I need a beginners guide to tig in the form of your tips and suggestions.

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I'm looking for some very basic how to information. I've got a lot of experience with a Mig but I have zero experience with a tig.I need starting pointers, recomendations on how to start an arc, how to run a bead, how to hold the torch although I read up on that, how to hold and feed the filler material. What amperage should I start with for a given material and it's thickness. Will argon/Co2 work for tig? What pressure should the shielding gas regulator be at as a baseline? How long do you set the thing that allows the gas to continue to flow after the arc stop so that the puddle won't get contaminated.See, just a couple. I'm self taught with my mig and am considered a very good welder by most but it's taken me years to relearn how to correct bad habbits I picked up while teaching myself how to make a nice looking weld that penetrated correctly. I'd like to avoild that by getting started correctly this time.Thanks guys,Wayne
Reply:Try straight argon at 10 psi to start. Everybody likes the red tungsten either 1/16 or 3/32, unless you are welding aluminum, then use the green 3/32. That's about all I'm good for! Oh yeah, 10 -15 seconds of post flow, 10 for 1/16 and 15 for the 3/32 tungsten.Last edited by tanglediver; 10-01-2007 at 01:49 AM.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:tig is done with ARGON 99.9% or He99.9% or a mix of the two only no other welding gas will work with tigChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:Thanks Chuck and...other guy, I don't see a name.Keep the comments coming.Thanks,Wayne
Reply:http://www.millerwelds.com/education/TIGhandbook/http://www.millerwelds.com/pdf/gtawbook.pdfHere are a couple of really good general tig resources for reference in addition.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:10 psi?  You really should have a flow meter to measure shielding gas flow in cubic feet per hour (CFH).  For TIG you will generally run about 10 CFH of Argon.Red tungsten is 2% thoriated, and may be used for everything, including aluminum.  Green is pure tungsten and in the "old days" was recommended for aluminum, but the thoriated, or ceriated, or lanthanated  electrodes are a better choice since they will handle higher current and provide better arc starting and arc stability.10 - 15 seconds of post flow is probably just wasteful, and post flow is in no way related to tungsten diameter.  Post flow is related to amperage and weld size, where a larger weld bead will take longer to cool and require more post flow for protection from oxidation.  Just set the post flow long enough to protect the end of the weld and the tungsten from oxidizing (discoloring), probably 5 seconds is plenty for many welds.Finally, technically there is one more gas mix that is commonly used to TIG weld SS and nickel alloys, Argon/5% Hydrogen.
Reply:I priced a bottle of argon and a flow meter today. 300 lb 5 year lease $174Next size down (200 maybe) 20 year lease $130Little cylinder like I have on my mig straight purchase, no lease, #80Flow meter $138I may go with the size just below the 300 since it's a big cheaper up front and given a 20 year lease...is pretty much for life. So I need $268 for bottle and meter, $130 for bottle and use my regulator.Rolling pennies as we speak, looking arond the room for pop cans, thinking about panhandeling at the nearest gas station...Keep the tips coming,Thanks,Wayne
Reply:I stand corrected. But, you asked for a beginners guide to tig, be careful what you ask for!Last edited by tanglediver; 10-01-2007 at 05:29 PM.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:You may find some useful info within this thread if you care to read thru it. Very TIG intensive in between the jumping around. Also zap will probably ring in with sound advice as well.http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread...ighlight=ElvisELVIS
Reply:Where are you located?I'm doing another Tig session Nov 10..Free to members here..http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=14954If you can make it its worth it!...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 jaded13640I priced a bottle of argon and a flow meter today. 300 lb 5 year lease $174Next size down (200 maybe) 20 year lease $130Little cylinder like I have on my mig straight purchase, no lease, #80Flow meter $138I may go with the size just below the 300 since it's a big cheaper up front and given a 20 year lease...is pretty much for life. So I need $268 for bottle and meter, $130 for bottle and use my regulator.Rolling pennies as we speak, looking arond the room for pop cans, thinking about panhandeling at the nearest gas station...Keep the tips coming,Thanks,Wayne
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterWhere are you located?I'm doing another Tig session Nov 10..Free to members here..http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=14954If you can make it its worth it!...zap!
Reply:Charles I'm located near Lansing Michigan. Are you going to be in the area anytime soon? I'm suprised that one is so cheap. I'll be checking them out.Elvis, thanks for the link. I'll check it out.Danny, thanks for the advise. I'm not holding anyone liable for making a mistake. Keep the ideas coming. I'll take the best and dump the rest.Thanks guys. Any additional info or ideas are more than welcome.I'm trying to put together what I need to strike my first arc on this thing. Pratice is going to be my best friend at that point. But first I need to gather a few bucks, get the gas bottle, rig up a temporary water hose cooling system and wire the machine into the the pannel. Which reminds me, I'll be needing a 100 amp breaker too. That's gotta be another 45 bucks or so.Thanks,Wayne