First few tig welds

[mtt.tr]

Never really played with a tig welder before must have had about 40mins of tig experience

 

[backpurge]

Try to keep the weldpool right on the corner of the joint, not a bad start the weld is just a bit too big, you will get a lot better with practice

 

[addjunkie]

Try to get the work somewhere where you can support your fore arms and sit down, much easier than standing at a vice,

A good start though.

 

[Richard.]

You've kinda jumped in the deep end. Fillet welds with Tig are not the sort of joints you should be starting out at let alone round a tube. Gain success with the basics of arc length and filler with flat runs on a plate before taking on joints like above. 1 step at a time.

 

[mtt.tr]

Though I agree with Richard I have no patience everything ive done ive started in the deep end. (I run a reasonably successful company that i started before really knowing the trade, luckily I took to it very well) That is just how I am. ( I'm also easily bored)
My discovery today was my method of gripping the torch I have so much more success holding the handle rather than neck (as per YouTube) I also find the holding the torch left handed makes no difference with me. I'm rather ambidextrous.

I find my determination and commitment to doing what I want typically pays off. Please, please don't assume I'm saying I'm the best. Though impressed with how I'm taking to it so much more to learn, knowledge excites me.

Here's a part I needed so made.


Last thing thank you to everyone who will and does put in input you are all brilliant.

 

[Richard.]

Hi. Patents is what you need I'm afraid. Tig welding is a skill and like all skills you've got 2 routes. Start it easy and learn it step by step over time and become very good at it or start it at a level well beyond your skill level and struggle to get any better. Just my view but you cannot run a marathon without 1st learning to run a mile.

 

[Appyasme1]

Richard,have you got a torch mounted remot.If so where did you get it from

 

[Richard.]

I did have. I sold it to a forum member.

 

[Chris Stevens]

How many beginners to TIG actually spend time running beads across test pieces without filler, so they have good control of the weld pool, before attempting to join things together?

I get the feeling that not bothering with fundamental things like that, is going to mean its likely to take an awful long time to achieve anything like acceptable results, and will make more difficult jobs hard/impossible in some cases.

 

[God mode restorations]

How many beginners to TIG actually spend time running beads across test pieces without filler, so they have good control of the weld pool, before attempting to join things together?

I get the feeling that not bothering with fundamental things like that, is going to mean its likely to take an awful long time to achieve anything like acceptable results, and will make more difficult jobs hard/impossible in some cases.

I have only scratched the surface of tig welding this last month...and spend a lot of time doing bead after bead.and still do...and thank to a very helpful member I am progressing slowly but surely. ..I got a huge heap of plate cut up in various thickness and just keep joining em together. .outside corner. .fillet.lap ect...but that's all I do.but in doing this over and over again helps my arms/wrists to relax and work together in synchronisation and maintaining a good arc length and torch angle....and hopefully soon I will move on up to stainless and aluminium. ...IMO tig welding isn't just about joining metal together.its an art.and a hard one to master.you have to have the heart and want to learn it.as said .It is an art.not just a method of joining. .....cheers.

 

[mtt.tr]

Some beads
Have rather nice headache and shaky hands today.
Bit of oil bubbled through on some.

 

[Chris Stevens]

I have only scratched the surface of tig welding this last month...and spend a lot of time doing bead after bead.and still do...and thank to a very helpful member I am progressing slowly but surely. ..I got a huge heap of plate cut up in various thickness and just keep joining em together. .outside corner. .fillet.lap ect...but that's all I do.but in doing this over and over again helps my arms/wrists to relax and work together in synchronisation and maintaining a good arc length and torch angle....and hopefully soon I will move on up to stainless and aluminium. ...IMO tig welding isn't just about joining metal together.its an art.and a hard one to master.you have to have the heart and want to learn it.as said .It is an art.not just a method of joining. .....cheers.

All welding is about controlling heat, and Tig certainly more so than any of the other arc welding processes. Bead on plate is the very best way of mastering control of the weld pool, and once you have cracked that, the rest is much much easier.

 

[mtt.tr]

All welding is about controlling heat, and Tig certainly more so than any of the other arc welding processes. Bead on plate is the very best way of mastering control of the weld pool, and once you have cracked that, the rest is much much easier.

What's your opinion to the shorts beads above. Cheers

And ignore the the last two beads with holes that was before I bought pure argon

 

[Chris Stevens]

They arent that bad, but I think could be improved quite considerably with lots of bead on plate on something like 2mm aluminium sheet, concentrating on keeping the beads uniform width from start to finish, and seeing how you need to back off the pedal as the material heats up more. Torch angle is also important, and you might find resting on something or using a Tig Finger could make things a little easier? Tig seems to me very much about getting the basics right, and then practice, practice, and more practice.

 

[Richard.]

I have only scratched the surface of tig welding this last month...and spend a lot of time doing bead after bead.and still do...and thank to a very helpful member I am progressing slowly but surely. ..I got a huge heap of plate cut up in various thickness and just keep joining em together. .outside corner. .fillet.lap ect...but that's all I do.but in doing this over and over again helps my arms/wrists to relax and work together in synchronisation and maintaining a good arc length and torch angle....and hopefully soon I will move on up to stainless and aluminium. ...IMO tig welding isn't just about joining metal together.its an art.and a hard one to master.you have to have the heart and want to learn it.as said .It is an art.not just a method of joining. .....cheers.

Whether you want to hear it or not Mr spencer your skill level is beyond bead on plate IMO. Joints are where you should be heading and stepping down on thickness. I believe we worked with hefty 3,4mm stuff so now it's time to go 1.5-2mm

 

[Richard.]

Some beads
Have rather nice headache and shaky hands today.
Bit of oil bubbled through on some.

The beads laying across the tube look decent IMO. Nice one.

 

[Richard.]

They arent that bad, but I think could be improved quite considerably with lots of bead on plate on something like 2mm aluminium sheet, concentrating on keeping the beads uniform width from start to finish, and seeing how you need to back off the pedal as the material heats up more. Torch angle is also important, and you might find resting on something or using a Tig Finger could make things a little easier? Tig seems to me very much about getting the basics right, and then practice, practice, and more practice.

Why a aluminium sheet Chris mate. He's welding in DC.

 

[Chris Stevens]

AC on thin sheet is better for practice I would say.

 

[addjunkie]

AC on thin sheet is better for practice I would say.

Yes possibly, but it may put him off for life.....im ok with mild and stainless, nice strong welds in most positions, but thin ali i struggle with, probably need a pedal.

When i was learning trying with 1.5 mm ali, i near gave up, was ready to throw machine in the skip, would have been a good skip find for someone. Tried steel and got a feel.

 

[mtt.tr]

I'll cut some test pieces later and do a butt lap and see how it goes.