Another kind of pot

Finger switch huh? I use a finger switch, but my TIG welder also allows to me set a start current in addition to a weld current. I have been told there are finger switches that can adjust current like a foot pedal, but I have never seen one.

I am as cheap as the next guy, but I have been known to throw money at the problem when time is a constraint. Time is always important of course, but sometimes you can work on other things while waiting. If it is valuable enough to making waiting an issue Harbor Freight sells a loose TIG pedal. If the plug is not compatible you can swap plugs. Of course I am working under the assumption that Harbor Freight has a store within a reasonable distance.

I recently (month or so ago) adapted a Harbor Freight TIG torch to my AHP welder in order to finish and ship a job.

The problem with the finger switch is it is on top of the handle in a position that makes it impossible to get a steady grip on the torch . My machine also has ramp up/down controls as well as pre and post flow settings . I have the ramp down time set long enough that I can let off the switch for a second or two if the puddle gets too hot . I've seen pictures of torch mounted slider switches but never used one . I'm trying out using a piece of thin plywood as a rest to help control arc length since I can't maintain it due to the compromised grip on the torch . I also have 2 new pots coming for the foot control , one to be installed , the other will be taped inside the control just in case . I have one here somewhere from when the original pedal broke one due to a missing pedal stop screw . They don't like overtravel ... I asked the seller for parts to fix it , they sent me a whole new pedal . I still have a second pedal here if I could only find the damn thing . Right now I'm a noid ...

Setting up a rest, and practicing the entire path of the weld is (should be) a normal part of welding for most of us who don't do it everyday anyway. I'll even go get some scrap out of the piles out back and practice a weld on similar materials sometimes before making the actual weld, but you probably weld more often than I do.

Yeah , but most of my welding is steel with the MIG machine . I have cut some strips of the stuff I'm using on the project so I can practice . The new parts will be here on Friday afternoon so I should have the TIG machine back online by Saturday AM . A new microswitch and pot should give me another 12 years ...