Newbie tig-er

admin

So im in a welding class  once a week for 12 weeks. I did tig for the second time this week and this is what I found I can do..  let me know what you think, good and bad!
Reply:I think it looks pretty darn good.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:I probably would if I wasn't 18.. Haha thank you
Reply:Well you pictures show a very steady hand. Wait til you get on alum, you will wet yourself.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Not bad for just starting out, but I have a few questions.Are you using filler? From what I see, I'd guess the answer is no. Autogenious beads on mild steel is a bad habit. Your welds are poor even if they look nice. You need the filler for a number of reasons. Stainless is one material you can get away with out using filler depending on how things are set up. However for steel and alum, you need filler pretty much all the time.2nd thing, flip the beads over and look at the back. Did the beads penetrate all the way thru? My guess is the answer is no. On things like your but weld or the outside corner with no V to fill, that makes for a poor joint, worse with no filler. I worked with someone last night on but joints, especially tight fitted but joints with no gap or bevel, and he realized how much harder they are to do well vs beveling or gapping the pieces after I worked with him for an hour or so.I'm not seeing signs of prep on those pieces. Tig doesn't like mill scale, rust or other contaminants. You need to sand or grind down to bare steel. A wire brush won't cut it, all it does is polish the rust and scale. I'm not seeing the sand marks on that material. One of the things filler does is give you some deoxidisers and so on to help deal with minor contaminants..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWNot bad for just starting out, but I have a few questions.Are you using filler? From what I see, I'd guess the answer is no. Autogenious beads on mild steel is a bad habit. Your welds are poor even if they look nice. You need the filler for a number of reasons. Stainless is one material you can get away with out using filler depending on how things are set up. However for steel and alum, you need filler pretty much all the time.2nd thing, flip the beads over and look at the back. Did the beads penetrate all the way thru? My guess is the answer is no. On things like your but weld or the outside corner with no V to fill, that makes for a poor joint, worse with no filler. I worked with someone last night on but joints, especially tight fitted but joints with no gap or bevel, and he realized how much harder they are to do well vs beveling or gapping the pieces after I worked with him for an hour or so.I'm not seeing signs of prep on those pieces. Tig doesn't like mill scale, rust or other contaminants. You need to sand or grind down to bare steel. A wire brush won't cut it, all it does is polish the rust and scale. I'm not seeing the sand marks on that material. One of the things filler does is give you some deoxidisers and so on to help deal with minor contaminants.
Reply:I understand. I have students start by running beads on flat plate with no filler at the start so they get a feel for things. No joints though. Penetration isn't bad, but filler will soak up more heat and give you a bit less than you see now.Don't be afraid to bring your own toys if that's what it takes. Even a cheap HF 4 1/2" grinder and some sanding pads to prep your stuff. Day program leaves us out 7" grinders to use at night. Not the best tool in the world to prep for tig. Some guys bring in their own smaller grinders either to wire brush stick welds, or to prep tig plates..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:That's what I'm planning next week. I'm going to try aluminum and I know the metal had to be clean as can be. How much harder is aluminum then steel? I've done aluminum with a mig spool gun and it's a very fast pace. Is it anything like that with tig?
Reply:Yes. It is. Hot, fast, and sexy. Not like stainless sexy... but almost as good. Not too bad for someone's second try. Keep it up. Practice often.
Reply:Looks pretty good
Reply:Yes alum likes to be welded hot and fast. Usually if you  are having problems with alum, the answer is very frequently to increase your amps and go faster. You can't go low and slow like you do with steel..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWYes alum likes to be welded hot and fast. Usually if you  are having problems with alum, the answer is very frequently to increase your amps and go faster. You can't go low and slow like you do with steel.
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonThat  is true. I like to start newbies on alum. I have come to the conclusion that steel tig is easy to learn, but hard to master. On the other hand tig alum is hard to learn but easy to master. Once mastered all others are easy. Like learning to drive a stick before an automatic. You learn on an automatic and you may never feel comfortable driving a stick.
Reply:I used the mig and aluminum spool gun and found it very easy to get the hang of, but it still doesn't feel right going that fast on mig...
Reply:hay this is Houlihan I worked out of pile drivers lu 2520 Portland Oregon on bonniville  dam lock in1990 to1992 for denial b murphry drilling. worked out of the lu in Wilmington calif1994-1996 forman on pear Eexpanction and new teraminal for APL 1996 passed my cwi test worked in san sfanciaco for smith emery and cel labs retired july 1912
Reply:Originally Posted by bernard houlihanhay this is Houlihan I worked out of pile drivers lu 2520 Portland Oregon on bonniville  dam lock in1990 to1992 for denial b murphry drilling. worked out of the lu in Wilmington calif1994-1996 forman on pear Eexpanction and new teraminal for APL 1996 passed my cwi test worked in san sfanciaco for smith emery and cel labs retired july 1912
Reply:Tried my hand at aluminum and stainless lastnight  hand sharpened drill bit made perfect curls
Reply:Your alum is coming along nicely.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Thank you. Much pickier than steel
Reply:some stainless, no blow threw on the back and even heat ask the way
Reply:Long bead in the 1st pict looks like you had too much heat as the weld looks gray. 2nd bead looks like it has a bit more color and isn't as gray. Might be the lighting in the pict though. Stainless is very heat sensitive. Go to low and slow and you can overheat the material and the bead won't cool enough before it looses the shielding coverage. Fast and hot tends to put in less heat, but then you have to watch you don't go thru thinner material and have issues with the back..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I noticed I had to add heat to make the puddle big enough to dip the filler. is the tungsten supposed to be sharpen or have a ball like alum.?
Reply:Pencil Sharp.Airco Heliweld II AC/DC HomeMade Wire FeederLincoln 255PLincoln HD130Everlast PP804x8 CNC TableWelding helps me build my hobbies and takes up time on the side.
Reply:Originally Posted by JKMotorsportsPencil Sharp.