I've spent three or four hours trying to pickup TIG welding. I'm particularly interested in aluminum. Attached is a sample:
I'd appreciate any suggestions, especially with temperature control (for example the weld on the left went from a "cold" weld to a "melt through" almost instantly.
A little more info would be helpful. How is the machine set? Size of alum. you are trying to work with? Size of tungston and type? Foot pedal? How are you preping?
If I remember correctly, I had it set at 150 amps welding AC (everything is pretty much set on "auto"). I think I had post flow set about 15 - 17. The strap is 1/8" aluminum, 1/8" pure tungston, and yes, it is with a foot pedal.
Your pic isnt showing up for me... - edit - ok.. working now. You are doing pretty good for just starting out. You're going to have to start out hot and adjust your amperage as you go, when you see the puddle getting too wide you need to let up a bit and add filler. Both will help cool the puddle a bit.
Your spacing looks fairly consistent, you really just need to work on your heat input. Keep practicing.
Go with a 3/32 tungsten for 1/8" stuff, I use 2% thoriated for steel, and aluminum works fine for both. Doesn't ball up as much as the pure on aluminum. Use 3/32 or 1/16 filler.
The weld on the right it looks like you started real hot then backed off midway thru. weld on the left you did the opposite.
Im betting you did the weld on the left second? It seems you moves right to left and when you started the second piece it was already hot and melted through faster. Are you using a footpedal? If so, learn to finess it. If your using scratch start, get a foot pedal. Its almost required for aluminum in my book.
A 3/32 tungsten will help make a smaller arc (read: puddle) and allow you to use less heat because its more concentrated.
Exactly - started right and moved left. I'll get some 3/32 and give it a try - thanks all for the suggestions
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