Tig welding inside corners

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I am still new to welding. I have finally been able to lay a decent bead on outside corners and butt joints. However, I still can not seem to get the hang of doing the inside corners. I am only working with 1/8 aluminum stock or 1.5" sch 40 pipe. I am using 3/32 tungsten with 3/32 or 1/8 filler rod. Syncrowave 200 set with the amps at 160.Any suggestions or tips on how to approach the inside corner welds?Thanks,-D
Reply:First of all you need 1/16" filler..You are fighting yourself because the filler is too large for the amps and what you are doing..Corners...Corners are tough..You need to just go about it as if it was a flat fillett with a twist...Kinda hard to explane but just go about it as if it was one flat run a with a hairpin in it..Just keep an even keel and you will do it.....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:You are new to welding and learning by tigging alum? Thats like learning to jungle by starting with 4 live chainsaws while standing on your head. Make your life simple, and switch to steel until you get the basics down.You will want to extend your tungsten out a bit farther than on a butt joint or outside corner so you can maintain the correct arc length. Point the arc mostly at the corner on the lower plate. This will require more heat to melt than the edge of the upper plate, assuming the upper plate is sitting on the lower one. Reverse this if the lower plate butts to the upper plate. Then after you get a puddle add filler and move. Depending on the size of the joint/ thickness of the plate I may oscillate the arc from the lower to the upper plate to spread the heat. The length of time spent upper vs lower will depend on how the plates are situated and what is happening with the weld. If you are undercutting the upper plate, hold the arc on the upper plate less. If you are not washing in the toes of the weld, hold it there longer.
Reply:Thanks for the replies, I will give them a try. I jumped in to Tig'n aluminum because I had specific thing I wanted to do. I have a welded aluminum boat and had several projects I wanted to do. I have been able to accomplish most of them until I had to weld the inside corner. I have successfully make a radar arch out of 1.5 sch 40 pipe, then polished it. It really turned out nice. I had just put off the projects that had the this type of joint. Now I need to get some more practice with this sort of joint.
Reply:Like DSW said, longer stick out and Don't stop IN the corner, weld through it.  Once you have a puddle, keep it going till you are at least past the corner.  It will be easier and look better in the end.David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:are you talking about an inside corner or a t-joint?  Sounds like you mean a t-joint.  For me it works best if you can keep the ball fairly small so the arc is more directed. It will be easier as you move through the joint when they start to heat up so make sure your letting off the pedal as you move.Also 3/32 filler will work fine on 160 amps, its up to you.  Some people like bigger filler, others smaller.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:If you try 1/16" filler and if it starts melting before you can get it to the puddle, your torch angle is too low. The heat is running out in front of the torch and a steeper angle helps. This frustrated me for much longer than necessary. 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
Reply:Nothing personal Craig in denver, screw the ball and use a point. (red, blue, black, gold, orange...)David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Originally Posted by David RNothing personal Craig in denver, screw the ball and use a point. (red, blue, black, gold, orange...)David
Reply:Ceriated and zirconiated tungstens both hold up much better than thoriated.  That's part of the reason why they're recommended by the manufacturers for welding AC with inverter machines.
Reply:Right, on an inverter.  But the OP doesnt have an inverter machine.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:He doesn't need to have an inverter to get the benefits of a ceriated or zirconiated tungsten.  I use ceriated more than I do thoriated on transformer machines, regardless of what I'm welding.  I was simply pointing out that they are the preferred tungsten if you're trying to keep a point when welding with AC.
Reply:Nobody has to use anything, I just have better luck with a point especially in tight places.  All I have in an inverter.    Turn the frequency up and it concentrates the arc too.  David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Originally Posted by David RNothing personal Craig in denver, screw the ball and use a point. (red, blue, black, gold, orange...)David
Reply:Lanthanated typically holds up a bit better than ceriated at higher amperages.  I'm a fan of ceriated as it gives better arc starts at lower amperages.  Lanthanted works well for both AC and DC though, and it wouldn't surprise me if it becomes the standard replacement for thoriated tungstens, which I believe we'll eventually see phased out by regulations due to the low level radiation hazard.
Reply:I've always used thoriated with a point on my inverter, not because it's the best to use, but because I got a whole tool box full of them for free from my old job when they shut down.   I weld dc mild steel, occasional stainless and ac aluminum.   Machine is a TA 185 ACDC.   When I finally run out of these reds, which color should I buy (and what color is that named)?  So far all's I can ever remember is red = thoriated.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:gold lanthanated works nice on my ta185...i like to  weld 3/8 ms at 160 amps...okay maybe all 185 amps...pedal of course..
Reply:We used a balled brown (Zirconated) electrode. Seemed to work ok. Pointed tungstens (Red, 2% Thoria) worked ok, but i had to long-arc to get a decent sized puddle and enough cleaning (we werent allowed to play with the wave at all, 50/50% is all we got)btw, Lincoln precision tig 375's suck. I would have rather used the miller dynasty's they had in the other classrooms.
Reply:Regarless of the paint dipped on the end of yer tung. hang your tip out, put on a smaller cup and try holding your torch diferent ways. Made alot of money drippin and just like any other type of welding its getting comfortable and relaxing that matters most. its all personal preference. turn your machine up and play your pedal.
Reply:KCHOATE,I guess I didn't understand your "guidance" at all.  Were we talking about tig welding?Does tip refer to the tungsten extension?  If so, how far is out?If you've "made a lot of money dripping", are you sure we're not talking about a STD?What is it you said you do for a living?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:Huh......,        What the h*ll happened to the basic choice of red or green. I should probably research these new color options further. I bought a maxstar stl a while back and it came with a piece of orange tung...When did the color options increase and whats the benefits?Miller TrailBlazer 251Miller HF-250-1Miller MaxStar 150 STLHyperTherm PowerMax 380 plasmaLincoln PowerMig 180Millermatic 252Miller Diversion 180
Reply:Hang your TUNGSTEN out there half an inch if need be. and in TIG there are cup walkers that set the cup down and rock it back and forth like you move a fridge to move the puddle and others that hold the torch up and dip there filler rod to 'stack dimes'. Used to do alot of work on jet engine components and its all dripped. if you are welding pipe its all walkin.aint see'in no spots so im gonna keep on a dippin it!Air vantage 500 on the 08' KWharris torchesl25 pro suitcasecomletely restored 1969 SA200 redfaceon my 08' duramaxPIMPN AINT EASY