Help me learn, Critique my first TIG welds.

admin

Ok, let me first say, im new to this site and to TIG welding both.  Ive been a hobby MIG welder for quite some time now, and have allways wanted to step up and learn to TIG weld.  Ive watched alot of people tig, and done alot of lurking on this site and others to learn as much as i could before i made the plunge into a tig welder.I have owned my machine now for 2 weeks, and these literally are my first welds im remotely comfortable letting someone critique, i know they are FAR from being quality, but i want to know what im doing right or wrong, and what not to do or to keep doing.Im not a know it all when it comes to anything and like i said, im really just learning this to satisfy an urge i have to try things.  I will never be interested in being a professional welder as a trade, but i would really like to beable to say that i learned how to TIG weld, and beable to apply it to my automotive hobbies.These pieces im practicing on , are pieces that i would normally mig weld, but i want to practice on something i will beable to apply to what i want to use this skill toward, so i just choose the auctual parts.Ok, here are my pics.  Please, be gentle hahaha j/k.First one is a corner weld, two pieces of .1875 plate, these pieces would simulate a battery box i would normally build, usually from 3/16 plate, and usually corner welded at each end.This here, is a pieces of 1.25od x .625id tube, through a piece of .250 p&o mild steel plate.   I stopped and started 4 times, as im sure you can see.  This is a piece of 1" plate, welded to a .250wall Cup.  I got alittle wandery on this piece, but i tried to hold it as best i could without melting the edge of the cup, but i failed.Thanks alotTaylor
Reply:Please resize your pics to 800 x 600 or less. Something in the Welding Web software clips anything larger. And it clips your text too. For instance, I can't see anything to the right of "Posts:" all the way down the right margin.OBTW: Pretty welds. 9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:Couple of thoughts.First resize your picts before you post them. It's a bit hard to read and follow when your post runs off the screen.Second, post up as much info as possible. Amps used and how much pedal, tungsten size and point style, filler size used, material thickness and type, gas flow etc. If there's a problem we can tell quickly if its one of these. You don't need to write a book something simple like this will work, 1/8" Mild steel, 3/32 filler, DC 120 amps, aprox 3/4 pedal, 3/32 red tungsten with a sharp point, gas lens, argon 20cfh.The welds don't look too bad as a start to tig. I think you may be a bit hot, causing the edge to melt a bit. I would run your welds past the corners. It looks like you started / stopped short or at the corners. That can cause a weak spot and is a possible failure point.
Reply:sorry about that.I cannot change it now, because i cannot see the EDIT button anymore....can a moderator help out with that please?All welds are done on a miller econotig, with 3/32 tungsten and filler filler rod.  Its 2% red tipped tungsten.  I have to say im pretty much maxing out my pedal on each weld.   I really dotn have any other settings to use on that welder, so thats what i get.....I list the material and what not above each series of pics.I did not know the forum did not auto re-size.  Most others i frequent do this automatically, i suppose ive just gotten used to it.  If a moderator wants to delete thos pics, i will post them again in a smaller size.TaylorLast edited by Jeebus; 02-20-2009 at 10:24 PM.
Reply:damn, i didnt think they would be so bad that nobody was willing to help.sorry, ill keep practicing.Taylor
Reply:Taylor, those welds are not bad.  They're pretty nice actually.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:They don't look to bad, you may want to add more filler as they do look a little hollow with what looks like undercut up top, that maybe fixed with that extra wire though.Over all some nice looking welds.  What heat are you running?I'd rather be hunting........USE ENOUGH HEAT.......Drifting around Aussie welding more pipe up, for something different.....wanting to get home.
Reply:the outside corner is the easiest joint their but it looks the worst. you needed more wire, notice how the edges have little caverns where you didn't flow metal into? the rest of them just look, well like a beginner did them. try placing your wire dips about half as far apart. this way even if they are different from one to the next they will be close enough to bling together. you might want to pre heat that big stuff to hard to put enough heat into that with your <200 amp machine.hope that helps a little
Reply:They look good just add a little more filler rod and make sure you clean the material before welding.
Reply:Ok guys, nearly 3 years to the date.  Ive practiced on a regular basis, and have purchased a newer machine as well.I think they look a lot better.  im more relaxed behind the machine now, before i was tense and moving is ridgid movements, i feel like i flow the torch a bit nicer now.sorry for the mig pics, there unrelated.
Reply:Hey Jeebus,Your progress looks quite good as is evident with your pics. Don't ever feel you have reached the pinnacle of welding because of getting better in time & the practice to develop those improvements. You will find that welding, no matter what process, is a neverending learning curve & you really never reach total finality. The world of metal changes continually & so do the procedures to adapt to it. Just look at it as a lifelong learning lesson. I'm in my 48th year of welding & am still learning.....DennyComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:I know exactly what you mean.  Ive been a machinist for 10 years now, and have worked with welders that are going on their 40th year learning what they do, i was tought a lot from them, being patient and repeditive have been the most rewarding.  You learn new stuff every day, and you  just have to go with it.Taylor
Reply:Hey Jeebus,I forgot to mention to resize you pics to a 640 X 480 format that will not cut off your posting information. That size will show your projects quite nicely & all your wording on the screen.DennyComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:I wanna know how you squeezed 3 years worth of practice into 2 years time, that's awesome    seriously though, looking god man miller 330a bp TIGmiller dynasty 200DX TIGmillermatic 185 MIGthermal dynamics cutmaster 101 plasma cuttersnap-on YA5550 plasma cutterhypertherm powermax 30 plasma cutterbaileigh CS225 cold sawetc....
Reply:Nice welds, Ive got a long way to go.
Reply:Originally Posted by turbocad6I wanna know how you squeezed 3 years worth of practice into 2 years time, that's awesome    seriously though, looking god man
Reply:Originally Posted by turbocad6I wanna know how you squeezed 3 years worth of practice into 2 years time, that's awesome    seriously though, looking god man
Reply:Hmmmmmmm The first welds looked good to me? the second welds looked real good to me although I did notice from the first welds to the last ones you dramatically changed your "Style"   welders have a signature and the two welds look like different guys did them?  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:On your brackets (That are MIG welded)  I would "Wrap " the corners about 3/4 ".......other than that your good to go........  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Originally Posted by B_CHmmmmmmm The first welds looked good to me? the second welds looked real good to me although I did notice from the first welds to the last ones you dramatically changed your "Style"   welders have a signature and the two welds look like different guys did them?