Where is everyone #5

I have a TIG on my Christmas list. I already have a MIG with spool gun and a plasma cutter. I don't really NEED it but have always wanted one. They are getting to a sane price for someone just playing around. There hasn't been a job I couldn't do with my MIG though.

 

I have the little brother to your machine, an older 175, and am really happy with it. Yours has a few more adjustments than mine does.
Best thing you can do for aluminum, as far as torch parts, is switch to a gas lens. I'm currently running a #7 cup and use it on everything from sign frames, to a drain bung in an aluminum fuel tank this week to pneumatic trailer repairs. I'm guessing you have a PT17 torch? If so, the parts are less than $20, and well worth it.
As for cleaning parts, a gallon of acetone, some good white painters rags and a dedicated stainless steel wire brush. I cannot emphasize the dedicated stainless steel brush enough.

The white tubes are for filler metal storage. 1 1/2" thin wall pvc pipe with one glued cap and on pushed on cap. Cut the tube to 36" and go from there. The short tube in front is for left over pieces. The clear "fishing lure" box on the bottom of the cart has different collets, back caps and tungstens sorted by size and type, as well as spare torch parts. Cheap box at wally world and makes keeping things together so much easier.
There's a fella on you tube with a welding tips and tricks page. Very knowledgeable guy with a ton of very good videos. He explains what he's doing (voice over) as he's filming it. He has a video on a "Pad build up drill" for aluminum. Hands down the best way to learn your technique and your machine.

 

We finally got one installed in our garage floor, a piece of mind for my wife and son. Ever since the '13 tornado if they are calling for T-storms my son goes into panic mode, it's all we can do to keep him calmed down so the shelter helps with that. I myself am the guy you see in those meme's that's sitting in the lawn chair watching with a beer in his hand.

 

I hear ya. That's me as well. In fact, we stood in the front yard until the wind got too much and then went in and hit the hallway. When you start hearing stuff hit the house, you start worrying real fast. Lol.

 

I knew that was you in that picture!!!!

 

We had an F4 in March of 97 hit about 6 miles from the house. Wasn't a funnel to it. Just a big ugly black wall with stuff floating around in it. Damndest thing I ever seen. We found mail from Texarkana. But I still sit out there lookin like a fool.


Rollin my doors in Mt. Pleasant TX. Running over to pilgrims getting some feathers for Joplin then pecans for Texas

 

It's amazing how far stuff gets carried. After the Greensburg, KS tornado, we found irrigation system wheels in some of my in laws fields. All the systems around him were intact with a couple flopped over on their side. He told me the next closest system was over 10 miles away, just outside of Greensburg. To this day, we still find junk in some of the CRP grass.

 

Watching them is half the fun, as long as they're in open country. Absolutely sucks seeing someone lose their possessions or livelihood.

 

The one in '13 missed us by a block. I stood in my neighbors backyard shelter on the steps as long as I could watching it come at us. Everyone says they sound like a freight train but it sounded like Niagra falls to me, we could hear it long before we saw it. The debris got so heavy because it was so close I finally had to close the door. When it was over and I opened the door the whole neighborhood to the north of us was gone, it took about 30 seconds to do all that. Later that evening we went and stood in the path of it and it looked like a combine had made a row in a cornfield.

The houses in our neighborhood received mostly roof damage but the houses that were gone from the other neighborhood were in our yards in pieces and insulation everywhere. It looked like someone took one of those insulation guns and sprayed everything within sight, it took forever to get everything cleaned up but at least our houses were still standing.

The hard part about that one was the deaths, especially the 7 children at Plaza Towers Elementary. At it's widest it was 1.3 miles wide but it wasn't near that wide when it got to us, otherwise I would have lost my house also. The other thing was that it happened at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. "Usually" they happen in the evenings but you never know.

Like @ShooterK2 said, you get complacent because it happens so much and you get use to the sirens, at least some do. They don't bother me, I think they are fascinating and I grew up with them, but I'm half simple anyway. We just try to stay prepared and stay on top of things when the weather is that bad. The weather folks out here know exactly what to look for and what conditions warrant one popping up so it helps that they keep everyone fore warned. They can't keep everyone from getting hurt or killed but it would definitely be a lot worse without them.