SA200 tig settings?

admin

Hey everybody, I am rig welder in WTX and might have a SS tig test coming up. I have a box of carbon super coupons and some 2" SS sched 10 & 40 to practice on.I am running an 82 blackface. I'm wondering if any old tig hands in here can help me get ready for the test (probably a 6" sched 40 but we don't know yet).So I'd like to ask:What heat are you running your 200s for your bead fill and cap?Any change to your OCVs? I'm running 91 right now.Do you run a 5/32 gap and a 1/8 wire for your bead? 1/8 and 1/8 etc..?Do you like to freehand your bead or wiggle it in there? Any and all tips are appreciated I have a long way to go but I really need a job so I'm taking the test if if I get offered it either way, hopefully I have a couple more weeks to practice. I'm out of work so I have all day to practice.Thanks everyone!
Reply:Stainless is going to shrink up a lot compared to the carbon steel coupons you’re practicing on. I like to gap at 5/32 and dip the root in. That way you know the edges are consumed.
Reply:Right on thanks for the reply, are you back feeding or dip and keyholing?
Reply:I like to use a wire that will fit in between the bevels so if you gap at 5/32 it’ll suck up and you can probably use a 1/8 wire and as the torch burns the bevel away I add a little bit of wire from just inside the pipe but I don’t come straight thru the pipe. I hold the wire at the same angle that you would for lay wire it’s just inside. If you feel rushed and are burning huge holes in the pipe just turn the heat down until the torch just burns those edges away. You shouldn’t feel the need to hammer down so you aren’t burning the pipe wall away. I usually start around 85 amps and adjust from there to how the machine runs.