Topic: Thinking about buying a TIG welder

[RainCityRider]

I would have gotten a new #5 cup but they were out. Still need to get a #7 too.

Maybe I should get the non thoriated Tungsten. What would the difference be?


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[RainCityRider]

Skip the 6 and the 5 and just grab this kit for yourself:
https://weldmongerstore.com/products/tig-welding-accessories-ck-stubby-gas-lens-kit

A gas lens will make a huge difference. See the fouling on the end of your cup? Too little gas flow and too close to your piece when welding. Also, if you don't really clean the pieces, the welding process blows crap back at your tungsten and cup. So make it shiny before you Arc up.

Also, drop down to a 3/32" tungsten. THAT will make things a lot easier on you. I use it 99% of the time.

The tip looked like that when I got it. But I'm with you! Can't seem to find the right superflex hose. they only have a 12.5' kit.

[theDQG]

Thanks man!

I know I need a lot more work. I will do the no filler thing. Need to get more scrap though. Stuff goes fast! Gonna try to get an hour or two everyday or so.

When you say scribe do you just use an awl? Cause when you say fill the scribe it sounds deeper.

Holding the tig gun and sliding is hard. My hose is stiff. It got easier when I popped my collar and ran the hose around my neck. And I look way cooler with a popped collar. Can I get a tig gun or hose/line that is easier to handle for my welder?

Is it called a gun?

Also need to get a diamond wheel for my grinder. I trashed one of the wheels on my grinder

Lost a few inches (that's what she said) of Tungsten due to skipping around a couple deep grooves in the wheel and scrapping the side of the Tungsten. Good thing the guy I got the welder from sold me a whole box for $50, #$%* is Spensive!

Anyway, I will keep on trucking!



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I agree with Cal here.. that's how I was taught too. Just focusing on creating consistent weld puddles of the same width and consistence (this leads to correct "stacking the dimes") before adding the rod. There's just a lot to keep in mind as far as trying to be consistent- the distance of the torch, the amount of power you're applying, etc.

[Davez134]

Love this thread, lots of great info. I'm just getting started with TIG too.

[RainCityRider]

http://www.usaweld.com/17-Series-Air-Cooled-Miller-TIG-Torch-p/miller17seriestigtorch.htm

Thanks Calj737 ! Got that stuff on the way. You Da Man! Thanks for all the help!


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[RainCityRider]

Love this thread, lots of great info. I'm just getting started with TIG too.

You get to learn from all of my mistakes!!


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[754]

Just get some hours of torch time in, the sooner, the quicker you get on to it..

[theDQG]

Just get some hours of torch time in, the sooner, the quicker you get on to it..

There are many variables at play when TIG welding that makes it difficult to become "self taught" and weld properly. Pedal, travel speed, filler amount, rod size, tungsten choice, cup size, material thickness, direction of travel, material type...

Practice IS critical, but understanding certain things so you can practice properly is paramount. It looks really easy to do especially watching an accomplished Welder. But pick it up and have a go, and suddenly untying the Gordon's knot blindfolded while jumping from airplane becomes a much easier task. Especially when you're dealing with 2700* at your fingertips.

My teacher used to say "I'm only teaching you to understand what you're doing wrong."

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I really want to give welding a go.  I'd probably be featured in @thefabpolice or get one of these Christmas wishes . . .

[754]

Now that, some funny #$%*.. gonna send that to my buddy..

[RainCityRider]

I really want to give welding a go.  I'd probably be featured in @thefabpolice or get one of these Christmas wishes . . .

Gee Thanks


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[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I really want to give welding a go.  I'd probably be featured in @thefabpolice or get one of these Christmas wishes . . .

Gee Thanks


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Oh that was a comment about me - not you.

[RainCityRider]

I really want to give welding a go.  I'd probably be featured in @thefabpolice or get one of these Christmas wishes . . .

Gee Thanks


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Oh that was a comment about me - not you.

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[RainCityRider]

Just get some hours of torch time in, the sooner, the quicker you get on to it..

There are many variables at play when TIG welding that makes it difficult to become "self taught" and weld properly. Pedal, travel speed, filler amount, rod size, tungsten choice, cup size, material thickness, direction of travel, material type...

Practice IS critical, but understanding certain things so you can practice properly is paramount. It looks really easy to do especially watching an accomplished Welder. But pick it up and have a go, and suddenly untying the Gordon's knot blindfolded while jumping from airplane becomes a much easier task. Especially when you're dealing with 2700* at your fingertips.

Work has been crazy! Good and bad. That said I haven’t been getting much time on the torch.

I got my new torch and the stubby lens kits. But when I fired it up recently the flame/arc seems to becoming off the side of my Tungsten not the tip. I hooked the old torch up and it worked fine

I like the feel of the new torch but there is no way to weld with it like this.

-I tried clean clean cleaning my metal
-grinding a fresh Tungsten
-adjusting argon flow
-adjusting amps

Oh and my Tungsten has been getting really burnt or coming out almost black. The freshest one had this weird burn mark when I took it out of the torch. It was new when I put it in.

I have a Sharpie grinder for my tips.





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[RainCityRider]

First thing to check is, do you have a magnet nearby? If so, don’t TIG weld with a magnet holding your work. The arc is badly disrupted by the magnetic field. It will cause a behavior as if a gale force wind is blowing crossways.

Also, with your new gas lens, make sure you have the correct insulator installed in the correct orientation, then screw the lens into the torch tightly, then screw on the cup.

Maybe post a picture of your torch assembled too?

I will take a pic. But I did have a magnetic torch holder about 12” away..?


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[RainCityRider]

First thing to check is, do you have a magnet nearby? If so, don’t TIG weld with a magnet holding your work. The arc is badly disrupted by the magnetic field. It will cause a behavior as if a gale force wind is blowing crossways.

Also, with your new gas lens, make sure you have the correct insulator installed in the correct orientation, then screw the lens into the torch tightly, then screw on the cup.

Maybe post a picture of your torch assembled too?

I will take a pic. But I did have a magnetic torch holder about 12” away..?


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It didn’t affect my old torch....... only the new one.


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[Davez134]

did you ever find out what was causing the problems with your arc?

[JoeCooley]

This thread is the best! I really want to learn tig. I'm looking into the Miller Multimatic 215. It's only drawback (for me) is that it's a DC TIG only. So I will limited to spool gun for aluminum.

[innovativems]

I’m actually looking st the Lincoln tig 200 for my first tig.  Does it all and has great reviews


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[Davez134]

I'm learning now. I bought a used Lincoln square wave 175. It's very basic, just amperage knob, tig/stick selector, DCEN, DCEP, AC selector. I really like so far.

[innovativems]

I’m actually looking st the Lincoln tig 200 for my first tig.  Does it all and has great reviews

It is a good unit, but it doesn’t have Lift Arc or Scratch Start, only HF. Plus, the duty cycle is pretty low for welding aluminum. A better unit is a Synchrowave if you’re up for a dedicated shop machine. (They’re no portable like a SW or MM 215).

My brother has the synchrowave and loves it.  I just bought the tig 200 for a deal with some Lincoln rebates.  Excited to finally get off my trusty mig


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[Davez134]

Here's mine

Got it on  OfferUp for a great price. Got a new torch and stubby gas lens kit. I have about 2 hours practicing on it and I'm starting to make progress. Making some stuff out of stainless right now, just trying to get the heat right





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[PeWe]

Perfect for welding stainless steel like destillation stuff making your own battery water. Search for Labmaster a very common design here in Scandinavia. Equip it with an internal heater, thyristor controlled. Important that the power feeding it has over voltage protection with a varistor over phase and neutral (270V Varistor on 230V mains work fine). It can otherwise burn the electronics when timer switch off.

[Restoration Fan]

The heck with buying a TIG welder, I'm thinking of hiring cal!

[JoeCooley]

This thread is the best! I really want to learn tig. I'm looking into the Miller Multimatic 215. It's only drawback (for me) is that it's a DC TIG only. So I will limited to spool gun for aluminum.

MIG aluminum is actually a very good process. You can MIG very thin aluminum that's much more difficult to TIG weld without blowing through. For really thick stuff, a bevel and preheat, and you can cook the material without damaging it or getting a false sense of penetration with a TIG. To weld really thick aluminum with a TIG, you really want a water-cooled torch and up to 250 amps, many smaller TIG boxes won't do this.

For MIG aluminum, use a push angle, not a pull. Better results, and less soot. (Yes, soot is normal for MIG aluminum, but it brushes right off with a stainless steel brush). I use a 75%Ar/25%He mix for all aluminum welding. The He produces a much hotter arc with the same or lower amps, so you can "cheat" how high your machine will run. And I preheat thicker stuff (>1/4") regardless of which ally process I use.

AND, if you did buy the MM215 with a DC only TIG, you can TIG weld aluminum on DC. You must use 100% Helium though to do it. It won't be as pretty afterwards, but it will penetrate and weld perfectly well/strong like it would on AC. This isn't the preferred method as 100% He is pricey, but you can do it. I've done it with 1" thick billet blocks on 200 amps and really drove the weld in there. Then, I swapped to AC, 75Ar/25He, and washed the weld with a small cover pass for aesthetics. Best of both worlds!

The 1 thing to know about welding is: There are more ways, more tricks, more processes than any single person knows. Knowing what to do, when to do it (or not doing it), and how to do it properly is the key 

Thank you for the info Cal. I really like the idea of the MM215 and have heard nothing but great things. I just have to save up and get it.