Tips for copper filler metal?

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I started copper filler metal last week, or maybe it was copper coating not sure, but I had a hard time with it. I didn't have as much of a problem with the normal filler metal. Any advice? My amps are on 120, postflow 2. I'm thinking about putting my amps back to 160. Welding process is GTAW ( I think) We are doing lap joints. Any advice would be helpful.
Reply:I did away with your duplicate thread in the General section. It keeps things simpler if all the replies to the same question are in the same place.Keep in mind copper is a wonderful heat sink. Thus you need plenty of amps to weld when working with copper alloys.Your question though seems very vague since you aren't even sure you are using tig. Are you welding copper or steel, or are you brazing? They make copper coated rods for steel. These are NOT the same thing as filler for doing copper. There's also a difference if we are talking about brazing rods..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:Originally Posted by DSWI did away with your duplicate thread in the General section. It keeps things simpler if all the replies to the same question are in the same place.Keep in mind copper is a wonderful heat sink. Thus you need plenty of amps to weld when working with copper alloys.Your question though seems very vague since you aren't even sure you are using tig. Are you welding copper or steel, or are you brazing? They make copper coated rods for steel. These are NOT the same thing as filler for doing copper. There's also a difference if we are talking about brazing rods.
Reply:Ok lets start with the basics.Is the filler magnetic? If so, it's steel. From your description of the process, it's either tig ( uses an electric arc and gas shielding) or Oxy acetylene ( uses 2 gases and you light the torch with a striker).There are any number of copper coated steel rods that could be used. E70s types usually used for tig, or something like RG 45 that many use for gas welding. The "normal" E 70s wire I use is all copper coated. I'm not sure what you are using that you term "normal", though I have on rare occasions seen uncoated wire.Picts of your trouble would help. "I started copper filler metal last week, or maybe it was copper coating not sure, but I had a hard time with it. I didn't have as much of a problem with the normal filler metal. Any advice?" Doesn't really tell us what sort of problems you are having. Since you are having trouble even determining what process you are doing, I'm not sure you have the terminology to describe your issues well. Picts would let us see where you are having difficulty..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:OH Gawd. My brain hurtz. Last edited by Burpee; 03-31-2014 at 06:55 PM.Reason: OOOOOOOPzzz. Please deleteBubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:I played with Tig welding copper. “Copper is a wonderful heat sink” doesn't quite cover it! 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:Originally Posted by DSWOk lets start with the basics.Is the filler magnetic? If so, it's steel. From your description of the process, it's either tig ( uses an electric arc and gas shielding) or Oxy acetylene ( uses 2 gases and you light the torch with a striker).There are any number of copper coated steel rods that could be used. E70s types usually used for tig, or something like RG 45 that many use for gas welding. The "normal" E 70s wire I use is all copper coated. I'm not sure what you are using that you term "normal", though I have on rare occasions seen uncoated wire.Picts of your trouble would help. "I started copper filler metal last week, or maybe it was copper coating not sure, but I had a hard time with it. I didn't have as much of a problem with the normal filler metal. Any advice?" Doesn't really tell us what sort of problems you are having. Since you are having trouble even determining what process you are doing, I'm not sure you have the terminology to describe your issues well. Picts would let us see where you are having difficulty.
Reply:The reason I ask if it's magnetic is that right away rules out any copper filler. My guess if you are welding steel, you are using steel filler. Things that help us help you.  Process used, in this case tig. Tungsten size and type, amps used, ( if using a pedal, bot max amps and what you think you used based on approximate pedal position if possible.) Filler size and type, Material size and type, gas flow rate. Not all of this is critical, but many times info can help eliminate questions and point us toward the answers you need. You mentioned "normal" filler. Ask your instructor what the differences are between what you used before, and what you are using now. That alone could help us.Picts. Nice clear pictures, preferably from several angles. I usually take plenty of progress picts of welds since not all turn out well. Auto focus cameras will often try to focus on things we don't want to look at. I've seen plenty of picts of blurry welds, but the grass behind the project is nice and clear. If possible use the macro function if your camera has one. Also some times the shiny bead will mess with the camera focus. Adding something in the near vicinity the camera can lock in on easier can help. A coin, dollar bill, pencil etc can help. Also flashes are a mixed blessing. Some times they are great. Other times if the camera is too close they wash out the beads and you can't see any detail. I prefer to back up some and zoom in so I get  the camera some space to focus and allow the flash to dissipate some. I'll also shoot picts both with and without the flash so I can pick which come out best.There are plenty of basic help threads on tig here. I'd go back and read thru a few dozen and see if the picts and comments there help. If nothing else you can get an idea what to ask and how, and look at what info is usually posted and requested..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:A lot of steel filler wire is copper plated to keep it from rusting, if you can, try and look at the ends of the rods to see if they are stamped with the filler alloy, one end of the stick will be flattened and stamped. It'll most likely say something like ER70-S2 or ER70-S6
Reply:I figured out what I was doing wrong. My angle was off. I think it was steel filler metal I was using. We just ended TIG last week and are now going to start on MIG. I think my teacher probably should have let us practice more with TIG but oh well.