First go at tig welding

[latza]

I had my first go at tig today. Using this little machine

I decided to try doing open corners as I found this the easier weld to so when I started mig and stick welding.

These are the welds I layed down today

Ill keep practicing when I get a quiet minute at work. I struggles more with the wire feeding than the torch side. I think it may have been because I was using thick gauntlets.

 

[zkling]

Go get some ~1/8" flat mild steel plate, start running bead after bead after bead. Consistency in travel rate and filler additional. After you cover both sides of a 5*8" plate then start working on joints.

 

[t100]

If that's the first time you playing with Tig, just remember you've got 2 hands, use them.

practice autogenous welds, meaning make stringer beads without filler rod on a thin single piece coupon. use straight "stop 'n go" motion, nothing fancy. the arc length is very critical also the torch angle. it's takes a lot of practice to get proficient.

you will know when you are ready to glue 2 pieces together.

clean the mill scale off first with a flapper disc or wire wheel.

 

[shawnspeed]

It looks like you are trying to "weave" the puddle as you would with mig & stick....that is not the best way to TIG....Tig you need to start the arc, form the puddle,dab,move reform the puddle, dab, and continue..fusion weld is the same but no dab of the rod, you are watching the puddle to make sure it is a even width...the start /stop/ dab creates the roll of dimes...Shawn

 

[theknurl]

Get some thin TIG gloves and practice feeding rod
and as shawnspeed said don't weave with the torch

 

[latza]

I was weeping to hit both edges. So should I just wait for the puddle to get big enough to touch each edge instead of moving the puddle?

 

[shawnspeed]

yes, your machine may not have the amps need for that thickness though...it looks like you are welding 3/16 material, and 80 amps may not be enough...I would be looking at at least 130 amps with a 3/32 tungsten....amps may vary by machine...you may want to get some thinner stock like 1/8 inch or 16/14 gauge material and some 1/16 filler...mig wire works in a pinch with 16ga and under...Shawn

 

[rsanter]

Looks to me like not enough heat in the base material before adding the filler.

Try with a little thinner stuff
Heat the base material to the point that it fuses or almost fuses and then dab a little filler to prevent a creater

Bob

 

[Wes917]

Clean clean clean. Start on a flat and weld a pad. Fill the piece with stringers, then continue to build them up. As for the wire, take a piece and feed it while your watching tv at night, when you get to the end start again. When you can remember everything from your show you got the wire cause you weren't thinking about it.

Edited to add:

Build a pad like this just fill the plate and start to stack.

 

[805gregg]

Now try aluminum