Start of aluminum tig padding block, criticism welcome.

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On a Lincoln Squarewave Tig at 100 amps on 1/8th plate with a purple banded tungsten.
Reply:Bump your amps up to at least 130, and fill that plate up with plenty of cool down time in between.I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:I'm in a welding class at my high school, so we just quench them, so no down time. haha. And I'll try 130 tomorrow.
Reply:What the hell is a padding block?...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:Originally Posted by zapsterWhat the hell is a padding block?...zap!
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDavePretty common practice method to save material while a newbie gets the swing of things.
Reply:I did one when I first started on tig aluminum too. Saved me time in the long run when I started on joints.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:People say it's boring, but I find it fun. I wish I had machines at home, but as an 18 year old welding student, I do not have that kind of money.
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDave..............Saved me time in the long run when I started on joints.
Reply:Boring or not, it's the fastest, cheapest way to learn to make a perfect bead every time and learn to feed filler through your fingers on every dip.Dunk in water every couple beads to bring the temp back down (don't on the real thing of course).Reason you need to keep the heat down is otherwise you are practicing on pre heated material all the time.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by rabidchimpWhen I started on joints, I'd just sit there, worthless, staring at walls.  -Aaron
Reply:So how do those beads themselves look? I kinda struggled a little more because they're on the edges, I put another piece of aluminum under it to act as a heatsink, which seemed to help.
Reply:How do they look? They look like your learning curve will be a little shorter than many people who have posted first attempts Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by Robert RheaI wish I had machines at home, but as an 18 year old welding student, I do not have that kind of money.
Reply:My parents don't have that kind of money too, sadly. And my schools vocational welding program is free and we get AWS certified by the end in stick,mig,fluxcore, and tig. All we have to pay for is our book and our gear.
Reply:Books and gear are cheap in comparison to what you are getting - have fun man Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by rabidchimpWhen I started on joints, I'd just sit there, worthless, staring at walls.  -Aaron
Reply:Originally Posted by Robert RheaPeople say it's boring, but I find it fun. I wish I had machines at home, but as an 18 year old welding student, I do not have that kind of money.