DC TIG welding copper pipe

admin

Hello,My question is. How to tig weld copper pipe? It will be 3-4" (whiskey plant). I fooled around with it some the other day. Yet I only had one 3" 90 to mess with. I know high amps to start. It seems to weld similar as aluminum.  Yet it kicked my butt. I found running downhill seemed to have a flatter and nicer weld appearance then going up hill. Had a lot of titties going up hill. Being I couldn't keep up fast enough and added way to much filler. I tried free hand (which seemed easier) then walking the cup. anything in particular I should pay attention to? Any tips would be helpful.  Thank you in advance.Melt-n-Metal
Reply:I played with it some a few years ago. Don't remember much about it, do remember it sucks the amps right up!  Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:I weld a lot of 0.043 inch thick copper, and almost always in the flat position, so take what I say with a grain of salt.  3 inch copper pipe is probably about double that thickness, depending on which kind of copper pipe.    Thicker should be easier, but maybe not if you have to go all the way around the pipe.  I don't weld pipe.I think that you will want/need a foot pedal or hand control to weld copper.   As an alternative, you might be able to get by with a switch to turn it on and off, turn it off when it starts to get away from you, then turn it back on a second or two later.   Personally, I like pulse, but it is not necessary.  I have used a foot pedal as if it was pulse, stomping the pedal briefly and then getting off of it.I assume that you have deoxidized copper rod; if not, get some.Richard Originally Posted by lookingHello,My question is. How to tig weld copper pipe? It will be 3-4" (whiskey plant). I fooled around with it some the other day. Yet I only had one 3" 90 to mess with. I know high amps to start. It seems to weld similar as aluminum.  Yet it kicked my butt. I found running downhill seemed to have a flatter and nicer weld appearance then going up hill. Had a lot of titties going up hill. Being I couldn't keep up fast enough and added way to much filler. I tried free hand (which seemed easier) then walking the cup. anything in particular I should pay attention to? Any tips would be helpful.  Thank you in advance.