Topic: Learning Tig Welding...Easily!!

[754]

 I got a couple buddies. That are convinced.. That they will easily catch on to tig welding aluminum..
 I have my doubts.. I cant even discuss it they are so sure they can do it..

I say they are in for a huge surprise....
  What say you guys that wield the watercooled torches...? ?

[scottly]

My buddy sat me down at his welding bench one day, and told me "You are going to learn to TIG aluminum right now, dammit!" 15 minutes later, I had lain down a very nice filet weld on 1/4" plate. Two days later, I noticed a burning sensation on my chest, and when I looked, it was red from just above my navel to my neck. WTF?? Then I noticed that it was a perfectly horizontal line across my belly. I had a nasty UV burn, right through the light shirt I was wearing, and the distinctive line was where the edge of the bench shielded my belly from the rays. 

[mec]

tig welding Aluminium can be done by trained monkees.
preparing the stuff to be welded is way more difficult.

mec

[scottly]

1+, mec. I was the trained monkey.

[kghost]

Welding aluminium is not very difficult if someone does the following for you.....

Identifies the alloy.

Selects the proper rod.

Cleans and preps the surface.

Sets up the tungsten.

Sets up the balance and pps.

Sets up the amps.

Sets up the gas flow.

It's knowing all the above for the given situation.

Oh yeah and a steady set of hands and knowing what your looking at thru the helmet so you can readjust all the above lol.

I have a buddy just like yours. He's convinced you can weld ANY aluminium alloy.

He was offended when I laughed.

[754]

I dont doubt they will run a nice bead with help.. But let them do it themselves . Sticking things together is one thing, knowing why or how is the hard part.

[70CB750]

I dont doubt they will run a nice bead with help.. But let them do it themselves . Sticking things together is one thing, knowing why or how is the hard part.

+1  That's the difference between welder and an operator.

[kghost]

I dont doubt they will run a nice bead with help.. But let them do it themselves . Sticking things together is one thing, knowing why or how is the hard part.

+1  That's the difference between welder and an operator.

Oh....and KEEPING it stuck