TIG.... hopefully some day I'll learn.....

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Fellas...I bought some more scrap metal to play with this weekend (Thanks Kevin...those places worked out great!)  Here is a sample of my 1/8" aluminum beads, ~150A, A/C with balance set to auto, 3/32 pure tunsten balled up (lincoln precision tig 185), 17CFM on the argon with #6 cup, gas lens, 1/16"filler and my pulse frequency set to approx 1.5hz.  The second set is 1/8" mild steel, ~130A, 3/32 red tungsten, 1/16" filler, 17 cfm on the argon with #6 cup, gas lens and about a 1hz pulse.This is my first posting with aluminum....totally clueless.  Is enough heat being applied?  How much of an edge on the toe is normal / expected?The mild steel looks a little cold to me.... I need to chill and slow down would be my initial guess. Any constructive criticism or funny sarcasim is appreciated!yes...and I still jump when I touch the filler to the tungsten when I'm playing around with the aluminum.  I'm sure it has to look funny as hell to the someone watching!Thanks fellas...Dustin Attached Images
Reply:Yes, the steel welds look cold, the puddles look crystal-like, not too smooth. I think the filler was cooling off the cold puddle a lot. Also, on the steel, add filler more closely, like dabdabdabdab, not dab puddle dab puddle dab. The puddle form on the aluminum is more uniform than the steel.As for the aluminum, it looks pretty good, maybe add a double shot of filler to kill those craters at the end of the weld. otherwise, they all look pretty good!And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:The picture of your tungsten looks like you ground going around the tungsten but with the length. Take a look at this http://www.arc-zone.com/pdf/GrindingTungsten.pdfAnd keep the tapered tip a little shorter, with a 3/32 tungsten keep the taper between 1/8" and 3/16 of an inch long. This is from the pointed tip to end of the taper. It may be all a mater or preference but I like a sharp pointed tungsten on DC, the arc seems to be more stable. -DanOwnerDW Metalworks LLCMiller Trailblazer 302Miller 8RC FeederMiller Passport PlusMiller Dynasty 200 DX W/Coolmate 1Hobart Handler 135Hypertherm PowerMAX 30Smith O/A Torch SetPlus much much more
Reply:engnerdan,  yes... I had ground a little flat in there.  I was playing around trying to see the effects in the weld.  Looking back at that picture I think it was a little drastic.  My other tunstens did have a sharper point but I touched the filler to them! DOAH!   Thanks for pointing that out and thats why I try to include pics of my setup.  When you guys weld can you tell from the puddle formation what a enough current (heat) looks like?  I always find myself trying to lay a bead... stop to look at weld.... adjust ....lay another bead....   I would like to think I could get to a point where you can just look at it and intuitively give it more pedal.Also, in real world applications (MS and Al) if you touch the filler to the tungsten or the tungsten touches the base metal would you have to stop and grind out the spot that is affected?
Reply:You're doing well duvlithoAluminium - Your well on the way to becoming a gun.Carbon steel -  Your CS welds start ok however you are not adding enough filler during welding, meaning high dilution (%BM)  welds. Based on the heat tint present, it looks like you are at the high end for the thickness welded, so I believe this to be the case.Tungsten inclusion - Not a serious problem unless its a large one.CheersLast edited by chrispc66; 09-10-2008 at 09:35 AM.Reason: more info
Reply:Originally Posted by duvlithoengnerdan,  yes... I had ground a little flat in there.  I was playing around trying to see the effects in the weld.  Looking back at that picture I think it was a little drastic.  My other tunstens did have a sharper point but I touched the filler to them! DOAH!   Thanks for pointing that out and thats why I try to include pics of my setup.  When you guys weld can you tell from the puddle formation what a enough current (heat) looks like?  I always find myself trying to lay a bead... stop to look at weld.... adjust ....lay another bead....   I would like to think I could get to a point where you can just look at it and intuitively give it more pedal.Also, in real world applications (MS and Al) if you touch the filler to the tungsten or the tungsten touches the base metal would you have to stop and grind out the spot that is affected?
Reply:"stack of plates" just doesn't sound as cool as "stack of dimes".... stack of dimes makes you money... stack of plates means you're just cleaning up a mess!
Reply:It would help you a lot to weld a joint like a "V" groove or "T" joint NOT a flat plate.AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder