TIG welding Alum

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OK Im NOT a welder, but I can weld if that makes sence. Im a Metal Trades Instructor at a High School and I have a Alum boat that needs to be repared. I have a TIG welder but do not know what to set the machine on. I have welded TIG alum before but someone else set the machine up. Any help would be considered a favor.   The books I have only cover SMAW Oxy/Acy welding. Thanks Jeff
Reply:Well, you definately want to set it up for AC, with pure argon, and high frequency on continuous. Clean and weld small areas.  Use a stainless steel brush to clean.  If you intend to weld a long bead, you probably want to tack all along the weld and go in and fill, otherwise you will be faced with some serious warping.  Are you using a foot pedal?  What welder are you using?Last edited by smithboy; 02-02-2006 at 05:15 PM.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:pre heat that will help you a lot and start with the lowest amp setting don't go fullbore and try to adj with the pedal olny your crack may look like bullit holes.
Reply:Im using a Miller Shop Master 300. I dont have a foot pedel, I have the remote on the torch. I think my problem is I used a steel brush. Thanks for the info. If already have a few bullet holes in it I waited to late to ask for help  thanks again
Reply:You can fill those if you are patient.  Turn down the heat enough where you just bearly wet the surface at full power on the remote and dab on a few of drops of metal from the filler...then let it cool...brush a bit and start again.  In filling holes, I try to work inward like a spiral from the edge.  If the holes are pretty big (bigger than a nickle), you might want to cut a piece and weld in a uniformly shaped patch instead.  Unfortunately, we dont have our personal messages working right now...If we did, I'd direct you to Got Aluminum.  He does boats.  I do Agricultural stuff that's not that thin.  Do you have high freq?Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Yes I have a freq box.  Im going to work on it again Monday so I'll let ya'll know how it goes.Thanks again
Reply:For welding thin material or even thicker material, the foot pedal is nice to prevent cratering.  When you come to the end of the weld, you need to come off the heat gradually.  When you stop the heat abruptly, a crater or dimple will  form and cause a leak.  I have owned a miller 330 a b/p for over 30 years and it doesn't have automatic cratering control.  I think most of the newer machines have this feature.  But if you use the foot pedal and back off the heat slowly, it works great.
Reply:When you drove your first car/truck did you do it by yourself ?I don't mean to upset anyone, but welding is a trade that needs to be shown to the apprentice from the journeymanThanks
Reply:MetalSculptor,Yes actually I did. And that's the best way to learn. Your right, just get out there and do it.
Reply:PAULGA good Student has the patience to learn from the master and not re-invent the wheelMay your Kingdom do well as you learn and apply the truth.  Avoid Pensions as they die when you do.The High Council is above all man made religionsLast edited by MetalSculptor; 02-14-2006 at 11:23 PM.
Reply:Did you hear that grasshopper.  In other words when you can snatch the wp-20 out of the master's hand,  it is time for yung fuu to leave.
Reply:*** Hole. Sorry, that was supossed to be Aaaa Sooooo. Good, that's better.
Reply:Paul, that was not a slant on you.  You're probably too young to remember the tv show kung fu, but cain the hero was called grasshopper and when he was fast enough to snatch the pebble out of the master's hand, he was ready to leave the shau lin temple.  No offence meant.  You're a good guy on the right track.  It's all practice.