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

[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

[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.