tig with a buzz box

[danbob]

Every one says that I need AC to tig aluminum. My buzz box puts out 60 cycle AC at 50% positive and 50% negative. I would not be able to control the duty cycle (plus or minus) and it would not be a square wave but I bet a lot of the older transformer tig machines couldn’t either so why not use my buzz box to tig aluminum
Dan

[Gadget]

That might work but you will need a torch and adapter and some way to open and close the gas when you are welding. Jerry rigging that might cost as much as a TIG welder. You also wouldn't be able to adjust the amperage easily like you can with a foot pedal on a true TIG welder.
I've heard of kits that allow you to TIG with an AC buzz box but don't know how much they cost or how good they are.

[SICFabrications]

wont work without a high frequency box..... and that sometimes will cost what a lil ac tig machine will cost.... you also almost gotta have an amperage control.... the balance is set entirely too high on a buzz box.... so.... 1: hi freq box, 2: torch with valve: 3 several boxes of cups n tungstens later (because you keep melting them down from balance problems) you have just spent prolly 1 grand anyway... it isnt worth it


fyi... the "duty cycle" as you call it is not the balance (the switching on center from positive to negative)

[KHK]

I had a setup using a buzz box and a TIG torch, it seamed to work OK with SS but with AL it was a farce.. I added a miller HF unit and had success with AL. The HF cleans the AL and allowed welding.

[brucer]

wont work with aluminum. i think the ac current is at the wrong frequency...

the dc buzzbox will work on all steels and stainless & chromoly..

ive seen it done 2 ways,
1 way with a tig torch with the valve on the torch...
the other way was with a gas solenoid hooked inline, when you struck the arc it opened the gas valve allowing argon to flow.