New Guy + First TIG attempts

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Hello all -Well, as a new guy here, hopefully I can add something every now and then that is actually helpful.  I have been welding for a couple of years with my little wirefeed that has definitely served me well but I wanted to do and learn more so I recently picked up a Hobart TIGMate.  It will definitely do everything that I am looking to do - eventually start putting together my own bicycle frames.Here are my first attempts.  I would have done a bunch more but I had to wire in another outlet and stuff, so it was getting late.  The first two I did are in the center.  I wanted to get the feel of how to start an arc.  I layed a small strip on top of a plate and put the two together without using any filler.  The two on the outside are attempts with making a bead while using filler metal.  The first one I did I stopped halfway through because I didn't account for what was around me and my glove got caught so I couldn't move any further.  I figure now it will be common practice to do a quick dry run before I start just to make sure I can move the whole length of the weld.They both are 1/16" Mild Steel.  I was using ER70S-2 3/32" filler with a 3/32" 2% Thoriated Tungsten (red one) with a # 7 cup at about 17cfh of 100% argon.  Wow, that was one heck of a sentence.  Anyways, I'm kinda pleased with my results.  I will be giving some stainless a whirl this weekend and hopefully work on some aluminum.  My goal is to get up to do aluminum really well.  Please be critical.  I'd really like to know how I'm doing and what I need to work on.  Since I don't have a metal bandsaw at home I'm going to take it to work today and cut it in a spot or two to see how the inside looks.  I'll also try to post a pic or two of my welding area even though I'm sure you know what a welder looks like, it's always good to show someone else in case they can swing some ideas on how to improve it, or maybe someone gets an idea from me.Last edited by RyanLipski; 03-27-2009 at 12:03 PM.
Reply:The TIG mate is not the best way to learn TIG.BUT you will not get good results trying to run beads on flat plates.You need to weld a joint or a groove. Two small plates or a T joint fillet weld etc.,.With a flat plate you would need to apply a lot of heat initially and then taper off graduallybecause after a few seconds the entire plate will start to heat up.With a TIG mate and no foot control or hand control it is going to be very diffacult to get consistant results. You can only control travel speed. You are working uphill so to speak.Tack weld two small plates together and weld the gap or groove made by beveling the edges. Your welds will start to look better.AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:As Donald said, to have good results, you need to be able to control heat input, to lessen it as things heat up. You also need  consistent torch motion and consistent addition of filler, which for a beginner requires good eyesight and very good hand control.In 'the olden days', in the old schools my parents went to, the students practiced making long rows of overlapping circles as part of handwriting 'training'. This gave the students, or at least my parents, excellent control of their hand and arm muscles. I think these exercises would also be be good for beginning welders, and occasionally I have have tried them, usually just after giving this advise. [But you must realize that I'm too old to change, too stubborn to want too, and too busy/lazy to have the time].
Reply:Are you sanding or grinding the mill scale off? A powered wire brush isn't aggressive enough, it will leave some highly polished mill scale.9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250