Tig nightmares .. I quit..

[Noods]

We are really clutching at straws here. I am sure all the little tweeks and mods to the set up will improve things along the way and are appreciated but I can assure you getting a sharper tungsten, tightening the screws in the plug, and changing a grinding wheel are not going to change this guys welding. Noods you need tuition which you already know as I've seen the other thread. Any minor problems with the kit or set up will be tidied up in the tuition but I'll bet they are not responsible for your lack of success. You can weld a 2mm plate on top of a 6mm with your machine. You need to get that machine current whacked right up and get a good puddle going on the 6mm. You should be concentrating the welding all on the 6mm whilst wetting the edges of the 2mm as you add filler. It's not easy though.

Thanks Richard.. I will give it try tomorrow, as per your method above..

 

[Piero]

Noods
forgive my coment.
but I can't work out for the hell of me why you are so willing to keep experimenting your self.
and as you say. Spending hours on hours on prep only to ruin it.

Simply stop!!!!!
Yes stop this avenue.
Spend the time. Make the effort. Travel with your set up to the guys who have offered to show you first hand and to check your set up for you.


Yes I read you have done a little of this.
But you need to practice one on one a lot more.

Your efforts are miss directed as I see it.

 

[Richard.]

^^^^^^^ this is the ONLY way i see noods progressing. Well said.

 

[Jim Davey]

Have you made sure its pure argon in your bottle, not an argon/CO2 mix? What does the label on the shoulder of the bottle actually say?

 

[Noods]

We are really clutching at straws here. I am sure all the little tweeks and mods to the set up will improve things along the way and are appreciated but I can assure you getting a sharper tungsten, tightening the screws in the plug, and changing a grinding wheel are not going to change this guys welding. Noods you need tuition which you already know as I've seen the other thread. Any minor problems with the kit or set up will be tidied up in the tuition but I'll bet they are not responsible for your lack of success. You can weld a 2mm plate on top of a 6mm with your machine. You need to get that machine current whacked right up and get a good puddle going on the 6mm. You should be concentrating the welding all on the 6mm whilst wetting the edges of the 2mm as you add filler. It's not easy though.

Sharpened tungsten to a sharp point, cleaned tungsten etc.. This is the six mill plate.. Gave it a big amperage and got a nice big puddle with no contamination or spitting etc.. I think it's a big improvement..

 

[AndyS2]

Looking at that first picture the steel still looks pitted and full of crap, even though you've polished the surface this will still give you problems. I'd invest in a piece of bright clean steel to practice on.

Find a local metal supplier and ask them to cut you a piece of CR4 like this:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mild-stee...525?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19da2d9bed

 

[Noods]

Have you made sure its pure argon in your bottle, not an argon/CO2 mix? What does the label on the shoulder of the bottle actually say?

Yes just checked and it is pure argon..

 

[Bill Edwards]

I'm not a TIG man but even I can spot the major pitting in the steel, to weld that with a MIG or even stick if feeling fussy I'd be using a grinding disk to shove right in, the only way to get that metal clean is to grind in deep enough.

 

[Noods]

I'm not a TIG man but even I can spot the major pitting in the steel, to weld that with a MIG or even stick if feeling fussy I'd be using a grinding disk to shove right in, the only way to get that metal clean is to grind in deep enough.

Ok thanks.. Yes it was a lovely piece I was given but it was very pitted...

 

[Jim Davey]

What does it ACTUALLY say on the bottle label?

 

[Mr shiney]

Ok thanks.. Yes it was a lovely piece I was given but it was very pitted...

Mate, it pains me to say it, but those welds are horrible and not getting any better. Get someone to show you how to use your kit on some clean metal.

 

[Leetig]

Although that steel is pitted with rust and the weld is full of porosity
I still suspect there is gas shielding issues. Noods you need to try a different set up to start illuminating things. There is way more to this than just technique.

 

[Noods]

Although that steel is pitted with rust and the weld is full of porosity
I still suspect there is gas shielding issues. Noods you need to try a different set up to start illuminating things. There is way more to this than just technique.

 

[Noods]

When you say you need a different set up? X

 

[Jim Davey]

Take a photo of your sticker on the bottle so I can see it, please. I think you may be on MIG gas.

 

[eSCHEn]

Wasn't one of the members here saying they had this exact problem with their supplier once?

 

[norlander]

I think you need decent steel to practice on mate, I saw one video where the Miller or Lincoln bloke said TIG will pull crap up out of the metal to the surface, in certain cases, with very light levels of contamination, it can be burnt off, so was seen as a beneficial factor in some cases, but,
I look at MMA/Gasless MIG as the down n dirty methods, MIG with gas is next up along the line, but TIG is the surgery of welding so you want everything prepped and clean.
Even scratch start TIG blokes doing roots on pipes in stinking site conditions are working on decent steel, it needs a more qualified bloke to chip in, but you might find you are pulling crap up out of bad steel and its jumping on to the tungsten????

 

[Noods]

Ok

Take a photo of your sticker on the bottle so I can see it, please. I think you may be on MIG gas.

OK mate will do .. I'm on nights at mo will take one first thing in morning... X

 

[Noods]

I think you need decent steel to practice on mate, I saw one video where the Miller or Lincoln bloke said TIG will pull crap up out of the metal to the surface, in certain cases, with very light levels of contamination, it can be burnt off, so was seen as a beneficial factor in some cases, but,
I look at MMA/Gasless MIG as the down n dirty methods, MIG with gas is next up along the line, but TIG is the surgery of welding so you want everything prepped and clean.
Even scratch start TIG blokes doing roots on pipes in stinking site conditions are working on decent steel, it needs a more qualified bloke to chip in, but you might find you are pulling crap up out of bad steel and its jumping on to the tungsten????

Ahhhh sounds very likely.. TY x

 

[Paul G]

Perhaps my first post on this thread was too subtle. I'll try once more.


I've been re-reading threads from Sept/Oct 2014 :-

ESAB heading for the bin.
Do I have Arc/Tig eye?
Recommend a quality tig helmet.


From "ESAB heading for the bin", post number 77 :-

Quote
We started by me running a weld one handed on some 2mm plate with no filler, and then Noods replicating this, while I gave his ear
a good bashing. Advice on how to support the torch and how to rest the hand to minimise shake was discussed together with how to
set the tungsten stick out so the ceramic could rest on the plate. He did remarkably well for a novice. (see photo)

We moved on to the technique of adding filler wire, the importance of dipping rate and how this is what results in a uniform weld.
Now this is where I expect a drop in standards but no; he took in all I had said and results remained high.


Now here's an interesting twist.
We moved on to actual butt welds, with a slight prep to enable the joint to be seen easily.
Noods brought with him a auto darkening hat. A £30 special off eBay. It was marked in the "small print" as a 3/11.

In the second photo the fist part of the weld was with his own hat and the second half with my Speedglas 100 set to shade 8.
I'll let the photo do the talking.

End quote

So my question is Noods,

Did you ever get rid of that fixed ew11 HOS hat ?
"Recommend a quality tig helmet" had no conclusion.

Paul G