filler rod technique

[gaz_moose]

ive been playing with my new shiney tig today and i noticed that when i dip the filler rod into the weld pool it kinda sticks there and i have to yank it a bit to get it to come out.thats on steel btw.ive not done much with this machine or on steel infact but i know it never used to happen with my old miller.i tried turning up the amps a bit but it just make the pool to big.i also noticed that i seem to be sticking the rod more to the side of the weld pool and not the centre i cant get the rod to play ball in the centre as it just seems to melt before i get it there or i end up sticking it to the tungstone.i was just messing around with some 16 gauge steel using a 1/16? tungstone and a number 10 ceramic

any tips or advice would be gladly taken on board

 

[hotrodder]

If the filler's melting before it reaches the pool then torch/filler angles are probably wrong- there's diagrams for different joint types in the Miller TIG hanbook / TIG guidlines

If the filler is sticking to the weldpool then it's too big for the weld pool (cooling it too much) and/or the pool is too small (again overcooling it). If it's sticking at the sides of the pool then you need to improve your aim

 

[fingers99]

I was just going to ask what size the filler rod was, but hotrodder's answer is way better than anything I could have come up with!

Any details of your Wolf?

 

[oceanobsession]

Re filler rod technique

Thanks for your input hotrodder im having the same trouble.im welding 2mm
stainless using 55 amps 1.6 tungstone and 2mm wire. the amperage seems to be a crucial factor slightly to much and a large weld pool also a grey weld
to hot. when i get the amps spot on the filler can stick. ive just ordered some 1.0mm 316 rods i will have a go with them. they say that if you have the amperage to high you go faster but i find the weld pool behind the torch and you cant see it if that makes sense.its starting to melt behind the torch. i went to the dive show yesterday
and there was a humber rib with an a frame to the rear and the stainless welds were terible even the straight welds were crap i can weld better so im getting better i think cheers ocean

 

[Luke]

Hehe, I'm not the only person who walks round at shows looking at welds then! Landrover shows, boat shows, there's some pretty naff welds out there, considering they're done by 'professionals'

 

[gaz_moose]

Any details of your Wolf?

wolf?

the filler rod is a bit thinner than the tungstone so id guess at about 1mm? if the tungstone is 1.6 guess i need to practice on my angles of attack

 

[fingers99]

wolf?

Sorry, wrong thread!

 

[Kiwi K]

If the filler's melting before it reaches the pool then torch/filler angles are probably wrong- there's diagrams for different joint types in the Miller TIG hanbook / TIG guidlines

If the filler is sticking to the weldpool then it's too big for the weld pool (cooling it too much) and/or the pool is too small (again overcooling it). If it's sticking at the sides of the pool then you need to improve your aim

thanks for linky hotrodder
never bothered reading it before but very helpfull

 

[hotrodder]

That Miller guide is one of the best i've seen, the link should probably be a sticky given the number times it's posted. Excessive arc length can contribute to the filler 'balling up' before it reaches the puddle too- as arc length is increased it 'fans out', the voltage increases too resulting in more heat with less focus

 

[gaz_moose]

wow ive been sticking my filler rod in at about the same angle as the torch is in those diagrams!