How about a stack of nickels.?

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..that someone kicked over and they spread into a pile of dog doo.!! Submitted for your entertainment and scrutiny, my first ever TIG weld. Done with the new-to-me Dynasty 200DX. As with the MIG, I tortured a coupla other pieces of scrap aluminum, started a small fire, got "familiarized" with grinding a point on the tungsten, fiddled with the controls (Hey, what's this do.?!?). Then I cleaned up these 2 pieces and sez to myself, "Ok, now we're gonna do it best we can and post it no matter how bad it is." so voila. Started at the left, pushed right. I tripped into the puddle a coupla times. Cursed. Restarted-not-so-gracefully. Wondered around a good bit. I don't have any kindof controller on the torch so I'm lift starting. But I ain't got a clue how to break an arc 'cept to dip in the puddle or pull it back. Which makes a mess either way.. Any suggestions on that.? Whatchyagotferme Steve.?!?   d:^)  Scheeks..  .084 Square tubing, 100A, ?Hz, Balance 60%, 3/32 Thoriated/Pointed. Anything else.?..Things I learned today. There seems to be no real rhyme or reason to the mystery of the tungsten. Everybody has an opinion. Grab one a "git some".RTFM, if ya got it. Already kindof knew that one. Don't have the manual yet it's en route. Gonna come in mighty handy with this piece'o'gear.If ya turn the Hz way up, this thing sounds just like the ray gun in  "War of the Worlds", and sometimes has about the same effect.!! This thing's gonna be wayyy fun..I got a chitload of learnin to do and it's gonna take a while.. Fixed the pic, Prop.! Last edited by Schneeky; 02-07-2011 at 07:51 PM.Reason: Forgot specs. 2. Fixed pic.ESAB 161 LTSCommunicate & adapt, diggit.?ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
Reply:The Dynasty is a great machine. Expermentation really helps you learn the machine.Aluminum is very fun it just takes awhile.Mountain MetalDynasty 200DXCoolmate 1Miller Trailblazer 302 W/ KohlerMiller Suitcase 12VS Wire feederWeldcraft 26 TIG TorchMiller 210 Spoolmate 3035Thermal Dynamics 51 PlasmaVictor O/AJet  7x12 L Cooled Band SawDelta Drill Press
Reply:ok i gona try to get this:  you started on the left side[ of coupon] feeding filler on top of puddle? [ torch in right hand filler lefthand] i  feed from bottom or side of puddle-- (let puddle wick filler in puddle  the last  bit looks real good  right side of pic try pushing puddle, feed from bottom or side of puddle after some practice you will learn to feed from all sides. takes time but a stack  of nickels will work unless ya need change for toll booth but ya got it going in the right direction.  more hood timeidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:You really should have a  footpedal to weld aluminum, it CAN be done without one but you need one to do it well.To answer your other question, the right way to break the arc with lift-arc is to quickly break the torch away from the weld and then move it back to provide post flow to the weld.  This takes practice and is not good for aluminum.Also, dont kid yourself.  There is no mystery of the tungsten, just lots of people who dont understand it.  If you care to do the research you can find out everything you want to know.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:Not bad for your first attempt.
Reply:MM- It does seem like a very nice little rig. Controls remind me of my Fender G-DEC guitar amp with all it's variables.. A little less complicated, actually.Time I got, here in the off-season. And I love experimenting. Will get back at it here inna few.Prop- The coupon was upside down in the pic from where it was positioned in the vice. My bad. Got it fixed now.  But yeah, I went from right to left and dipped filler in from about 10'o'clock on the puddle. Agreed on the "more hood time".. Welding class got cancelled for the next 2 nights so I won't get more of that till next Monday night. Figured I'd continue on in my shop and see what happens. So on that note I'll head back out to it.. Showdog- Thanks.. Sno- Researched it all afternoon online and amongst local welding buds/LWS. No real conclusion. Got what was available and went with it. I'll get more and try it as it becomes available. Agreed on the controls. Can't say as I care for this lift-arc that much right now but w/o any experience it's hard to make that call. Tim sez he's gonna hook me up with a controller of some sort in the AM so we'll see what happens then. Meanwhile I'll try yer suggestion on that. Thanks, fellas..   d:^)  Schneeks..Last edited by Schneeky; 02-07-2011 at 08:11 PM.ESAB 161 LTSCommunicate & adapt, diggit.?ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
Reply:I believe u "welded" from right to left, not that will make any difference .The tungsten is not a problem, if u buy 1,5% Lanthanated it will be ok for everything u throw at it, Ceriated is also good , don't understand why ppl make such a fuss about tungsten or buy&use different types when Lanth makes perfect for every mat...You will need 1/16 and 3/32 and torch consumables for them also, thats it.Anyway it's a good start, and u should invest in a pedal or hand control + a lot of scrap metal to practice on.--------------------------------------------------------------www.becmotors.nlyup, I quit welding.. joined welder anonymous
Reply:Originally Posted by Donoharm Anyway it's a good start, and u should invest in a pedal or hand control + a lot of scrap metal to practice on.
Reply:Do yourself a favor and start with steel rather than alum. You will be able to see whats happening easier than with alum. After you get the basics down on say 1/8" steel, then you can go to thinner steel and then alum.Second when you start on alum, try and work with thicker material to start, say 1/8". It will take the heat better and not disapear in an instant if it gets to hot. Also besure to clean the alum surface well with a SS wire brush, especially if it's used alum thats been exposed to the elements and near salt water. You will have a ton of alum oxide on the surface to deal with. The surface oxides melt at a higher temp than the base alum, so by the time you melt the oxide the center is already liquid. I agree you need a hand control or foot pedal to do alum well.Good luck..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:Originally Posted by DSWDo yourself a favor and start with steel rather than alum. You will be able to see whats happening easier than with alum. After you get the basics down on say 1/8" steel, then you can go to thinner steel and then alum.