....
#60
The Lounge / Re: F1 2026
Last post by MiniDave - February 26, 2026, 09:08:16 AM1 week till the first race in Melbourne and I'm looking forward to it.
Right now the faves seem to be Mercedes and Ferrari, with Red Bull and McLaren right there too - so a 4 horse race to win. Isack seems to be within a tenth or two of Max - it would be fun to see him have a teammate he has to race against, but I have a feeling there will be team orders. Ferrari is OMG fast off the line and they have the trick rear wing but I don't know if that's enough to hold off the Mercs.
Cadillac and Audi are off the pace quite a bit but at this point they're looking to just finish their first race, and finish intact.
Alpine is a dark horse with some glimpses of pace, Williams is heavy and slow they say.
The only real question right now is if Aston will even make the grid, and if so, how many times will they be lapped before they pull the cars in out of embarrassment? Alonso must just be inside out, having to live the 'bad Honda engine" all over again. Who would have thought Aston would be in this shape at this point? Old man Stroll must be wondering if all the money he threw at his son's race team is going to pay off or be a giant tax write off. A bad year for the team could send Jr. packing, and even if they get it sorted by the end of the season, Alonso's contract is up, will he want to chance one more year? Will they let him? And what driver will want to go there now? Certainly not Max, Charles or Piastri as were all rumored to be considering a move there last fall......
Right now the faves seem to be Mercedes and Ferrari, with Red Bull and McLaren right there too - so a 4 horse race to win. Isack seems to be within a tenth or two of Max - it would be fun to see him have a teammate he has to race against, but I have a feeling there will be team orders. Ferrari is OMG fast off the line and they have the trick rear wing but I don't know if that's enough to hold off the Mercs.
Cadillac and Audi are off the pace quite a bit but at this point they're looking to just finish their first race, and finish intact.
Alpine is a dark horse with some glimpses of pace, Williams is heavy and slow they say.
The only real question right now is if Aston will even make the grid, and if so, how many times will they be lapped before they pull the cars in out of embarrassment? Alonso must just be inside out, having to live the 'bad Honda engine" all over again. Who would have thought Aston would be in this shape at this point? Old man Stroll must be wondering if all the money he threw at his son's race team is going to pay off or be a giant tax write off. A bad year for the team could send Jr. packing, and even if they get it sorted by the end of the season, Alonso's contract is up, will he want to chance one more year? Will they let him? And what driver will want to go there now? Certainly not Max, Charles or Piastri as were all rumored to be considering a move there last fall......