first attempt at tig welding aluminum

admin

16 gauge, AC, manual pulse (think jimmy hendrix with wah-wah pedal).Sync 180sd was set at 90amps, AC.this is my first attempt at aluminum.  i was so excited, i didn't even clean the aluminum first.
Reply:I've always found aluminum kind of tricky, my hat is off to you!
Reply:Very nice and impressive  first weld.  I am new to Tig welding  and have mostly laid a lot of lines on 1/4 inch plate. Looking forward to getting my own machine.Bob.Miller Dynasty 200 DXMillermatic 211Hypertherm PM 600In Tool acquisition Mode
Reply:Looks great.  I'm getting ready to start practicing on aluminum.  Did you use rod on this?  I wanted to try just running puddles first, but the little bit I've done seems that aluminum puddles don't act like steel puddles.  Someone told me that aluminum just gets silvery like trying to do solder.Hobby welder with MIG, stick and gas experience.  Just got a Miller 250 TIG that I hope to use with some degree of expertise someday
Reply:Nice goin' Oxy.  Your welding has developed in leaps and bounds since your first posts.Now yur TIGin'.  Looks good.
Reply:Not bad not bad at all. Feather your power a little at each end to keep that nice corner but hay that is for looks anyway....BrandonLincoln Tombstone 225 A/C Steel StickerOld Victor O2/Acetylene setupMiller Syncrowave 250 Tig/PC-300 PulserMiller Millermatic 212 Mig HTP Invertatig 201 Giant Teck D50 Plasma cutterLots of HF grinders
Reply:Looking good John. A little hot but your getting better with the consistency.Let me know how you do with the plates that I gave you. Keep burning!http://all-a-cart.comWelding Cart Kits and accessories
Reply:Originally Posted by oxy moronthis is my first attempt at aluminum.  i was so excited, i didn't even clean the aluminum first.
Reply:Originally Posted by LarryONice goin' Oxy.  Your welding has developed in leaps and bounds since your first posts.Now yur TIGin'.  Looks good.
Reply:Originally Posted by pigpen........... Did you use rod on this?  I wanted to try just running puddles first........
Reply:If that's your first attempt...what was post #9 ???was that yours, also??  (#9 most closely approximates my skill level!!)."Good Enough Never Is"MIller AC/DC  ThunderboltHobart HH180, 125EZRiland Cut 40 Plasma oxy/act  outfitTons of "stuff", all treasures to me!
Reply:Nice work there oxy moron,That should silence some of the "disbelievers" about how "difficult" it is to weld aluminum with a Sync 180/200.As I've said, (many times in fact), that the Syncs have been welding aluminum very nicely for years before the inverters came into vogue.The inverters (Dynasty 200/350/700, etc) do have some features which "enhance" one's ability to weld aluminum, but it's been my experience (old Sync guy) that the guys who complain about not being able to weld aluminum with a Sync, don't produce very good welds even with an inverter.Arc time makes everyone better.  A good mentor is also a tremendous help.Last edited by SundownIII; 06-14-2009 at 12:06 PM.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by hillcoIf that's your first attempt...what was post #9 ???was that yours, also??  (#9 most closely approximates my skill level!!).
Reply:Looks really good to me.  I Just traded up a ESAB heliarc 161  I really wanting to get a cart built for it before trying much welding with it.     Way to much dragging out & putting away if it isn't all hooked together & bottle connected.I only hope I can keep it from dripping on the floor & the tungsten out of the puddle.IF IT WORKS, DON'T FIX IT2 Lincoln CV-300 / LN-7 GMALinde-VI 253,400 & 450 w/MIG35 feedersCNC Table with Oxweld O/A & Hypertherm 1250G3Lincoln Ranger GXT 250Hobart-MicroWire 300ESAB Heliarc 161ESAB-Mobilemaster 2 CC/CV Feeders& more
Reply:Originally Posted by oxy moronLike i said, i was already welding 1/16"  STEEL a few minutes prior to welding the AL. So I only changed it to AC.  The dial was left at 65.