Spent some time with the TIG tonight

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My normal day under the hood is Saturday..... but this past Saturday was spent building a playscape for my daughter..... next Saturday is going to be spent at the motorcycle rally at Lake Sommerville....So I got some garage time today...... I think I will make Monday's an additional day to my Saturdays.......Anyway, I got some 1.5% Lanthanated 3/32 Tungsten and got to practicing on some 1/4 Aluminum I bought just for that purpose.......Then, I put the Thoriated back in and welded up the next piece to my cart for the Squarewave....First.... the aluminum pictures....The three on the left side of the first pic is where I started and almost immediately gave up.... nothing was working.... I couldn't see what I was doing very well....... it was dirty looking...... and generally sucked donkey dong.....Then I turned up the amps, let it cool, and kept going.... starting on the top right side...I managed to get 1 bead that was decent and I got a good understanding of the puddle..... then it all went to crap again......I now have run a total of 15 attempted aluminum beads........ ever....... so far...... 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:While I was doing some of the aluminum I had my new HF bandsaw working on the square tube I using to put another step on my TIG cart. The thing cuts so slow that I set it to cutting then go do other stuff.....Once all was cut I flapped the edges clean and put the 1/16th Thoriated back in the torch...... flipped it to DCEN...... turned down the amps to about 100ish..... and started tacking.... checking its squareness.... then went to town....I have a real hard time with the inside corners..... and connecting the ends of the weld..... but the flat stuff is feeling pretty good.......Anyway...... some pics now..... 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:If you are doing beads on 1/4" alum, you had better have your machine cranked up to at least 250 amps. If not your welds are cold no matter how nice you may think they look. Also at those amps, chances are your 3/32" tungsten wouldn't hold up well..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:Yep.... I can only go up to 175 max on my machine...... and for that thickness, that would not provide enough heat...... but it was the only piece I have so I will just fill it up with lines..... on both sides....... until I get the rhythm.... then I will scrap it......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:Good thing about the 1/4" is it won't warp without enough heat. Bad thing I've found is the 1/4" alum that I got has impurities (some show in your welds on that plate too)Hobart EZ-Tig newbie.
Reply:I was in your boat about 4 months ago, 2nd pic, 3rd line up, try some stick in.. It was the game changer for me... 17 cfm.14' PowerMig 210 MP13'Burntables 5x10 CNC Table14' SAE300 HE on a 12' Ram 4500 60 CA 4x4. Custom bed/bottles/reels.87' SA250d, 78 SA200,11' Ranger 250 GXT AC/DCThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 8112' Lincoln Precision Tig 22508' LN25
Reply:It starts out as a Saturday thing and then you add Monday. Next it will be another day, maybe Thursday. Soon it will have consumed your entire week. Get help. The first step to recovery is admitting you have an addiction. Try TWA (TIG Welding Anonymous)
Reply:It's like being addicted to brake fluid...... I can stop anytime.......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:Can't tell by the pics, but you need to CLEAN your metal. Be it aluminum or steel,it needs to be clean. Get all that oxidation off, and all the gunk that will contaminate yourwelds. You'll notice a difference right away. Use a scotchbrite pad, and even some acetoneto clean that aluminum.Miller Synchrowave 180 SDLincoln PowerMig 255Hypertherm Powermax 45Torchmate 2x2Victor O/A
Reply:Good job BTW. My welds weren't half as good as those when I first started.Miller Synchrowave 180 SDLincoln PowerMig 255Hypertherm Powermax 45Torchmate 2x2Victor O/A
Reply:Thanks for the tip..... I used isopropyl since that was all I had and even with that i noticed a difference.....I like the scotch Brite pad idea too......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:A small stainless steel wire brush will remove the aluminum oxide coating really well too.  I haven't tried a scotch brite pad or acetone, but I have used the brush.  You'll start to feel resistance once the coating is removed and you'll notice a different in the clean/dirty metal immediately.  Once you've used that particular brush, don't use it on any other materials... You'll risk contaminating the brush. Few questions... Do you sharpen the tungsten?  Can you adjust settings on your machine such as Wave Balance and Frequency?  Typically speaking, aluminum weld beads are going to be a bit wider than carbon or stainless steel beads.  Not in all cases, but it's not abnormal for it to be wider.  I was taught to move a little faster than you normally would with carbon or stainless, and to dip often.  It might be hard to accomplish with that 1/4" plate and the capabilities of your machine.  I agree with your thought process though, practice is practice.
Reply:I do sharpen my tungsten and it balls on its own. I don't get any control on balance or freq.But I am learning to use what I have...... And look forward to getting better every week....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:B4 u practice again with the alum. plate,preheat it in the oven or grill @ 4-500 deg. f. this will help on thick plate/ low amp input combination.
Reply:I can put the Aluminum plate directly on the grate over hot coals on the grill? Really?Heck.... I'll do that just because it sounds cool..... er... I mean....hot......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 grumpycricketB4 u practice again with the alum. plate,preheat it in the oven or grill @ 4-500 deg. f. this will help on thick plate/ low amp input combination.
Reply:I went and grabbed some 1/8" yesterday......I will become a new practice piece.....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/