Didn't make much of a job of this.......

[slim_boy_fat]

Having gathered all the stuff needed for having a go at TIG I decided to have a try today at running a bead or two just to see......

I decided to use the Argoshield [I know, I know it ought to be pure Argon but I won't be able to pick up a bottle from BOC until Thursday of this week] just to check if I could get an arc going, and nothing more.

I suspect the result(s) show I was failing to maintain the required distance from the work-piece [clean 3mm mild steel] and in fact had the tungsten in the weld pool. The welds are almost level with the surface, more like craters really....... Amps were about 90 with 1.6mm tungsten.
What do you reckon, lads? Pics are poor ones from my phone .

In my defence I can only blame the compromised vision I have in one eye which makes it difficult for me to judge 3-D.......

 

[eSCHEn]

I'll be honest and say that they look an awful lot better than I was expecting for using an active gas.

Get the real stuff - it's much more fun

 

[doubleboost]

You need the proper gas
Everything needs to be as near perfect as you can get
I only have one eye & my welding is crap

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Cheers lads, 100% Argon will be coming home with me on Thursday as said.

If this weather keeps as good as it is, there might/will be more gardening than welding.......

 

[mikejack]

i have 2 eyes , that add up to the vision of one ! my welding aint pretty !

 

[Swift&Bold]

Doesn't CO2 oxidise the Tungsten?

 

[Richard.]

Doesn't CO2 oxidise the Tungsten?

Yes it does. Your dead right.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Having gathered all the stuff needed for having a go at TIG I decided to have a try today at running a bead or two just to see......

I decided to use the Argoshield [I know, I know it ought to be pure Argon but I won't be able to pick up a bottle from BOC until Thursday of this week] just to check if I could get an arc going, and nothing more.

I suspect the result(s) show I was failing to maintain the required distance from the work-piece [clean 3mm mild steel] and in fact had the tungsten in the weld pool. The welds are almost level with the surface, more like craters really....... Amps were about 90 with 1.6mm tungsten.
What do you reckon, lads? Pics are poor ones from my phone .

In my defence I can only blame the compromised vision I have in one eye which makes it difficult for me to judge 3-D.......

View attachment 83875

View attachment 83879

I wouldn't bother trying until you have pure argon, you will never get a reasonable finish with ArCo2, and as pointed out it oxidises the tungsten, so you're just knacking consumables for the sake of nothing really.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I wouldn't bother trying until you have pure argon, you will never get a reasonable finish with ArCo2, and as pointed out it oxidises the tungsten, so you're just knacking consumables for the sake of nothing really.

I just wanted to test that my set-up would produce an arc, before getting the Argon - Scots belt & braces, if you like.........

 

[Kent]

Until you get proper gas it's shows nothing

 

[Richard.]

I get it Slim. I'm too quite an inpatient person and if I was in your shoes I probably would of done the same out of curiosity.
Now you know the gear is working and you have a general idea of what is what with the process (more important you've got that wp9 hooked up and working) now it's time to get the gas and put up some of your work. Given what has been produced using the incorrect gas I'm sure you'll get some great advise from our fellow Tiggers and in turn you'll produce some nice results. I learned to tig weld on the very same process (scratch start) and its an art in itself regarding ignition and termination. Get that mastered and you'll be going forward very well. Going forward you may invest in a dedicated HF start unit if you like the process, this will feel like playing on a pool table directly after a game on a full size snooker table.

 

[Kent]

Gotta watch those triggers they are very bouncy and a tad hyper

 

[Richard.]

triggers

Do you mean tiggers.
Yes they can be but the miggers are plain bonkers

 

[norlander]

Do you mean tiggers.
Yes they can be but the miggers are plain bonkers

have to disagree- I find Tiggers are the bounciest hyperist

 

[Kent]

Do you mean tiggers.
Yes they can be but the miggers are plain bonkers

I did but this wookin phone thinks it knows better

 

[Kent]

Do you mean tiggers.
Yes they can be but the miggers are plain bonkers

And stickers hang round the beer fridge eh?