A F'in ........stainless day......

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I decided to do the F again..... and a 2..... with stainless today...... why? Because it's hard for me.... so I choose that as my project......I need reasons to get frustrated after all.......I plasma cut the pieces......... polished them....... cleaned them....... and had pretty darn good fit up actually.......Then came the TIG tacking...... that's where the problems started..... since I am both a noob TIG weldor..... and stainless is kind of tricky.....The plan..... and one side I tacked without effort..... (smash the peddle and let off immediately).....Then another side I started loosing focus.... Attached ImagesPrecision TIG 185 and MP 210Bobcat 225NTCutmaster 42O/A tanks.... 2 Argon tanks...... 2 C25 TanksFacebook...... F2 Metal WorksETSY....... https://www.etsy.com/shop/F2MetalWorksF2MetalWorks.com....... http://www.f2metalworks.com/
Reply:Then everything went to hell....No tacks.... just blowing holes everywhere..... same fit up...... same technique.... I think....Holes......... I got PO'ed and shelved it..... then started filling up angle iron with 6010 instead....... Attached ImagesPrecision TIG 185 and MP 210Bobcat 225NTCutmaster 42O/A tanks.... 2 Argon tanks...... 2 C25 TanksFacebook...... F2 Metal WorksETSY....... https://www.etsy.com/shop/F2MetalWorksF2MetalWorks.com....... http://www.f2metalworks.com/
Reply:And.... since I now know that welding stainless emits fumes that are not good.... I now have better lung protection.... Attached ImagesPrecision TIG 185 and MP 210Bobcat 225NTCutmaster 42O/A tanks.... 2 Argon tanks...... 2 C25 TanksFacebook...... F2 Metal WorksETSY....... https://www.etsy.com/shop/F2MetalWorksF2MetalWorks.com....... http://www.f2metalworks.com/
Reply:Don't shelve it Fex! That's the best part about welding. If the fit up isn't perfect (or close) just have your filler ready. A little dab'll-doya. You got it man... Always look forward to your posts.Good luck!Marc
Reply:Thanks fronty.....The only 308 filler I have on hand is 1/16"...... by the time I get the heat right to wet it in.... I have a mammoth hole.....I need to go get some smaller stuff...... what is smaller..... .040?I need that before I can give it a go....I was doing this at 35 amps and still burning holes on my tacks........I was using 1/16" Red........I think I'm close on the amps........ I think.....Precision TIG 185 and MP 210Bobcat 225NTCutmaster 42O/A tanks.... 2 Argon tanks...... 2 C25 TanksFacebook...... F2 Metal WorksETSY....... https://www.etsy.com/shop/F2MetalWorksF2MetalWorks.com....... http://www.f2metalworks.com/
Reply:Fexal, .045 is what you will want if you have a good fit-up. Stainless is nice to work with. I think with your photos and descriptions that you are getting in too big of a hurry and maybe to much heat. With tig welding you will want to establish your arc and ease into the amps until you get a puddle then dab-move dab-move. Always keep your filler wire in the gas zone of your torch as well. Good luckLast edited by power; 07-07-2012 at 10:10 PM.
Reply:I don't usually have much trouble tacking. When welding outside corners on thin stuff, I use pulse. I wish I could tell you what setting, but I just kind of feel through it (and my Lincoln Precision Tig doesn't give a numerical readout of pulse).  X2 on the thinner filler. Weld over your tacks and you should be fine.Lincoln Precision Tig 185Lincoln Power Mig 256Hypertherm PM 45Everlast 140STSmith O/A
Reply:When I went to the 4hr class at HTP the guy that does all the nascar cages was teaching it. He said for a tack with filler, heat up the piece and use the torch to melt the filler for a tack. Done it a few times and it works well.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Originally Posted by powerFexal, .045 is what you will want if you have a good fit-up. Stainless is nice to work with. I think with your photos and descriptions that you are getting in too big of a hurry and maybe to much heat. With tig welding you will want to establish your arc and ease into the amps until you get a puddle then dab-move dab-move. Always keep your filler wire in the gas zone of your torch as well. Good luck
Reply:To much heat, back off a little more. Keep trying it only gets easier with time."Liberalism is a mental disorder" Dr. Savage
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleWhen I went to the 4hr class at HTP the guy that does all the nascar cages was teaching it. He said for a tack with filler, heat up the piece and use the torch to melt the filler for a tack. Done it a few times and it works well.
Reply:The "Quickly mash the pedal to tack" method ONLY works on thin stuff if your fit-up is dead on and the pieces are touching without really much gap, if any. Otherwise, what is more likely to happen, is the arc will grab the edge of one piece (where it is VERY easy to melt) and dump all the heat into it, leaving you with a nice new hole. I suspect this is what happen to you. On thin stuff, if there's a gap, fill that gap (like everyone else has already said, haha). Don't give up! But sometimes walking away can be good. Gives you a chance to digest what happened, rather than just getting more and more frustrated, which can cause everything to go downhill.
Reply:Weld it like your scared of it. Low heat,slow up puddle,fill. Use the filler to help moderate the heat in the puddle. Tig is slow,enjoy it.
Reply:Move to 1/4" plate and you won't need to worry about blowing holes... XD XDAnyway, the tacking without filler thing you are trying to acomplish here works only if the fit up is perfect. Good, or great is not enough. It has to be perfect. 0 gap. That's at least what Jody showed in a video in WeldinTips&Tricks long ago.The above suggestions from fellow forumites will surely help as well. Keep up the good work.Mikel
Reply:So what is F2?Welding/Fab Pics: www.UtahWeld.com
Reply:Fexal Fabrication....... Now I just need to work on the fabrication part.........Precision TIG 185 and MP 210Bobcat 225NTCutmaster 42O/A tanks.... 2 Argon tanks...... 2 C25 TanksFacebook...... F2 Metal WorksETSY....... https://www.etsy.com/shop/F2MetalWorksF2MetalWorks.com....... http://www.f2metalworks.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by FexalFexal Fabrication.......