i need aluminum tig bootcamp....

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i have a econotig miller welder.1st.)  i was welding today, (trying to) the machine would trip the breaker, there 2 30 amp breakers on the panel, the machine saids 59 amp requirement.2nd as im welding, the tungsten just seems to melt away?????\3rd HELP!bare with me guys is there any good videos of how to setup a welder and get going.
Reply:Search youtube for videos, theres lots. Weldingtipsandtricks is a good place to read and watch videos also. Tons of info on this forum about welding of all kinds.Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:just read i may have been welding to tick of aluminum!
Reply:Giving all your settings etc would help greatly. Things like amps you are running, AC or DC tig, Tungsten size, material size and type... The more info we have the better we can assist you.A few generic things. Alum in your case would need to most likely be done with AC tig. Alum also requires more amps than you would typically use with steel the same thickness. to tig weld 1/8" alum with your machine, you'd need to max out the amps. 150 amps AC would be minimum for doing 1/8" alum. I often set my machine even higher to get the puddle to form fast, say up to 200 amps and then back off with the pedal. At those amperage ratings, most 3/32" tungstens won't handle the amps. 3/32" lanthanated is borderline at 150-165 amps. 1/8" would be much better.Since you would be maxing out your output, you'll be pulling almost all the input requirements, if not more. 30 amp 230v breaker is way too low, hence why you keep tripping the breaker. Don't simply up  the breaker size. The breakers are there to protect the wall wiring form overheating and burning down your house. There are exceptions in the electrical code that will allow larger breakers to be used with smaller gauge wiring due to machine duty cycle, but you would want to have an electrician verify that you can safely instal one. If not, you need to up your wire size along with the breaker.Last the WP 17 aircooled torch Miller includes with those machines will get hot fairly quickly when you max out that machine. Wear light to medium weight gloves so you can tell how hot the torch is getting, or you will melt your torch very quickly. Doing 1/8" alum is doable with that machine, but you have to wait between beads to allow both the machine and torch to cool down. Leave the machine running so the fan can cool the machine between beads. Duty cycle at max is probably 1-2 minutes at best, and it wouldn't at all surprise me if the duty cycle isn't measured in seconds when the machine is maxed out..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:you need a 60 amp 220 breaker,not two 30 amp breakers.miller thunderbolt 250vlincoln square wave tig 175 prolincoln idealarc mig sp250everlast tig 210EXTeverlast power plasma 50chicago electric (hf) 130 tig/90 arcchicago electric 90 amp flux wire3 sets oxy/acet
Reply:why would i be melting tungsten, its getting to hot, so to many amps?, i kept trying with lower amps but it would NOT make a puddle!
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWGiving all your settings etc would help greatly. Things like amps you are running, AC or DC tig, Tungsten size, material size and type... The more info we have the better we can assist you.i was running around 70 amps on HIGH AC!tried 1/16 tungsten and 1/8 tugsten, aluminum intake about 1/4inchA few generic things. Alum in your case would need to most likely be done with AC tig. Alum also requires more amps than you would typically use with steel the same thickness. to tig weld 1/8" alum with your machine, you'd need to max out the amps. 150 amps AC would be minimum for doing 1/8" alum. I often set my machine even higher to get the puddle to form fast, say up to 200 amps and then back off with the pedal. At those amperage ratings, most 3/32" tungstens won't handle the amps. 3/32" lanthanated is borderline at 150-165 amps. 1/8" would be much better.Since you would be maxing out your output, you'll be pulling almost all the input requirements, if not more. 30 amp 230v breaker is way too low, hence why you keep tripping the breaker. Don't simply up  the breaker size. The breakers are there to protect the wall wiring form overheating and burning down your house. There are exceptions in the electrical code that will allow larger breakers to be used with smaller gauge wiring due to machine duty cycle, but you would want to have an electrician verify that you can safely instal one. If not, you need to up your wire size along with the breaker.Last the WP 17 aircooled torch Miller includes with those machines will get hot fairly quickly when you max out that machine. Wear light to medium weight gloves so you can tell how hot the torch is getting, or you will melt your torch very quickly. Doing 1/8" alum is doable with that machine, but you have to wait between beads to allow both the machine and torch to cool down. Leave the machine running so the fan can cool the machine between beads. Duty cycle at max is probably 1-2 minutes at best, and it wouldn't at all surprise me if the duty cycle isn't measured in seconds when the machine is maxed out.
Reply:Tungsten size makes a big difference. a 1/16" tungsten won't carry the amperage say an 1/8" one would. Also not all blends of tungsten are created equal. Pure won't take near the amperage the same size lanthanated or ceriated will. You can't weld at 150 amps with a 1/16" tungsten, but you could with say 1/8".Also you still haven't mentioned your polarity. DC+ tends to melt tungstens. DC- doesn't ( given the same amperage settings). AC being a mix of both DC+ and DC- falls some where in between depending on your balance setting ( if the machine allows balance to be adjusted).You need to cough up all the pertinent info or we can't help you..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:im trying, i set it on ac HIGH for tig. how would i know my polarity?  Originally Posted by DSWTungsten size makes a big difference. a 1/16" tungsten won't carry the amperage say an 1/8" one would. Also not all blends of tungsten are created equal. Pure won't take near the amperage the same size lanthanated or ceriated will. You can't weld at 150 amps with a 1/16" tungsten, but you could with say 1/8".Also you still haven't mentioned your polarity. DC+ tends to melt tungstens. DC- doesn't ( given the same amperage settings). AC being a mix of both DC+ and DC- falls some where in between depending on your balance setting ( if the machine allows balance to be adjusted).You need to cough up all the pertinent info or we can't help you.
Reply:Originally Posted by wbrett1027im trying, i set it on ac HIGH for tig. how would i know my polarity?
Reply:Your welders output should be okay for your stated goals. I ran my PT275 on a 60 amp breaker for some time. I did have the advantage of being able to run 180-200 amps for short bursts but your welders output will do 1/8" well enough. Something like a manifold with thin tubing and a thick flange you would want to preheat it and get the flange good and hot. 2 30 amp breakers don't give you 60 amps. It is also not a safe, legal or smart way to get 220. Get a 60 amp 220 breaker. I agree with what others have said. It is very likely your tungsten is too small. This is very bad. Even if your tungsten is just a little too small and drips a little bit of tungsten into your weld pool it will wreak havoc. Get some 1/8" lanthenated and a proper breaker and you will have much better luck.Lincoln precision TIG 275Millermatic 140 MIG
Reply:Originally Posted by wbrett1027so in short terms get a bigger welder?. what do you guys think about the deverision 180? are there any not so expensive name brand(miller) welders that work perfect?bacially what it comes down to, what i want to weld is, aluminum intakes, resivors, catch cans, and possible some chrome moly.
Reply:Your tungsten could be burning if you don't have the right shielding gas or your gas is contaminated.  If it isn't pure argon, or a argon/helium mix, it won't work.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:Also using the green tip tungsten that is correct right?
Reply:Green is pure and takes the least amount of amps. To do 1/8" alum you need to be using 1/8" pure ( green) tungsten. If you try to run 3/32" it will melt at the amps needed.As far as if you should or should not use green, that's a personal preference. The day instructor at the tech school is old school, so all we use there on the Syncrowaves is green. At home I prefer to use either Lantanated or ceriated since they will take more amps and don't ball as easily so you can maintain somewhat of a point vs the large ball with green. I can make either work though.You still haven't mentioned what size alum you are trying to weld, your amperage or the size of your tungsten....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:Ok should I try and use 1/8 red tungsten?I'm welding I believe 1/4 aluminum from the hardware store, it would form a puddle but the puddle was getting 1/2  wide in diameter it would proceed to just start melting the tungsten
Reply:Welding 1/4" alum requires at least 250 amps or more. You aren't even close with your machine. Problem is the mass of alum acts as a big heat sink and sucks away a ton of your energy before the puddle can form. Most likely your piece is screaming hot before you get the puddle to form. Alum looses strength when it's overheated since most alum alloys are heat treated in some way to gain strength. You need to limit the heat affected zone to a minimum and that means using lots of amps. You would need to be looking at a Syncrowave 250 or larger machine to truly do 1/4" alum well.You can try 1/8" red. Red doesn't do the + side of AC well and may degrade some. Several guys here use red for alum even though it isn't "traditional". The 3/32" red I've got won't handle the amps to do 1/8" alum, so I don't bother with it. I just keep it for basic steel and stainless..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:Ok thanks for your help, I'm going to pick up some 1/8 inch aluminum and try and see how it does Sent from my Stage 28 IPhone
Reply:How thick of steel can I weld with my econotig?100% argon? Red tungsten 1/8 inch ? Is there a chart for the Amperage for thickness of metal? Sent from my Stage 28 IPhone
Reply:Rule of thumb is 1 amp per 1 thousands of an inch.You have max 165 amps, so you can assume you can weld 5/23" steel for short periods of time.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:Get one of your welder buddies to help you get the basics.......Much easier with someone standing there watching what you do........  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Originally Posted by B_CGet one of your welder buddies to help you get the basics.......Much easier with someone standing there watching what you do........
Reply:Originally Posted by wbrett1027Lol, is I knew someone who knew tig, that would help me I wouldn't be asking these dumb questions on here trying to figure out how to setup the machine......... But thanks! Sent from my Stage 28 IPhone