Setting up my Tig welder for alloy

[George Charlton]

Good evening,

I am very new to this forum and quite new to MIG and TIG welding. So sorry if this has been covered.

I have a Welder STAHLWERK AC/DC TIG 200 puls ST IGBT and I can not seem to get it set up for aluminium or alloy when I was in collage (night class) I couldn't remember it being this hard to set up I can not get a puddle going at all.

I'm running 10cfh pure argon about 80-90 amps AC T2, white 1.6mm tungsten with 5556 filler rod, but some of the other dials are very confusing to me they arnt like the other Tig welder I used. I did clean the welding surface with some white spirit and warmed the alloy up with a heat gun

Please can somebody help

 

[George Charlton]

Sorry just read the thread please don't post in here until you read this I've done the typical

 

[Tigman]

How thick is alloy?

 

[Tigman]

There is a good thread on here aluminium for beginners !

 

[Tigman]

Aluminium tig guide getting started by Richard. Will help you!

 

[George Charlton]

Thank you and it's an alloy wheel

 

[George Charlton]

How thick is alloy?

It's mainly the setting up of the welder as the dials are labeled up differently

 

[Tigman]

You need a lot more amps for that at least 150 amps to get that done , is it a crack of just cosmetic , if your just filling hole start off big amps then back off , have you got a foot peddle ?

 

[George Charlton]

You need a lot more amps for that at least 150 amps to get that done !

Will that amount of amps be ok with the 1.6mm tungsten and the frequency and balance are labeled up completely different to what Richard is saying if you look on the photo I posted of the welder I use

 

[Tigman]

I would use a bigger tungsten 2.5 , all machines not the same , give it some post flow save the tungsten , get a bit of scrap ali and have a play with the frequency and balance

 

[George Charlton]

Ok back to the drawing board it is, thank you

 

[Tigman]

Frequency high for outside corner or edge of wheel so on the dials on your machine set it about 5 o'clock , balance 70% so on the dials on your machine set it about 9 o'clock

Really is a sick it and see situation to find sweet spot , but your initial problem not enough heat input !

 

[George Charlton]

Spot on I really appreciate the help I will post the outcome thank you

 

[Munkul]

I'd get confident on 3mm sheets first, before attempting an alloy wheel repair! Usually they weld up ok, but it does need doing properly!

Also if i were doing it, I'd wash it over a few times with the torch at around 50% balance to draw out the crap, and clean it up again with a flap wheel. It will weld better.

You'll need around 150 amps, and a 2.4mm tungsten as others have already said taper down to 120 amps or less on the outside edge. But if you had the practice and knew how it "should" puddle, you'd have already worked out that you need more amps.

Oh, and please groove it out properly as well! The drilled holes are good, but you'll struggle to get full penetration without a groove.

 

[George Charlton]

I'd get confident on 3mm sheets first, before attempting an alloy wheel repair! Usually they weld up ok, but it does need doing properly!

Also if i were doing it, I'd wash it over a few times with the torch at around 50% balance to draw out the crap, and clean it up again with a flap wheel. It will weld better.

You'll need around 150 amps, and a 2.4mm tungsten as others have already said taper down to 120 amps or less on the outside edge. But if you had the practice and knew how it "should" puddle, you'd have already worked out that you need more amps.

Oh, and please groove it out properly as well! The drilled holes are good, but you'll struggle to get full penetration without a groove.

Grate advice thank you very much