Firt time TIG, how did I do?

[Drisco Z71]

Well I decided to go ahead on a longevity multipurpouse unit which was delivered today. I picked up some er70s filler and red tungsten locally since it was actually cheaper. Not bad for a first timer with no formal training huh?

very first bead

played around a little more, decided to try to weld some stuff together

the last one I did, kinda screwed up there at the end, and not stacked dimes like I want, but a pretty good looking weld none the less

So guys, how did I do?

 

[mathil]

You need to CLEAN your metal before welding. Really clean. Like shiny brand new metal clean. Wipe with acetone. If you move to aluminum and don't clean you'll end up with problems.

Those welds look good for a first try.

It also looks like you're practicing on really thick stock, like 3/8 plus. Move down to 1/8 and you'll find you learn how to control the heat and move the puddle better without a giant heatsink.

 

[Drisco Z71]

I'm not sure exactly how thick it is, but those first pieces are 1/4 at the very most that I grabbed out of the scrap bucket with the machine set at around 160 amps. I did wire brush the heck out of them before I welded, I guess it's just kinda hard to see in the pics.

I'm going to give some filet welds a try today after I get home from work. This stuff is point and click with MIG but I have a feeling it won't be that easy.

 

[BigMike782]

You might want to check your manual.Inverters made by the major US companies use ceriated tungsten.
For your first beads they look pretty good.I would look more for strength first and looks second.....stacked dimes are pretty but an ugly strong weld will haul the mail.

 

[DYNA BILL]

I have been welding for 41 years. 20+ years with TIG.
For a first try, those welds look very good. Decent control, but could be better.
As others have said, clean your metal very well and practice on thinner stock. Much easier to get a feel for your heat settings with 1/8" thick material when you are just starting out.
Very good job for a first try. A lot better looking than my first welds!

Edited to say: 99% of my TIG welding experience has been with stainless steel.

 

[grenade inspector]

good job on your first try at tig. I am still trying to learn as well.

 

[JimDon]

I'd rather see the HAZ instead of the stack. That will tell me lots more about how well you are dialed in. And I agree, start out with thinner stock to get a feel for what you are doing.
Cheers, JimDon

 

[DYNA BILL]

Drisco,
Let me suggest a little practice exercise for you.
Grab 2 pieces of 1/8" thick stock. Tack them together corner to corner at a 90° angle leaving enough for about a 1/8" outside fillet weld. Try to weld, horizontally at first, an outside fillet without burning through to the inside excessively.You'll know if you're too hot. Then go at it from the inside with a fillet weld trying to get good penetration without crystalizing the outside fillet weld that you previously laid. This is a good practice to control your heat. Next, try the same exercise running vertically, running either down or up.
Good luck and show us the results!

 

[theoldwizard1]

I am not an expert !

I have heard one of the issues with newbies using MIG or TIG on heavy gauge metal is inadequate penetration.

Cross cut one of your seams and grind it with fine wheel. Ideally you will have penetration all the way to the back side.

**** joints on thick (3/8, 1/2 ?) metal have the edges beveled at about 45 degrees. more than 1 pass is required to complete this kind of weld.

 

[DYNA BILL]

I am not an expert !

I have heard one of the issues with newbies using MIG or TIG on heavy gauge metal is inadequate penetration.

Cross cut one of your seams and grind it with fine wheel. Ideally you will have penetration all the way to the back side.

**** joints on thick (3/8, 1/2 ?) metal have the edges beveled at about 45 degrees. more than 1 pass is required to complete this kind of weld.

You may not consider yourself an expert, but I agree with everything you said.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Thanks Bill !

Best advice on thin stock is tack it in several place a few inches apart. Then put tacks between the tacks. This prevents the heat from building up in one area.

Coolest trick I have seen is using a copper dolly as a backer, actually welding close a hole in sheet metal. It takes some hammer and (regular) dolly work and some grinding, but if done right you will never know there was a hole !

If you bought a TIG you need to get some AL and start practicing. Start with thicker stock and work to thinner. Rumor was a race shop near by, looking to hire fabricators, would cut a Pepsi can apart (with scissors) and then tell the job applicant to "weld" it back together.

Bill, any tips for welding various AL alloys ?