TIG welding copper

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I am making some TIG electrode holders out of 1/2" copper pipe. I had some pipe sitting around after taking out a bathroom in my home that was inexpertly and in-advisably installed, so I figured I had nothing to lose. I don't have a torch to sweat them, so I figured what the heck and I lit up on them to see if I could weld them. I had read a lot about how copper soaks up the heat and requires a lot of amps, but this stuff is so thin I figured it was worth a try.I started at 160 amps and promptly blew a hole right through the pipe. I guess I have enough heat! Those who have worked with conductive metals like aluminum or copper won't be surprised to hear that there was a huge difference in behavior between when the metal was hot and when it was cold. When it was cold, I couldn't even get a puddle going at 100 amps, and then as soon as the puddle formed, it was huge and wanted to blow through. Once the metal heated up, though, around 90-100 amps was just right, for tacking anyway. I didn't have any filler, and I did want to produce a few usable pieces, so I played it safe and just tacked up. The torch switch, with fixed output controlled by the panel dial was perfect for this. If I had been using the pedal, it would have been very easy to either overheat the piece with too low an output, or overshoot and blow through. With the torch switch, I could hit the exact amperage required immediately. I suspect, however, that if I had been doing more than tacking, I would have really wanted the pedal's ability to back off the heat, because the behavior of the piece really changed a lot as it soaked up heat.Anyway, the answer: yes! You probably can weld copper pipe with your TIG welder! Here are some pics. Attached ImagesEverlast PA160-STH... and that's about it!
Reply:Incidentally, this leads me to ask: I saw, I think it was here on WW, somebody made some electrode holders like this, and they had some kind of copper end-cap that was removable and maybe had a rubber gasket or something in it. Does anybody know what I'm talking about and can provide me a reference? I'm a bit at a loss of what to use for a cap. Regular copper fittings just pull right off.Everlast PA160-STH... and that's about it!
Reply:Took me a bit, but I found it JB. http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...Copper+storageLate to bed, and early to rise. Fish like hell so I don't have to make up lies. Syncrowave 200MM211 & Spoolmate 100
Reply:Josh I would say you definitely need a foot pedal for copper. The heat run is sick and really needs to be feathered. So hot it runs up the filler wire in a heartbeat. I don't play with it to much, just for very occasional ornamental projects, but here's the last I did and you wanna talk about a brain vs. heat battle, whooo dooogie! .028 copper sheet and a 3/32 filler rod that I shaved and cleaned from some home electrical cable. No pretty welds trust me, but they were getting ground and polished so it didn't matter just had to get through a job. Fun stuff all in all. Under the right matched set up with a foot pedal you could probably keep it under control. This .028 and gigantic 3/32 filler was welded at 90 amps to make it work. So yes bro it eats the heat for lunch! Hopefully ZTFab steps in soon. He's been welding a lot of copper lately. Get a foot pedal bud, it will expand your horizon!  Attached ImagesI hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Oh, I have a foot pedal! I just have it opened up at the moment (see one of my other threads) so I couldn't use it for this.Everlast PA160-STH... and that's about it!
Reply:Originally Posted by joshuabardwellAnyway, the answer: yes! You probably can weld copper pipe with your TIG welder! Here are some pics.
Reply:I have welded up a few copper joints on rental house plumbing before. I am not a great solderer when it comes to plumbing pipes so I try to weld as many as I can before having to install the piece in the house, then I try to have threaded ends. lolThere is a fine line (much like aluminum) between not hot enough and blown threw on copper.
Reply:take some of that old water pipe and flatten it and make some vise jaw pads.you can tin snip a strip of it and use it as filler too.