After lurking for a while, I've finally bitten the bullet and bought a tig welder (2nd hard parweld XTI180P). I haven't done any welding before, so only know what I've learnt from the tutorial here, youtube, etc.
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3mm mild steel. 1.6mm tungsten. 1.6mm filler (on 7 onwards). #7 cup. 7 LPM argon. approx 150mm width plate
1-4 I did yesterday on ~130 amps, just about getting the hang of starting an arc, running a bead, then had to go.
Had a bit more time today, so did the rest. 5 onwards was on ~105 amps.
5-6 - I felt were OK, no filler yet.
7-8 - started adding filler. ok, that's a lot harder
9-12 - just about getting the hang of this filler lark
13-14 - I decided I had been going to fast, so slowed down... looks better to me.
A few other thoughts...
- I got the front shiny - using a 'cleaning fleece' thing. I didn't clean the back (do i need to?) It took ages to do the front of a 4 pieces this size... any tips for quick cleaning?
- I need to get the hang of down slope... got a lump at the end of all of them, so I think I'm stopping too soon.
- looking at the back, it's not penetrating as much to start with - I assume I am going too fast/early at the start?
- after dipping the tungsten a couple of times I really noticed what people mean about the nice cone on a clean sharp tungsten vs the mess when contaminated!
Please let me know what you think, and/or if I'm on the right track with the above.
Thanks,
Dan
View media item 10600
View media item 10601
View media item 10602
3mm mild steel. 1.6mm tungsten. 1.6mm filler (on 7 onwards). #7 cup. 7 LPM argon. approx 150mm width plate
1-4 I did yesterday on ~130 amps, just about getting the hang of starting an arc, running a bead, then had to go.
Had a bit more time today, so did the rest. 5 onwards was on ~105 amps.
5-6 - I felt were OK, no filler yet.
7-8 - started adding filler. ok, that's a lot harder
9-12 - just about getting the hang of this filler lark
13-14 - I decided I had been going to fast, so slowed down... looks better to me.
A few other thoughts...
- I got the front shiny - using a 'cleaning fleece' thing. I didn't clean the back (do i need to?) It took ages to do the front of a 4 pieces this size... any tips for quick cleaning?
- I need to get the hang of down slope... got a lump at the end of all of them, so I think I'm stopping too soon.
- looking at the back, it's not penetrating as much to start with - I assume I am going too fast/early at the start?
- after dipping the tungsten a couple of times I really noticed what people mean about the nice cone on a clean sharp tungsten vs the mess when contaminated!
Please let me know what you think, and/or if I'm on the right track with the above.
Thanks,
Dan