noob ? to welding aluminum

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Ok i have round disc about 4" think and Im just trying to add material to them about .050" and it is 6061-t6 and the rod acts like it is getting rejected and just balls up before it gets to the puddle i have a precision tig 375 and and if i try to weld 1/4" it does great so what am i doing wrong
Reply:What size rod are you using?  4" thick or 4" Diameter?David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:4" thick 12" around 1/8" rod 4043
Reply:Originally Posted by fbcfab4" thick 12" around 1/8" rod 4043
Reply:What size and type of tungsten are you using? how many amps? can you pre heat the disk?I would recommend using a 1/8" or larger Lanthanated or ceriated tungsten, they dint boil as fast. set the arc balance to almost all the way to penetrating (the small knob on the lower left of the panel), or as far as you can get away with. this will put more heat into the disk instead of your tungsten. this way at room temp you should be able to get a puddle to form with about 350 amps.let a nice puddle form on the disk before even trying to add any filler. just go slow, get a nice puddle then dip the filler, get a nice puddle then dip the filler, etc, etc,good luckOh I forgot! make shoure the disk and filler rod are very very clean!Last edited by ZackRidesRed; 05-11-2009 at 11:11 PM.
Reply:yeah im using 100 % or the green 1/8"and 350amps i preheat the disc but i will change the balance cause it is all the way on clean ooohhh i glass beaded the disc and what should i clean the filler with
Reply:Wipe the filler with acetone, go over the disk with a SS wire brush then wipe with acetone.
Reply:Do you have the high frequency knob on the side of the machine cranked up, or is it still on factory setting. With the frequency set higher, your arc will wander less. (The knob I'm speaking of is near your torch connections.)"SOUTHPAW" A wise person learns from another persons mistakes;A smart person learns from their own mistakes;But, a stupid person.............never learns.
Reply:everything is in the stock settings and thier is no knob by my torch setting but i know what your talking about it is on the right side near the back i will mess with it today
Reply:Preheat the 4" thick disc to 400°F. Air propane is your best bet. Under no circumstances use and oxiding acetylene flame.
Reply:well i preheated the disc to 450 and messed with the high freq. and that did it thanks guys you are a life saver
Reply:Where's the photos fbcfab?And btw, welcome to the forum.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!