Got my Tig Setup

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Hey guys!!Well, the other morning, I got a couple packages in the mail. The first held a new flow-meter from HTP America, and the other contained a South Weld tig torch, American made, with a 25' hose.And so, I got everything un-boxed and looked it all over, and then set off to go and get everything else I'd need. Tungstens, filler rod, power lug, things along those lines. We sit almost exactly between Dayton, OH and Richmond, IN, and each city has its own airgas. The Dayton store is friendly, but its in a really rough part of town, and doesn't keep very much of anything in stock. So, I decided to go the Indiana store. It was literally just a couple miles more, and I dont think Im ever going back to the Dayton one. The store in Richmond is in a nice part of town, and Its in a bigger, newer, air conditioned, and much cleaner building. They have an actual show room, and it was pretty much empty the whole time I was there. I brought my torch and flow meter, and set them down on the counter, and the guy there was really nice, and listened to what I needed, and spent the next 20 mins or so wandering the store putting it all together.I got that and some Argon, I brought my 80 CF C25 bottle, and left with a pair of 40 CF Argon bottles. Oh well, its all good. lol. I do have to get some bigger bottles tho eventually.And so, I headed back to the farm, and put it all together. I hooked it all up to the welder, and got ready to start my first scratch-start arc. Ive done a little tig at school, but not much, so this is all still pretty new to me. I just "dipped" the tungsten towards the 1/8" piece of steel I was practicing on, and we were off!! I was almost in dis belief at first, but I saw that the puddle was already forming, and that I better move the torch!! lol.So, I ran some beads on that little piece of scrap, and then I tried a fillet weld.I got my starting points from the Miller website, and everything seemed WAY too hot to me, so I turned it down a notch. It was still fun, tho, and I really liked it. I already have a couple of project ideas that I could tig together. So, here are my beads. Go easy on me yall, Im still new at this, but Im hoping for a little constructive criticism. This tig stuff is kinda fun And also. Everything I did with 11cfh of Argon (per miller's reccommendations), but I dont think it was quite enough, just because of the "smoke" thats around the cup, and on some of the welds. I remember getting "smoke" like that in school from forgetting to turn the gas on. Also, anything that doesn't look like a weld, probably isn't one. I ran beads on both sides of this piece, and I think I over-cooked it in a few places, and some of the steel ran through the piece, to the back, lol.I ran everything with a 3/32" Red (2% thoriated) tungsten, and the beads I ran without filler, and with 1/16" filler. The fillet, I ran with 3/32" filler. Please dont laugh at my crappy table. Well, I hope you guys enjoy the video, and the pictures, as much as I enjoyed making them. It really was a lot of fun, and I think Im gonna be spending a lot of time with this setup in the near future. Im gonna tig together a stand for my stickmate to get it off the floor, and some fenders for the almost-completed trailer that Im building. Thanks again everyone, and have a nice day. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g72rCd8J9oA[/ame][Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:Looks good, but your tungsten is out alittle far and it's affecting your gas coverage, if you like it out that far you might try a larger cup, a gas lense or it might help just to turn up your flow alittle.
Reply:Your fillet weld looks pretty good, just get some good consistent beads down.  I would suggest practicing a good flow by dipping filler and moving your torch at a consistent speed.I always suggest to steady your hand/arm anyway possible unless your steady enough to hang out in mid air (which I’m not).  If you do rest your hand on something just lightly do this with just enough pressure as a guide and make sure there is nothing to catch a glove.Yeah Tungsten is sticking out a little far.  Let your base metal cool a little before you put multiple passes on one piece.  If you don’t and all that heat will build up and when you get done it will look like really hot even though you haven’t changed you amperage.  It will give you a false sense of how much amperage to weld at per thickness of material and filler.Last edited by arcboy; 07-03-2011 at 11:28 PM.
Reply:buy gas lenses with #6 and #8 cups. I use #8 gas lens for everything now. I set 6lpm (12cfm) and it makes big difference.
Reply:Enjoy it in good health.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:Originally Posted by arcboyI always suggest to steady your hand/arm anyway possible unless your steady enough to hang out in mid air (which I’m not).  If you do rest your hand on something just lightly do this with just enough pressure as a guide and make sure there is nothing to catch a glove.Yeah Tungsten is sticking out a little far.  Let your base metal cool a little before you put multiple passes on one piece.  If you don’t and all that heat will build up and when you get done it will look like really hot even though you haven’t changed you amperage.  It will give you a false sense of how much amperage to weld at per thickness of material and filler.
Reply:Originally Posted by nadogailEnjoy it in good health.
Reply:Congratulations on the new addition.I must say I enjoyed and appreciate the "raw" clips showing the trial and error of assembly, comments of uncertainty, the shorting out of the tungsten on your table  and of course your total honesty in the entire matter.  Nicely done. How much TIG time were you able to get in school?MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:nice video. So 'dipping' toward the work piece - you didnt need any contact to get the arc started?  Even without HF ?miller syncrowave 250hobart handler 140home made 400 amp engine driven in progress...
Reply:seat belt, and put that damn cellphone down when driving.. nice video though...  if airgas ripped you on the tungsten i bet they got you on the argon.  i would look for a different supplier.tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/