Lunch Break Aluminum

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I was able to run a few aluminum plates during my lunch break today, these are both 1/4" butt and fillets and 1/2" butt and fillets. Keep in mind I only had 30 minutes to do these so quality is not the best, Critiques/constructive criticism welcome1/4" plates were all welded at 250 amps A/C ( using foot pedal as needed))1/8" red 2% tungsten with 1/8" 4043 filler1/2" plates were all welded at 350 amps A/C ( using foot pedal as needed)5/32" red 2% tungsten with 1/8" 4043 filler1/4" Butts1/4" Fillets1/2" butt1/2" Fillet
Reply:also note that all welds were accomplished using pure argon. No fancy mixers needed here  and that is a scratch going down the bead of the 1/4" butt, not a crack. must of happened in transit, as camera's are not allowed where I work
Reply:Did you chamfer that before welding?  Also did you use spacers to hold the pieces off the weld table?  It looks like you either got complete penetration or welded on the other side too.  By the way, that looks really nice.
Reply:Don't know about anyone else here but I'd be proud to have tig welds that looked like that.Nice job
Reply:Originally Posted by riley mcmillanDid you chamfer that before welding?  Also did you use spacers to hold the pieces off the weld table?  It looks like you either got complete penetration or welded on the other side too.  By the way, that looks really nice.
Reply:Do you work at Boeing?  I was a fabtech at the Boeing plant in Corinth, Texas.  Quit in 1996 and started a little business.
Reply:Very nice, elder!!! http://all-a-cart.comWelding Cart Kits and accessories
Reply:Kudos to ya Elder! Very nice work; I hope everyone appreciates how hot you have to weld to get a TIG fillet like that on aluminum. As info for all, a standard joint geometry for aluminum butt welds is minimum 60 degrees.When you can weld like Elder, you shape it the way you want.Get on it. Get it hot. Get off it.Weldtek
Reply:those are nice ...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:thought red tungsten was for stainless?  I was told to only use pure tungsten (green) or zirconium (brown) can you shed some light on this
Reply:here we go again...i use red end and red end only for everything...just what I do......zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Nice Job....They loook great. Man up to what settings will your TIG machine go up? And you didn´t had a TIG until know...your boss must be proud that he bought the welder I bet those a´int cold lap My Babies: HF Drill pressHF Pipe Bender3   4.5" Black and Decker angle grindersLincoln Electric PROMIG 175that´s it!
Reply:Originally Posted by firebladethought red tungsten was for stainless?  I was told to only use pure tungsten (green) or zirconium (brown) can you shed some light on this
Reply:Very Nice Elder ...You are the Welder! Washman
Reply:Originally Posted by elvergonNice Job....They loook great. Man up to what settings will your TIG machine go up? And you didn´t had a TIG until know...your boss must be proud that he bought the welder I bet those a´int cold lap
Reply:Very nice.
Reply:I didn't know that... I have always used green for aluminum w/ a.c. and red for everything else w/ d.c . Seems like an old topic here. I'll try red next time with aluminum.
Reply:I don't see any pictures?John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:I was just reading that TIG booklet from Miller referenced a few posts back. I guess I should also try the orange ceriated tungstens as a possible replacement for both the green and red tungstens. This is a great forum!
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterhere we go again...i use red end and red end only for everything...just what I do......zap!
Reply:Now that I read the Miller guidelines I understand that their statement "DO NOT use PURE Tungsten for Inverter AC", is explained on the previous page.  They point out that the balled tungsten of the old AC transformer days gives less arc control and a more diffuse arc than a pointed tungsten on an AC inverter.   Apparently pure tungsten will ball up even with the inverter, so it is not as controllable and precise as the alloy tungstens.  YOUR INVERTER WILL NOT BLOW UP!Now isn't it nice to know why?
Reply:The issues with "red" tungsten (2% thoriated) are 1. it's radioactive and will with cause you harm (cancer) if you snort a bunch of very fine grinding dust, and 2. you tend to get a split or hole in the surface of the ball when doing conventional AC welding of aluminum. So for #1, don't breathe the dust. For #2, switch to DCEP and reball the tungsten on a chunk of copper, or use a modern inverter power supply and weld AC with a sharp tungsten, not a balled endand?tell me something i dont know..and i use a sharp tungestion doing aluminum A.C. let the "ball" form on its own.. ...zap1I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:should there be pictures somewhere?***************************************Lincoln AC225 stick welderLincoln HD100 WeldPak flux core wire feed welderThree of the cheapest grinders money can buy
Reply:Originally Posted by KRSshould there be pictures somewhere?
Reply:There gone. Dont see them either.Drivesector Hobart Handler 140Hobart Handler 180Ready Welder 2Hobart Air Force 400Airco Stinger 225Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."OZZY"he had mentioned that cameras were not allowed at work.. maybe he got caught and had to remove them...but how?..zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Nah...it's just that invisible aluminum we've been hearing about.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Not invisible....Stealth!!!!