Tig critiques please

[Springerdinger]

After some good advice from eSCHEn
I spent some time making what I now call snail trails. (No filler) to watch and wheel the weld pool.
So after about 1/2 hour of trails I went back to filler rod.
If you can offer some pointers please on the next few pics

 

[Springerdinger]

And this one please
Particular issue is the start and finish as it does not have a trigger on the torch.

 

[Springerdinger]

A closer look at the first one

 

[Springerdinger]

General thoughts on this earlier one

 

[Springerdinger]

Is 1.2mm mild steel
Approx 65 to 70 amps
1.2 lathered electrode
1.2mm filler
Mma 170 lift

More snail trails tomorrow planned

 

[HMB]

Mma?

 

[Springerdinger]

Mma?

It's a Ryval mma arc/tig 170
So the torch has the gas valve on it and no trigger. Lift start only.
It's a BOC Machine

 

[Springerdinger]

Tonight's effort

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Tonight's effort

Far left, too much filler/not enough heat/travelling too fast. Other two are getting there, although I can't see an enormous amount of detail on my phone

 

[Springerdinger]

Far left, too much filler/not enough heat/travelling too fast. Other two are getting there, although I can't see an enormous amount of detail on my phone

Thanks appreciated

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Having looked again, far right is getting the idea, a bit more consistency with the filler at shorter intervals and you'll be away

 

[Springerdinger]

Having looked again, far right is getting the idea, a bit more consistency with the filler at shorter intervals and you'll be away

Thanks again
I have been running more beads amd seen to be a little bit more consistent.

Every now and then the weld goes flat.
Could this be of the panel is getting too hot

 

[Richard.]

If it's a small piece that's becoming quite heat soaked it can cause your welds to sink. Allow it to cool a little and work on bigger bits.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

If it's a small piece that's becoming quite heat soaked it can cause your welds to sink. Allow it to cool a little and work on bigger bits.

What he said

 

[Springerdinger]

If it's a small piece that's becoming quite heat soaked it can cause your welds to sink. Allow it to cool a little and work on bigger bits.

Brilliant Thanks......going to do some more non filler runs and then try a few butt joins etc

Onwards and upwards

Cheers

Chris

 

[Richard.]

Keep with the filler. They are looking like progress is coming on so there is no point taking a back step now. Try out a butt joint and see if you can follow the line.

 

[spixycat]

May be the first thing to get right is to be able to have a proper arc : you will mess up the tungsten many times and the arc is rubish as soon as the tungsten tip is gone by touching the metal or puddle. There is no point trying to continue welding after destroying your tungsten when you try to learn TIG welding: and yes most of your time is spent on grinding the tungsten.

Also there is a specific way of grinding the tungsten and what are you using to grind the tungsten: a suggestion is to use an angle grinder with a new flappy disk that is specific for grinding the tungsten so that no other iron dust can contaminate the tungsten.

Also the angle is quite important: you need a pointy sharp tungsten for lower amps as in your case

Make sure that you tungsten looks like new including the rod itself. Learning how to grind a tungsten is very essential when learning. Welding is going to be a whole lot easier when your tungsten is almost perfect: you will notice that the arc will be very steady instead of that it is wandering around.

The arc wanders a bit around the first few seconds until you have a proper puddle. After that it becomes a steady nice looking arc that is very steady.

Also don't burn your tungsten when grinding. make sure that the shaft or rod itself is not contaminated.

Last suggestion is to write down all the settings and angles of torch and tungsten shape and in the end write down what happened : what went ok and what went wrong.

 

[Chris Stevens]

Tungsten grinding is often overlooked, and can cause problems. Very easy to make a specific tungsten grinder from cheap Ebay bench grinder, and diamond cutting disc intended for angle grinder. One of these is very useful indeed, and means even short tungstens are easily ground: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TIG-Tungsten-Holder-Takes-1-6-3-2mm-Tungstens-/221376700079?hash=item3

 

[Springerdinger]

May be the first thing to get right is to be able to have a proper arc : you will mess up the tungsten many times and the arc is rubish as soon as the tungsten tip is gone by touching the metal or puddle. There is no point trying to continue welding after destroying your tungsten when you try to learn TIG welding: and yes most of your time is spent on grinding the tungsten.

Also there is a specific way of grinding the tungsten and what are you using to grind the tungsten: a suggestion is to use an angle grinder with a new flappy disk that is specific for grinding the tungsten so that no other iron dust can contaminate the tungsten.

Also the angle is quite important: you need a pointy sharp tungsten for lower amps as in your case

Make sure that you tungsten looks like new including the rod itself. Learning how to grind a tungsten is very essential when learning. Welding is going to be a whole lot easier when your tungsten is almost perfect: you will notice that the arc will be very steady instead of that it is wandering around.

The arc wanders a bit around the first few seconds until you have a proper puddle. After that it becomes a steady nice looking arc that is very steady.

Also don't burn your tungsten when grinding. make sure that the shaft or rod itself is not contaminated.

Last suggestion is to write down all the settings and angles of torch and tungsten shape and in the end write down what happened : what went ok and what went wrong.

Really great information. Appreciate the time everyone has taken to reply.

I have been experimenting with the tungsten and have definatly dipped the tip in the steel many times. Thank you for the link

Also like the idea of the grinder.

I will post some more pictures next week.
The advice has been a massive help and definatly saved me hours of wasted time

Cheers
Chris