Anybody here good with DCEN Alum Tig welding??

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Attempted to run some fillets but no luck....Good for plugging deep miss drilled holes I found out...Not pretty but it works....Switch to AC and finish repair. Just bored and gonna try it again....Thanks.
Reply:I weld aluminum with helium and straight DC all the time.  Pretty much all you will see in the semi conductor industry other than EB welding.....All these items were DC- tig welded  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:What is the reason for using straight instead of A/C? Been awhile since I tried it but I do remember it being a dirty nasty looking weld....Ill try it monday and take a picture...Nice welds for DCEN!! If you have some tribual knowledge I would love to hear it!! Thanks
Reply:Do you use a gas lens?
Reply:I have but it isn't necessary.......The dirty appearance after welding is the black soot from the Helium....Just brushes off with Stainless toothbrush......You get smaller beads on thick material with DC-  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:1 more question for you....I dont have 100 percent helium at shop....I use 75 Helium 25 argon...Should it work ok with that gas? Thanks for your info
Reply:I found somemore pics of DC-   Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:B_C, that is very nice work. What tungsten do you use with dcen tig welding aluminum, thoriated? Also, what about hi frequency? Is it possible to do with scratch start or is that just asking for trouble? I am dying to try this with my Lincoln Ranger 8 as soon as the weather breaks.IAMAW Local 330Airco 300 AC/DC HeliwelderAirco Dip-Pak 200 with Profax spool gunPowr-Kraft AC225Everlast PowerArc 200stBuffalo Forge No.21 drill pressSpeedglas 9100xxAirco, Oxweld, Purox, Victor torchesLincoln Ranger 8
Reply:Set up the same way you do for STEEL.......Except use a good grade of helium instead of Argon for your welding gas.....Maybe a little higher flow rate....And hold a tight arc with around 150 amps depending on thickness (I like 1/4" or thicker for DC-)  Use 4043 although you can use 5356 I like 4043 since it has less crack issues....It is very different than AC  sound wise and visual  wise......As soon as you see a puddle start running your filler in.....There's no waiting around for the heat to build up in the parent metal it's just start running a bead like steel....The black soot will brush right off.....DC- has it's place, you will figure that out after doing it a  while...Hope that helps have fun...  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Thanks BC I will post my results....Peace Appreciate the feedback
Reply:So will 75He/25ar work?
Reply:what size tungsten?
Reply:Originally Posted by UnstaybullSo will 75He/25ar work?
Reply:Hahahahaaha it's always CAKE when you know what your doin'  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Thanks Pangea.....see what happens monday...Think up the road I have 100% Helium...Thanks again
Reply:lol right on BC...Thanks
Reply:Dave I just PMed you......If it's not a problem I need a number so i can call you?  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:"It's cake"Laughing,Yea right.  Right after you get the recipe down for baking it.Good advice, but a few "minor" details left out.BTW Pangea.  Don't tell him how much that bottle of "lab grade/hi purity" helium is going to cost him.  Let his local gas supplier do that.  At least then, there will be someone handy to call the rescue squad so they can bring over the defibrulator.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by Unstaybullwhat size tungsten?
Reply:Cake, PieDang.  BC's going to have to go on a diet soon.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by SundownIII"It's cake"Laughing,Yea right.  Right after you get the recipe down for baking it.Good advice, but a few "minor" details left out.BTW Pangea.  Don't tell him how much that bottle of "lab grade/hi purity" helium is going to cost him.  Let his local gas supplier do that.  At least then, there will be someone handy to call the rescue squad so they can bring over the defibrulator.
Reply:Heck Pangea,I heard that was one of the main reasons for cutting back on the space program.NASA couldn't afford the helium any more.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Oh you guys are silly............  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Originally Posted by SundownIIIHeck Pangea,I heard that was one of the main reasons for cutting back on the space program.NASA couldn't afford the helium any more.
Reply:If you guys close down can I have a space capsule?   Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig RockOriginally Posted by PangeaI had to get permission from two different people just to order some cardboard boxes to store some experiment artifacts.
Reply:Wow that name makes me think of Pork Ribs........Sounds good about now I didn't have dinner.......  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Ribs, pie, cake.Dang.Won't be long fore you'll have to stick that helium hose up your butt to lift it out of the chair.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Don't make me come back there.......LOL  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:thourghly enjoyed this thread, and great work on the pipe spools, I guess easier to do with those where's waldo cheater lenses, the best part of this procedure is the squeek as you add filler!!!just don't eat too much cakemiller maxstar 150everlast 256pp/wcoolerJD2 model 32 bender2 position hydro band sawlots more
Reply:Originally Posted by stainless steelthourghly enjoyed this thread, and great work on the pipe spools, I guess easier to do with those where's waldo cheater lenses, the best part of this procedure is the squeek as you add filler!!!just don't eat too much cake
Reply:Originally Posted by PangeaNo, you need ultra pure or lab grade. I use 2% thoriated tungsten and set the machine to about 175 for anything under 1/2".  Use that pedal, you paid for it. You might not actually see a puddle. You will see a kind of shift in texture under the arc. Dab at it and if you see a good consumption of rod, go to work. Hold your torch and progress along the weld path just like steel.It's cake.
Reply:I may have missed this but what is the point of welding aluminum with DC instead of AC??? Smaller bead? Less heat/warpage??Ive been TIG welding aluminum for years and have never heard of such a thing....Whats the deal?Steve1946 Shorthood  -  1958 Blackface  -  1962 Redface  -  1967 Redface  -  1968 Redface -  1970 Blackface  -  2005 300D -  2008 Vantage 300  -and a ton of other welding stuff
Reply:Originally Posted by pulserContrary to common beliegf, 100% helium is not the only gas that can be used for DCEN welding of Aluminum.  Any addition of helium to argon will increase the arc efficiency and heat input for a given current.  Just using DCEN with 100% argon produces a huge increase in heat input over AC.
Reply:you can't weld thicker aluminum with DC- and Argon......Just won't supply enoughheat to melt the metal......Grade 5 helium is desirable because it is cleaner than balloon helium so contamination is head at a minimum.....Most semi-conductor tig welders have learned this procedure years ago.........  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Thye front weld sample is DC- with grade 5 helium   Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Ballon helium is mixed with atmosphere, so kids wont suffocate.   Its probably not a good choice to weld with no matter what the acceptable level of contamination is.But that still doesnt answer my question, whats the trick to DCEN welding with helium?  Can you literally just wirebrush the piece, clean with acetone and weld like AC?Have we all gone mad?
Reply:Originally Posted by sn0border88This is the part that I have always been a little fuzzy on.  Argon has a higher ionization potential than helium, which has a large influence on the cleaning action of the DCEP portion and besides better arc stability probably the main reason it is the most common gas for use on aluminum.So why is it that it is commonly said that He must be used for DCEN welding.  I understand that it doesnt "have" to be used, but it seems to be the gas of choice.  Does the higher temperature of the arc enable it to melt the aluminum oxides, or is there something else?I consider myself a fairly proficient TIG welder, but any attempt I have made at DCEN aluminum has been with 100% Ar and a complete failure.  What am I missing?
Reply:Originally Posted by sn0border88Ballon helium is mixed with atmosphere, so kids wont suffocate.   Its probably not a good choice to weld with no matter what the acceptable level of contamination is.But that still doesnt answer my question, whats the trick to DCEN welding with helium?  Can you literally just wirebrush the piece, clean with acetone and weld like AC?
Reply:Originally Posted by sn0border88Ballon helium is mixed with atmosphere, so kids wont suffocate.   Its probably not a good choice to weld with no matter what the acceptable level of contamination is.But that still doesnt answer my question, whats the trick to DCEN welding with helium?  Can you literally just wirebrush the piece, clean with acetone and weld like AC?
Reply:When I weld with AC I usually have my argon flow at 15cfh. Obviously Helium likes to rise. What would be a good flow setting for helium?
Reply:I have gone anywhere from 70 CFH down to 15    kinda depends on shop ventilation and application you will know when your not using enough.......  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:I myself did this process everyday for 5 years during the semi-conductor job......I bet I never used AC  three times....  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:I know Pangea  will tell you guys  the same story, except he has done it for like 68 years  lmao....  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Hi everyone I finally got the boss to get me some high grade helium....Everything went well...The picture is my second try...Thanks BC!!Thats not a crack its from the scotchbrite...Peace Attached Images
Reply:Looks good Grasshopper. Now pick up the hibachi with your forearms and walk out into the snow.Two turn tables and a microphone.
Reply:Yeah no prob. Bro, works good huh?  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Originally Posted by B_CIf you guys close down can I have a space capsule?
Reply:Helium is used on sections 1/4 inch or more. Helium increases the penetration.AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:here is my attempt with dcen with argon on some 1/8 inch alum with 4043 filler Attached ImagesMiller Xmt 350Lincoln Ln-25Ahp 200xSmith Gas Mixer AR/HTig is my Kung FuThrowing down dimes and weaving aboutInstagram http://instagram.com/[email protected]