Tig Welding Thicker Material

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I'm making some brackets for a tree house and I need to weld 1/4" and 3/8" steel.  I wold like to TIG it because I feel more comfortable with the process and end results, but I'm wondering if it would just be a waste of time to TIG it.  I've never welded anything that thick in steel with TIG.  How many passes would I be looking at to get the weld respectful?  The other option is MIG.  Haven't had the machine that long, so not totally comfortable Migging yet.  Appearance is not really an issue, but I do like the end result of TIG.  Thanks Nick.  Oh, here are my machines.Lincoln Invertec V205-T AC/DCLincoln Power MIG 180Last edited by Nick Kent; 11-06-2007 at 09:29 AM.
Reply:I would say either process would be fine for your job. Number of passes relies on things such as joint prep. Maybe some pics of what your doing could let us be more insightful. --Gol'
Reply:Sure.  I don't have any of the steel yet, but I have some drawings.  I could use some advice on design as well.
Reply:post your drawing if you can. --Gol'
Reply:I'll try posting the drawing.Damn.  I had a hard time resizing it.  That is the best I can do for the moment.Here is the jist of the bracket.  It is for two 45 degree angle braces.  There will be a carrying timber above the bracket and the braces will go to the bracket and up to the carrying timber.  There is a 1 1/4" bolt that sticks into the tree and the brace will slide over the bolt.  Braces will have a slot in them and will slide over the 3/8" stock, and be thru bolted.  The braces will seat against the 1/4" flat stock.  3/8" will be drilled with 2" hole.  I'll weld the tube to the 3/8".  Then I'll slide the rectangular tube with 2" hole in it over the round tube and weld outside of the rect. tube to round tube.  Rect. tube will be fully welded to 3/8".  I thought that it would be good to add a bit of width to the brace with the rect. tube to give it stability rather than just relying on the 3/8" by itself.  Make sense?  If the photo isn't big enough I can email it.  Thanks, Nick. Attached ImagesLast edited by Nick Kent; 11-06-2007 at 12:16 PM.
Reply:Mig would be much faster and just as strong.  JohnSMAW,GMAW,FCAW,GTAW,SAW,PAC/PAW/OFCand Shielding Gases.  There all here. :
Reply:1/4 to 3/8"..Baby stuff..No worries doing it tig..http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread...ht=heavy+metal...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:I guess I'm worried about overheating my torch as it is only an air cooled torch.    I guess all I can do is try and see how it goes.
Reply:IIRC the V205T air cooled comes with a WP26 type torch which is rated @ 200A DC and 160A AC (i've got the water cooled version)
Reply:How do you like the water cooled torch?  Do you have a Lincoln cooler or another brand?
Reply:water cooled torch has so many advantages compared with air cooleda LOT smaller for a given amperage rating- many of the welds i do would be unreachable with an aircooled torchcooler running- easier on the hands with thin gloves and less post flow is needed to prevent tungsten oxidization (tungsten is cool enough to touch a few seconds after finishing a bead)torch leads are more flexible- doesn't seem too big a deal but it does make a differencei have the lincoln cool arc 20 cooler- bolts to the bottom of the machine so the entire thing remains portable (comfortable to carry with one hand). the only negative thing i would have to say about the package is that the cooler is excessively noisy- uses a reciprocating piston pump. having said that they may have changed to a centrifugal pump since i got mine about 6 years ago (i would hope so anyway, it's audible above AC @ 150Hz )