I started aluminum about a week ago.tig welding

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I saved a few pics of aluminum lap joints. I have the settings at ac welding and i have the correct tungsten. I seem to have problems with the heat.i Have my amperage at 60. I was wondering if there was a certain way to weld it. I know that you have to weld fast with aluminum. The problem is for me it seems like to form the puddle takes me a long time.sorry if the pics doesnt come in clear. its really hard to take a picture with aluminum because its really shiny and has to have the correct lighting.im using 1/8 inch metal. Attached ImagesLast edited by technomaster; 03-12-2011 at 11:14 PM.
Reply:I just want to quote a line from Charlie Brown Kwanzaa but it would be censored. (that's the smartazz in me talking)Turn up the amps and slow down. Be consistent. Mind your torch angle too.Two turn tables and a microphone.
Reply:1st do some research on alum tig here. Looks like the same issues that have been adressed over and over and over... 2nd post up all the available info on what you are doing, alum thickness, filler size, machine, tungsten, gas used, settings and so on so we don't have to guess.60 amps is WAY too low for alum unless it's super thin. If it's super thin, it's the wrong thickness to learn on. With alum you need lots of amps to get the puddle started fast, then back off quickly to keep from melting thru. Usually we have the students set the machines at 150 amps to do 1/8" alum at the school. Alum is a great heat sink. If you go slow all you will do is heat the whole plate up. When you get the puddle to start you are close to melting most of the plate. Also alum needs to have the surface oxides removed with a SS brush 1st. The oxide melts at a much higher temp then bare alum. Question: Are you familiar with doing tig on steel? If you can not manipulate the heat well with steel, you will find trying to learn basic tig and tig alum at the same time to be very difficult. If you are just starting out with tig, stick with steel until you have the heat control down cold. Then move on to alum starting with 1/8" alum..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:ok. im using 1/8 inch metal. sorry I forgot to write that down.
Reply:rule of thumb - 1 amp for every 0.001" of metal thickness. 1/8" = 0.125" = 125 Amps
Reply:Originally Posted by phyisisist777rule of thumb - 1 amp for every 0.001" of metal thickness. 1/8" = 0.125" = 125 Amps
Reply:Originally Posted by Donald BranscomThis is WRONG. I will explain. Example: You have a piece of aluminum that is 3/32 thickness which is about .030 so according to your calculation that would mean you need 30 amps.
Reply:Originally Posted by WeldordieUm, Donald, I think 3/32" = 0.094".
Reply:Originally Posted by weldordieum, donald, i think 3/32" = 0.094".
Reply:Originally Posted by PangeaOuch! 5/4 of all people have problems with fractions.
Reply:Donald,Dangit.  This is precisely the sort of BS that I sent you the PM about.If you keep posting your "bad information" you're going to get the reputation for being the "forum jester".As I mentioned to you, put a little more thought into your posts.  We don't need another William McCormick on the board.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by Donald BranscomSee what I mean?
Reply:You are looking for advice on heat and speed. You have stated that you are welding  1/8" aluminum (which I believe is still classed as metal btw) at 60 amps and have been told to weld fast. Even with the small coupons that you are attempting to weld, you will need at LEAST 2X that much amperage to get started. It is being assumed here that you have a foot pedal so that you can start wih a high amperage( 140-150) amps and then feather it back as your puddle developes. If you don't have a remote control, then you must preheat your work (which is advisable in any case), give it more time to heat up, and then increase your welding speed as the piece heats up. With the remote, you may find that 60 amps is all that you require as you near the end of your weld on small sections, but you will never be able to start out that low. Practice on mild steel and stainless first until you develope some skill. If you are going to weld aluminum, I hope that you have at least a 150 amp welder, and a 50 Amp breaker. Otherwise you will be overheating your machine and/or throwing breakers. Good luck!
Reply:If I was teaching you I would  have you start with striking an arc and holding the torch still and make a "TACK "  with one dab of filler.....And do that until you felt comfortable making two or three dabs.......As mentioned your trying to HURRY  the weld........S L  O  W     D O W N  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:you could try heating a puddle and making a pass modulating the heat adding no filler to practice making uniform and consistent passes to get familiar with aluminum "feel"this is a product sales pitch but the aluminum welding is visible and has a good form IMO [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsDdrJMWVLU&feature=related[/ame]Last edited by NATER623; 03-14-2011 at 01:46 AM.The more I learn, the more I realize I dont know squat
Reply:im using 1/8 aluminum. sorry for the confusion. im just having a ton of problems with it now. its really hard to work with.
Reply:when i weld 1/8 aluminum im around 120 amps, once you see it start to get really shiny lookin dab your filler and if it wets into the plate good your amperage is in the right ballpark, the rule of thumb i go by when adding filler is every 8th inch dab, assuming your using 3/32 filler like i would in that situation. once you get the right amount of amperage in the puddle and its fluid and your filler wets in nice you can learn to pick up the pace, but start slow and get your mechanics and coordination perfected. once you get it figured out you wont want to tig on anything else!
Reply:nit picking fails - lol still some good info here, makes me want to try tig welding
Reply:yeah im using 32/2 filler rod. wow your using a high amperage.
Reply:Originally Posted by technomasterwow your using a high amperage.
Reply:There's still the rumor that welding aluminum and breathing those fumes causes ALZHEIMER DISEASE...............But I forgot......  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Three things happen to you with prolonged aluminum welding.First your memory goes and 2 others can't recall what they are.Oh well perhaps it will come back after welding mild steel LOLVinnie
Reply:My memory didnt go. I can recall things. I made a mistake the first time. Aluminum is metal and that was I was pointing out. Because one time I posted something on here and they said to me aluminum metal ? So after I put that down so people know what im talking about. Even though its called aluminum.
Reply:About my Post.Quote:"Example: You have a piece of aluminum that is 3/32 thickness which is about .030 so according to your calculation that would mean you need 30 amps. That will not work because you would have to depress the foot pedal control ALL THE WAY DOWN to get the 30 amps."Oops i did make a mistake, but the I did stick to the formula that was given..030 = 30 amps @ 1 amp per .001 thickness. I will be more careful in the future so you cannot get any traction on me.LOl...lolAWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:Take these guy's advice that they're giving you and do what they say. Most of these guys really know their stuff. I've TIGed a lot of steel over the past year, and I'm 1/2 decent, but I just recently got a machine capable of TIGing aluminum. I layed down my first aluminum bead on Monday(Aug 6th, 2012) and damn it was horrible. So I went and did more research, asked questions on this website, and I tried the stuff that was told to me and I'll be damned if my welds didn't almost instantly improve. Now I'm definitely _NOT_ a TIG Master, and I have an infinite amount of things left to learn, and I need many many many more months/years of practice, but my welds are slowly becoming acceptable. My 90* Fillet joints and my Outside Corner joints on 1/8" aluminum are good enough(for me anyhow) that I've started building a water-cooler as my first aluminum project. So trust what I say and listen to the advise these guys are giving you. When they say you need a lot of amperage to get a puddle going quickly on aluminum, they are right. With 1/8" I have my machine set at 150A(I was at 135A and I was told to turn it higher to get the initial puddle going quicker.) and I control the heat with the foot pedal and it works great and it will work even better once I get many many more hours of practice in.Also, watch this video from WT&T, this practice drill is a great way to get better at welding aluminum.http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/...-training.htmlBrad GeorgeCurrent Equipment:AIRCO Heliwelder IV 300Amp Model - Total Awesomeness!Old 120v Hobart Handler MIGVarious grinders, cutting tools, hammers, clamps, ect..."I'm an amateur welder with lots left to learn..."Originally Posted by technomasterI saved a few pics of aluminum lap joints. I have the settings at ac welding and i have the correct tungsten. I seem to have problems with the heat.i Have my amperage at 60. I was wondering if there was a certain way to weld it. I know that you have to weld fast with aluminum. The problem is for me it seems like to form the puddle takes me a long time.sorry if the pics doesnt come in clear. its really hard to take a picture with aluminum because its really shiny and has to have the correct lighting.im using 1/8 inch metal.
Reply:Originally Posted by Donald BranscomAbout my Post.Quote:"Example: You have a piece of aluminum that is 3/32 thickness which is about .030 so according to your calculation that would mean you need 30 amps. That will not work because you would have to depress the foot pedal control ALL THE WAY DOWN to get the 30 amps."Oops i did make a mistake, but the I did stick to the formula that was given..030 = 30 amps @ 1 amp per .001 thickness. I will be more careful in the future so you cannot get any traction on me.LOl...lol