I'M STOKED......My First TIG Weld

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Howdy y'all....I had my first "real" TIG lesson today at the welding shop I work at and wanted to see what you guys think of these. The owner of the shop gave me a 30 min lesson and then turned me loose to weld up some fittings on a pneumatic chamber that goes in a new tool that we are fabricating. The pics below are actually my second attempt....on the first one I got crazy with the pedal and blew thur the side of one of the tubes!    These welds have to be air tight to hold the pressure...I'll find out tomorrow if any of the 15 I did leaks. So do me a favor...look at the pics and tell me if ya see anything wrong...TEAR'EM UP GUYS...thats the way I learn...btw I already know that I need to work on my "stops"...I keep gettin a bump of metal when I finish the weld and break the arc. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. The first pic is of 3 of the air chamber tubes...hopefully no leaks!! The second pic is just a closeup of one of the tubes.Thanks y'all,Rod Attached Images"Failure is not an option"
Reply:Looks like you know what you are doing!!!StangnetShop Full Of Stuff. Joey
Reply:Very nice work.  Looks really good considering a 30 minute lesson before hand.  Keep up the great work.  ~JacksonI'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:the welds look great   I have a comment towards the design though....  You said be picky    If I were to design that piece, and (it was possible considering everything else going on which I don't know about) I would have either made the diameter of the threaded pipe smaller, or the tube stock around it larger, for structural considerations, then chosen thinner wall on the tube for costs.  But just a thought.  Not a rocket scientist.  Brian Lee Sparkeee24  nice work  keep it up.
Reply:Well in the end the man has spoken, given his weld pics and hes far surpased what anyone could have expected on his first shot.  As far as design, I know the intent was good but alas lets rememeber this good man works in a fab shop with a foreman.  He is the boss.  He calls the shots.  He gets to tell our good man Rod how he wants things built.  Rod just builds them as this guy wants.  Its the usual life cycle of a shop hand.Just my two cents.  I know Rod doesnt need backup, but what the hell I lvoe to give it lolCHRIS
Reply:I am hoping that I can get to that point before too long, looks great.
Reply:Originally Posted by TxRedneck I know Rod doesnt need backup, but what the hell I lvoe to give it lolCHRIS
Reply:Great welds, Rod.  Nice and even.  I'm assuming you will be going after that ever illusive Beer Can Welding Certification (BCWS) soon.  The technique for tiggin' beer cans is dip, dip, crunch, crunch, gurgle, gurgle, gurgle  ....oh yeah, turn on the welder.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:all I want to know is are we weldin budweiser or coors light?  there not exactly the same y'all nowId rather paint a bud to look like a coors and pass off for the coors oh yeah and Rod, a big CoReCtIoN here...You dont design 'em you just build em... CHRIS
Reply:Very nice welds. You should be proud of them. You have a very good hand.Yes I can tack it for you.    I know that won't hold but that is what you asked me to do.  Millermatic 350P XR Aluma-Pro push/pullMillermatic 185/spool gunMiller Dialarc 250 HF Water cooledThermal Dynamics Plasma
Reply:Well i cant say that my first tig weld looked like that     looks great.
Reply:Good Job  My welds don't look that nice.  Brian Lee Sparkeee24
Reply:There some good looking welds Rod, keep going like that and you'll be walking the cup in no time!Stephen
Reply:Nice even spacing, even colouring throughout, DOG GONE these are nice welds! Good job!
Reply:Very nice welds. As for when you stop and get that bump, after your last addition of rod keep moving and let off on the pedal slowly. That should end your bump. If you have a trigger control or a lift start keep moving as if you were still adding rod and lengthen the arc then brake it off. Thats how I've been doing it for years and never had a x-ray bust. Just my .02.Brett B & B Fabrication and Welding Inc.Spalding, MI.