tig welding lap joint on mild steel help!!!!!

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hey guys been practicing lap joints for a school project in my garage and they arent turning out so great. can ome one please explain torch angle n such. im using 2 pieces of 1/8 steel 15 cfh 2 percent ceriated tungsten (1/16)about 1/4 inch stick out and 1/16 er70s2 filler rod with about 70 amps. i cant seem to get the puddle started well seems like it either only wants to form a puddle on the bottom plate. im using a torch angle og about 70 degress and about 20 degrees twords me. please help a noob like me :P
Reply:Bigger tungsten and more amps...1/8" would be better and a general rule of thumb is one amp per .001" of material. (1/8"=.125")Miller Dynasty 200DXMiller 252 Miller 250xMiller Syncrowave 250Miller AEAD200 LegendMiller 375 Xtreme plasmaLincoln WeldPak 100Victor O/A
Reply:I agree with more amps - but the tungsten size is fine.http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...calculator.phpDave 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:thanks alot guys i really appreciate your imput
Reply:yes run more amps, when I was in school we were told to run the amps around 150-175 for 1/8th just to teach us pedal/puddle control. But 125 should do the trick. Also your torch angle should be closer to 45, basically pointed right into the joint you are welding. The reason your puddle is only forming on the bottom piece is because you are pointing the arc there more than the other pieceLast edited by RSTi; 01-24-2014 at 02:39 PM.
Reply:try to get as short as possible an arc length..fitup-wise make sure the upper plate is in contact with the lower one...maybe reduce the stickout
Reply:I use 3/32 tungsten and rod for most of my tig work. Up your amps a little. I'd be somewhere around 100 amps for 1/8 material. Don't forget, you can use your arc length to add or reduce your heat a little. Just like stick welding.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:I should add that when I said 45* I was referring to the angle relative to the joint (tilt angle), as if you were looking down the joint at the torch from the end of the workpiece. 70* if you are looking at the top of the torch (torch angle) is about right. Apologies for any confusion
Reply:Post up some picts of your practice beads as well as all the info on material thickness, rod size and settings, and we can help you work thru some of your issues.It might help also if you took a minute to add your location to your profile at the top of the screen so we knew where you were at. You might find someone here who'd be willing to give you a hand if you were local..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