Vertical down Tig welding on aluminum

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Can someone tell me what the procedure is for a vertical down Tig weld on Aluminum?
Reply:Limit your variables to near the minimum you need to get by heat and amperage wise, and only do it with small/thin materials.  You no longer have the support from the solidified puddle beneath you, and you are relying on surface tension to hold it in place.  Other than that, its similar to vertical up.
Reply:the guys at work are having problems with vertical aluminum. they are trying to MIG it together, but they don't do aluminum very often, so it's not easy. they were telling me today that the main problem they have is with the puddle falling down. they are having to run their machines on the lowest possible settings in order to keep it from falling to the floor. their tips were to keep it on low heat and go as fast as possible. aluminum tends to melt fast they say and so penetration isn't much of an issue. after a few practice runs, they are getting pretty godd. they are making a huricane rated walking and support platform for a wastewater treatment plant in Clearwater, FL.later,Andy
Reply:Instead of the spray .....try to use globular xfer.Its not easy,but seen it done.   With aluminum you really need to spray it though. Hope this helps. weld it like you own it
Reply:I generally try to go uphill on aluminum, but when I have to go downhill, it is usually on tubing, where I am chasing a weld around a tube. What WORKS for me??? A lot of amps, and a fast pedal. As for settings, the downslope is set to 0. When the pedal drops off, the arc dies NOW. I tend to rapidly jockey the pedal, from hot to cold and drop the filler in as I go, trying to only add on a mash of the pedal, and then I back off to let it solidify. I can get it going pretty well once I am in the groove. But I do find it to be a tough sell on aluminum sometimes, especially if I haven't been welding for a few solid minutes to get really warmed up.And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:RojoDiablo, how is your penetration when you weld like that? it sounds like you may only be dropping filler into the joint and not fully penetrating the base metal. i'm not sure... that's why i'm asking. i don't mean to sound like i am undermining your welding abilities/skills, but i just didn't know how else to ask.later,Andy
Reply:Originally Posted by aczellerRojoDiablo, how is your penetration when you weld like that? it sounds like you may only be dropping filler into the joint and not fully penetrating the base metal. i'm not sure... that's why i'm asking. i don't mean to sound like i am undermining your welding abilities/skills, but i just didn't know how else to ask.later,Andy
Reply:Originally Posted by lewrayInstead of the spray .....try to use globular xfer.Its not easy,but seen it done.   With aluminum you really need to spray it though. Hope this helps.
Reply:You simply cannot have the same deposition rate that you can welding up.YOu need to move fast enough that your wire is feeding in near the leading edge of the puddle.  In other words, move fast enough that the puddle can't drip down in front of your weld.You also need to use a lot of heat.  Otherwise, you will not get good fusion and will just lay metal on top, rather than getting a solid weld.
Reply:If we have time tomorrow..We will try the up down experiment..We'll take pics.....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 EngloidYou simply cannot have the same deposition rate that you can welding up.YOu need to move fast enough that your wire is feeding in near the leading edge of the puddle.  In other words, move fast enough that the puddle can't drip down in front of your weld.You also need to use a lot of heat.  Otherwise, you will not get good fusion and will just lay metal on top, rather than getting a solid weld.
Reply:Thanks for the tips guys.  I posted this question the day before I went for a welding test, yesterday.  I'm laid off and I now have the full time job of looking for a job.  To give you guys a quick description of my welding background, I've been Mig welding on carbon steel for about 15 years and I've been Tig welding on stainless steel for the last few years at my last job.  I've done some stick welding on carbon steel, but only in the flat position. I had a welding test yesterday doing vertical down welds on aluminum.  I never welded on aluminum in my entire life.  I figured how hard could it be.  How much different can it be from Tig welding stainless steel.  When I went to run my first vertical down weld on this aluminum, I was like..."what the hell".  That stuff melts like nothing.  I think it's safe to say that my first weld like looked like crap.  Especially with the big hole I blew through it.  Haaaaa. The guy told me that the machine was already set to the settings that he welds at.  I figured I would still turn it down, way down, to keep from blowing through.  Aluminum seems to just disintegrate into nothing if you're not careful.  Well, turning it down kept me from blowing through, but my welds looked like crap.  I then asked him if I can see his technique so I can see if I can do better.  That helped ALOT!  If any of you guys ever go to take a welding test on something you've never welded on, and don't do so hot, always ask them to show you there technique to see if you can do better by copying it.  Usually that's the trick, you just need to see the proper technique of doing it, then copying that technique usually isn't that hard.Well anyway, this guy turned the heat back up, even more than what it was set at before.  The trick was that he went EXTREMELY fast.  I copied him and did alot better.  I don't know if it was good enough though, but we'll see.By the way, I like how people are ranked around here underneath their username by how many posts they've made.  I'm just a solderer.