A few lap joints with my new AHP TIG welder

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Not great, I know, but it is the operator not the machine. a mix of 10 gauge and 12 gauge sheet, 125 amps max with foot pedal control. 3/32 tungsten (1.5% lanthanated gold band), argon at 20 CFH, 1/16th ER 70-S2 filler. Clean shiny metal rinsed with acetone. I did a couple of warm up beads first. I like the way this machine welds.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:These plates are about 7 inches long. so after 6 beads (almost 40 inches?) the torch gets too hot to handle. I assume this is normal for an air cooled torch?Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:Looks like you need a few more amps on the lap joints. Yes air cooled torches get hot pretty fast, if I have to do much welding with one I will wear a stick welding glove for my torch hand.Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:Max out the post weld gas time,  Will help cool the torch a bitTiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Yeah, probably could use a few more amps. My issue is getting the angles right is a pain right now so I am not moving fast enough. It's amazing to me how different/more difficult laps are than just laying beads. I can't seem to find a comfortable position that allows me to hold a correct torch angle.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:For comfortable torch angles (and because my wrists are junk) I use flex heads. I put my hand in a position that I can hold, reach over with my left and adjust the torch head - weld on After a while, you can tell by the joint where you like the torch head bent and it becomes pretty automatic.Keep after it and have fun Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:I see some areas that show promise in the lower bead in the 1st set of laps and the 3 below it, but your consistency needs work. Are you using a lay wire method, or dipping filler? When starting out I often suggest guys simply slide the filler into the puddle vs trying to "stab" filler in. Tapping will also work and is a bit easier than stabbing.  I also suggest new students find a comfortable position for their hand and simply rest it on the table and slide it along maintaining the same angle. Once you get the basics down and things start to become 2nd nature, then you can start trying to carry the torch. Right now eliminate every possible variable from the equation that you can.As far as how hot the torch gets, that's usually pretty normal for standard 17 series air cooled torches that are rated at 150 amps 60% duty cycle.  As mentioned going to additional post flow will help cool the torch some, but at the expense of the extra gas used. I recommend against going to heavy welding gloves for new guys. If the glove is too heavy, you can over heat and melt the torch before you realize you have exceeded the duty cycle. Lighter gloves tell you the torch is getting too warm, and it might be time to take a break and prep pieces or do something else.If you find the heat is too limiting, there are other options you can look into. #1 there are some 17 size torches that have larger duty cycles. The CK torches are rated at 150 amps 100% duty cycle for example. #2 would be to go to a "bigger" air cooled torch like the 26's that are rated at 200 amps IIRC. #3 is to move to a water cooled torch. This is often the choice many go to for shop machines, but there is both the added expense of the new torch as well as that of the cooler and possibly new consumables if you go to the small 20 series torches.Remember that you want to let the pieces cool between beads, or the heat from previous beads will F with your settings. I tell students that if the piece is cool enough to handle bare handed, it's cool enough to run the next bead. For practice right now, dunking the material in water is a good way to cool things off and keep moving without having to have dozens of practice pieces or wait forever for things to cool on their own..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Lookin good Lou!