TIG Hand Control, Options

[DaveB]

I hate moving my TIG from the bench to my car because of the foot pedal. I borrowed a buddy's Miller finger control and really don't like using a wheel. I'm looking at the 6060 TIG button and wanted to know what others use and like.

MIG gets the job done but with 19 gauge I have to use a lot of small tacks to stop seams from warping. I'm tired of not being able to TIG in awkward positions.

Any recommendations or suggestions?

I finished up the trunk with my MIG and now want to pull the trigger on getting a finger control to complete the rest of the sheet metal work. I'll spend the day grinding and smoothing. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)




Dave

[930cabman]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

I purchased a used Miller several years ago with the finger control. Have never gotten used to it. The Miller hard plastic box does come in handy as a step stool though.

My Lincoln MIG gets the job done, but would really like to master the art of TIG someday. Back in the day, I was good with Oxy/Acetylene torch

[Superhawk996]

I have a TIG button and can’t recommend it strongly enough. Once you have one you’ll never go back to the foot pedal.

At one point I started having a minor issue with the pressure pad - the guy that owns it provided great support and the fix was so cheap I don’t even remember what the cost was. This was on a unit that was about 5 years old, well used, and long out of warranty. He could have easily said buy a new unit but didn’t do that.

Makes out of position welding a joy.

I made mention of it in my build thread - page 4, post 77 (link in signature)

[DaveB]

I have a TIG button and can’t recommend it strongly enough. Once you have one you’ll never go back to the foot pedal.

Thanks for the link and feedback on the 6060. I'll get it ordered.

Dave

[rick 918-S]

I have a Eastwood AC/DC Tig with a simple trigger option. It is on/off. Works nice for me. Never got used to the foot peddle thing.

[mb911]

Oh gosh I hate thumb controls and buttons. The point of TIG welding is for precise control. Thumb controls require you to take the control hand /thumb to hit the switch. It’s about the silliest thing you could put on a TIG unit. Pipe fitters don’t use a thumb controls neither does aerospace , or any reputable shop. They do work and is ok but I have welded on pontoons overhead and used my head or knees to depress the pedal. Welded on helicopters, airplanes, snowmobiles, fender flares, you name it all with a foot pedal. I have been teaching TIG welding for 25 years and prior to that aerospace so take my advice with a grain of salt.

Anyway if you must have one stay name brand. FYI we teach over 150 TIG welders each semester (3 per year) all foot pedals.

[Superhawk996]

Oh gosh I hate thumb controls and buttons. The point of TIG welding is for precise control. Thumb controls require you to take the control hand /thumb to hit the switch. It’s about the silliest thing you could put on a TIG unit. Pipe fitters don’t use a thumb controls neither does aerospace , or any reputable shop. They do work and is ok but I have welded on pontoons overhead and used my head or knees to depress the pedal. Welded on helicopters, airplanes, snowmobiles, fender flares, you name it all with a foot pedal. I have been teaching TIG welding for 25 years and prior to that aerospace so take my advice with a grain of salt.

Anyway if you must have one stay name brand. FYI we teach over 150 TIG welders each semester (3 per year) all foot pedals.

With all due respect Ben, have you tired the TIG Button?

It’s index finger tip controlled and it’s a very sensitive pressure control. It works great and is very natural to use. It’s very easy to feather in and out and to infinitely vary the current while welding. It’s very easy to go from minimum to maximum current just based on finger tip pressure. It is as precise as the foot control. All fingers / thumb remain in constant, natural contact with the torch for full control of the torch.

It’s nothing like the Miller thumb control I’ve tried that a friend has which I hated. It was old and was just an on/off and didn’t vary the current. I think Lincoln has a weird slider conveyor belt looking thing - haven’t tried that but looks very awkward to me to have to use a thumb on that so I truly get where you’re coming from.

I you haven’t tried a TIG Button you owe it to yourself to try it.

Watch the video around time stamp 2:15 and watch his hand on the torch, and the amperage response on the machine.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW1Mh3vOJDM?si=NaPmSifq0EoJ9CFg

[rick 918-S]

No disrespect intended. Your welding skills are premier. Not everyone has the skill to walk and chew gum but still get a good result.

[mb911]

Oh gosh I hate thumb controls and buttons. The point of TIG welding is for precise control. Thumb controls require you to take the control hand /thumb to hit the switch. It’s about the silliest thing you could put on a TIG unit. Pipe fitters don’t use a thumb controls neither does aerospace , or any reputable shop. They do work and is ok but I have welded on pontoons overhead and used my head or knees to depress the pedal. Welded on helicopters, airplanes, snowmobiles, fender flares, you name it all with a foot pedal. I have been teaching TIG welding for 25 years and prior to that aerospace so take my advice with a grain of salt.

Anyway if you must have one stay name brand. FYI we teach over 150 TIG welders each semester (3 per year) all foot pedals.

With all due respect Ben, have you tired the TIG Button?

It’s index finger tip controlled and it’s a very sensitive pressure control. It works great and is very natural to use. It’s very easy to feather in and out and to infinitely vary the current while welding. It’s very easy to go from minimum to maximum current just based on finger tip pressure. It is as precise as the foot control. All fingers / thumb remain in constant, natural contact with the torch for full control of the torch.

It’s nothing like the Miller thumb control I’ve tried that a friend has which I hated. It was old and was just an on/off and didn’t vary the current. I think Lincoln has a weird slider conveyor belt looking thing - haven’t tried that but looks very awkward to me to have to use a thumb on that so I truly get where you’re coming from.

I you haven’t tried a TIG Button you owe it to yourself to try it.

Watch the video around time stamp 2:15 and watch his hand on the torch, and the amperage response on the machine.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW1Mh3vOJDM?si=NaPmSifq0EoJ9CFg

Yup doesn’t change my stance anything you do with the control hand besides use technique is going to change arc length, puddle manipulation. That is a big deal if you’re doing high quality welds. I suppose for the weekend warrior that is only doing sheet metal /car repairs then your fine. No self respecting pro that had actual training would use these with a few exceptions and those exceptions would not be for high quality welding applications.

[Superhawk996]

Fair enough. I’m not a pro and never will be.

From someone that is a weekend warrior, that has used the TIG Button for out of position welding, it is a game changer for work that can’t occur on the bench.

[73-914]

Oh gosh I hate thumb controls and buttons. The point of TIG welding is for precise control. Thumb controls require you to take the control hand /thumb to hit the switch. It’s about the silliest thing you could put on a TIG unit. Pipe fitters don’t use a thumb controls neither does aerospace , or any reputable shop. They do work and is ok but I have welded on pontoons overhead and used my head or knees to depress the pedal. Welded on helicopters, airplanes, snowmobiles, fender flares, you name it all with a foot pedal. I have been teaching TIG welding for 25 years and prior to that aerospace so take my advice with a grain of salt.

Anyway if you must have one stay name brand. FYI we teach over 150 TIG welders each semester (3 per year) all foot pedals.

With all due respect Ben, have you tired the TIG Button?

It’s index finger tip controlled and it’s a very sensitive pressure control. It works great and is very natural to use. It’s very easy to feather in and out and to infinitely vary the current while welding. It’s very easy to go from minimum to maximum current just based on finger tip pressure. It is as precise as the foot control. All fingers / thumb remain in constant, natural contact with the torch for full control of the torch.

It’s nothing like the Miller thumb control I’ve tried that a friend has which I hated. It was old and was just an on/off and didn’t vary the current. I think Lincoln has a weird slider conveyor belt looking thing - haven’t tried that but looks very awkward to me to have to use a thumb on that so I truly get where you’re coming from.

I you haven’t tried a TIG Button you owe it to yourself to try it.

Watch the video around time stamp 2:15 and watch his hand on the torch, and the amperage response on the machine.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW1Mh3vOJDM?si=NaPmSifq0EoJ9CFg

Yup doesn’t change my stance anything you do with the control hand besides use technique is going to change arc length, puddle manipulation. That is a big deal if you’re doing high quality welds. I suppose for the weekend warrior that is only doing sheet metal /car repairs then your fine. No self respecting pro that had actual training would use these with a few exceptions and those exceptions would not be for high quality welding applications.

I agree

[rick 918-S]

Fair enough. I’m not a pro and never will be.

From someone that is a weekend warrior, that has used the TIG Button for out of position welding, it is a game changer for work that can’t occur on the bench.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

If I have to use my head to push a peddle I am going to think of a smarter way not a harder way (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)

[tazz9924]

I have a finger control on my welder and i love it. The miller ones are basically on off switches and even with pulse it doesn’t do the job. What ever they did on my welder where it has up and down slope settings makes it just as good if not better than my pedal when it comes to consistency.

[jd74914]

I'm a fan of knee or shoulder on the pedal in awkward places like Ben, but that's just me. I've done more than a few tube frame though and it is an acquired skill [requiring flexibility too haha].

I have used the TIG button Superhawk recommended and it was OK, but awkward for me with how I hold the torch to be honest. Same with rotary controls-OK, though a bit awkward. Maybe better for me than the button since I find it difficult to press something with my torch hand when I'm focusing on maintaining arc length and controlling the weld puddle.

I guess that puts me with Ben. The only place for a button for me is if cold wire welding. Not really applicable on a car though!

[930cabman]

No disrespect intended. Your welding skills are premier. Not everyone has the skill to walk and chew gum but still get a good result.

don't know anybody (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

[mb911]

Fair enough. I’m not a pro and never will be.

From someone that is a weekend warrior, that has used the TIG Button for out of position welding, it is a game changer for work that can’t occur on the bench.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

If I have to use my head to push a peddle I am going to think of a smarter way not a harder way (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)

It’s all about the arc length. As a state weld test conductor myself there are very specific criteria used when you assess quality welds.

Again not super applicable to welding a flare on etc. I work with steam fitters, boiler makers,etc and many times you use a mirror to see the welds to ensure quality line of sight but also maintain arc length as that can make or break a weld or kill someone.