Tig Welding puddle control

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I don't weld every day but when I do I try to be better than I can. Since school I have been tig welding for 3 years. I do light fabrication,repair at work. The problem I have is puddle or heat control. I watch width and toes but it starts narrow or wide and then goes the other way when I add or decrease amps. My biggest problem is not penetration or over or under heating but uniform puddle width. I have no doubt in the quality of my welds it is that you can see the varience in bead width from heat input in the weld. Comments? For what I do it should not matter but being OCD I know its there.
Reply:Picts? Material, steel, stainless alum, all of the above? There's a lot of things that can control the puddle. Amps is just one of them. Arc length and travel speed being the two other big ones. With steel and stainless you should be able to simply set your amps, maintain a consistent travel speed and arc length and get a consistent puddle. Alum is a bit tougher since you have to keep backing down your amps as the material heats up. If you are unable to consistently maintain your arc length and travel speed or are changing these without realizing it, that might explain your issues.It also almost sounds like you really haven't yet learned to read the puddle even if you've been doing this for awhile. I've seen guys who have had this issue. They simply go thru motions and do what I like to refer to as timing patterns to get the bead rather than learning to read the puddle and manipulate it. I see this mostly with mig and tig, but I've seen it a few times with guys doing tig as well..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:With arc length always remember this....closer-colder and higher-hotter. That helped me tons. I generally run hot when stick welding. I tighten the arc to cool it and back out to get more heat. The difference can be quick and touchy. It's something ya gotta practice at. I use this method because I hate to change speed. I keep a rhythm. Now I'm no tig welder but I believe its the same concept. I'm getting a tig welder in the next couple weeks so I'll find out first hand. Thanks for reading!
Reply:I know some of the old timers ( I'm really old too) will bounce this one.Once I started production welding aluminum all day long I found that controlling the puddle on anything else was much easier.  Welding 1/16 aluminum out of position without hand and arm support gives you much better appreciation of how critical puddle control can be.  Controlling heat, the width and volume becomes much easier when you learn to deal with a puddle that gives little warning when it will fall thru.So the idea of practicing with aluminum I feel will give you a better feel of puddle control.  This will transfer directly to welding other materials in my opinion.
Reply:Originally Posted by bentwingsI know some of the old timers ( I'm really old too) will bounce this one.Once I started production welding aluminum all day long I found that controlling the puddle on anything else was much easier.  Welding 1/16 aluminum out of position without hand and arm support gives you much better appreciation of how critical puddle control can be.  Controlling heat, the width and volume becomes much easier when you learn to deal with a puddle that gives little warning when it will fall thru.So the idea of practicing with aluminum I feel will give you a better feel of puddle control.  This will transfer directly to welding other materials in my opinion.