Turntable TIG welding & Walking the cup

Turntable TIG welding is gravy. When you start a side hustle welding business, you hope you get jobs like this.

The video below shows a macro etch test also known as a cut and etch test of the weld done in the video above.

TIG welding filler metal is in stock at Weldmonger.com

I like to test welds. I had a 5 year long job in a metallurgical lab where we tested all kinds of various parts and welds using a much more detailed process.

But I learned that you dont need fancy equipment or a detailed procedure if all you want to do is check for penetration.

So in my youtube videos, I often cut, polish, and etch welds to correlate the settings, arc shot, and penetration so that we can all learn something.

Way back when I first started my side hustle welding business in my garage, one of my first jobs was tig welding hundreds of small round stainless parts.

They needed to look pretty and I didn't have a turntable or positioner so I made a crude turntable out of an old 10 speed bike and used a variable speed drill to turn the parts.

That contraption worked extremely well but it was made for that one specific job and wasn't very versatile.

My customer with all those small stainless parts informed me that he would be doing at least 200 of those parts every month and had even signed a contract guaranteeing him the work.

So I found a used turntable on Ebay that was actually a welding lathe complete with tig torch holder and tailstock.

So of course, after I spent about $2500 on that used welding lathe, the job completely dried up...even with the contract signed. lesson learned.

But not to worry. Other work came my way and I paid for that welding lathe many times over. I never regretted that purchase.

I have had several welding turntables since then and have found them to be invaluable for welding round parts and making a profit while making good looking welds for my customers.