Fabricating a custom Ti welding cup...

A common theme in fabrication is the necessity of creating job specific tools.  I'm often asked by other builders and hobbyists what tig equipment I use for welding titanium to insure the highest quality welds possible.

For a number of years I used a champagne cup from Weld Tech, but over the last year have transitioned to a custom cup configuration that allows better control of the argon coverage, greater electrode extension for those hard to reach places, and is less expensive to fabricate than purchasing ti specific equipment.

Here's a quick pictorial on creating the custom ti cup from available components...

Grab yourself a number 12 ceramic cup, large gas lens, and some JB weld...

 Chuck up the gas lens in the lathe and turn down the OD, removing the threads...

 Flip the part around and put a radius on the top edge, rounding it to fit the profile of the ceramic cup...

 One lens radiused, one ready to go into the lathe...

 Mix up some JB Weld...

 and apply generously to the chamfered edge...

 Carefully insert the lens into the cup so that the threaded end extends through the smaller diameter hole...

 I machined up a small fixture that the lens threads into and pulls it up tight inside the ceramic cup...

 Dip a Q tip into some acetone and clean up any stray epoxy...

 Allow it to set for 6-8 hours, remove the fixture and you have a custom cup that allows for maximum argon shielding, lots of electrode extension, and super clean welds...

If you want to check out a more in depth explanation with a demonstration, check out the vid on You Tube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPZ00jFDuxY

cheers,

rody