Getting better at Tig maybe?

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im using a 3/32 tungsten 40 fch on 1/4in plate running about 130amps  Last edited by rockcrawler97; 05-12-2014 at 07:04 PM.Lincoln 140 Pak MIG Everlast powerarc 140 STLincoln Tombstone
Reply:Aragon at 35CFHLast edited by rockcrawler97; 05-12-2014 at 07:03 PM.Lincoln 140 Pak MIG Everlast powerarc 140 STLincoln Tombstone
Reply:Too much argon. Too little amperage. Too little prep to the steel.Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:If you are running a gas lens, drop the argon to about 15cfh and clean your steel to a shiny finish. Also slow up on the fill rod. That is a massive weld bead.Sent from my SGH-T999L using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by dcoffmanjrIf you are running a gas lens, drop the argon to about 15cfh and clean your steel to a shiny finish. Also slow up on the fill rod. That is a massive weld bead.Sent from my SGH-T999L using Tapatalk
Reply:already starting off with the worst possible habit for TIG welding---practicing on dirty steel.  Perfect practice makes perfect---meaning you have to have surgically clean steel for the practice to be perfect. 1st on WeldingWeb to have a scrolling sig! HTP Invertig 400HTP Invertig 221HTP ProPulse 300HTP ProPulse 200 x2HTP ProPulse 220MTSHTP Inverarc 200TLP HTP Microcut 875SC
Reply:I also just started my venture into tig welding and I suggest not to worry about adding filler,  I just run beads on some 1\4" plate to get my technique down before I'm going to worry about adding filler. I have got some nice beads running a lap joint with no filler on 16&22 gauge. But I just hit the steel with a flap wheel but have been told to wipe it down with acetone or thinner but have yet to try and see if that makes a noticeable difference.
Reply:Thelbz regular steel needs filler. Running beads with no filler is fine on flat plate to get the basics down so you understand what things do what, but when you hit joints, you need filler. Stainless is an exception to this. With stainless, you can do autogenous welds with no filler, but for almost all other things, you really need to use filler..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Rockcrawler. Most of the other guys have covered things pretty well. You really need to get some thinner material so you learn to develop your skills at heat management. you can run pretty beads on heavier material, but you won't really learn good habits. You want to probably get yourself some 3/32' ( 14 ga) or 1/8" ( 11 ga) steel to learn on/ 16 ga is  about the thinnest I'd suggest and it can be quite frustrating to newer guys. 14 ga to 1/8" is thick enough to keep you from instantly melting thru, yet thin enough you don't need a monster machine to weld well and still can burn thru if you don't pay attention to what you are doing..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Dsw I only have had maybe a hour of hood time and was just doing the lap joints to see how well I could control the puddle, I have a bunch of 1\4" stainless I will mess with sometime this week but I have had the best luck so far with aluminum. Way more control than using a spool gun but I make a lot of aluminum handrail at work and it seems tiging it would reduce the amount of time spent on blending the welded joints but I'm sure it will be a little while before I give that a try.
Reply:Alum is one of those materials that really must be welded with filler. If you weld without filler joints usually crack down the center as they cool.It's understandable to "play" a bit when you are new. I have students start out running beads on flat plate with no filler so they can easily see what happens when they adjust the amps with the pedal, or change torch height as they go along, or change travel speed. With no filler you get a really good idea what each thing does to the puddle. However after they have spent an hour or so getting an understanding that everything they do will effect the puddle, We get them to try and eliminate as many variables as possible and just work the pedal to control the puddle and start learning how to add filler. Once they can make consistent beads with filler on plain plate, then we move them on to joints. That usually means they have spent 4-6 hours learning to run beads on plain plate with filler before they are ready to start lap joints. It takes about that long for them to make nice beads every time and learn to "aim" the beads by overlapping 50% over a previous bead..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan