New to tig, anyone in South Wales ?

[shambo]

First of all, Hi folks. A little background on me, I've been working on cars mig welding for about 15 years, also done some gas welding and arc welding.

So, I decided to get a TIG welder. I've watched hundreds of videos and read lots before even buying one. Also, after reading lots of info on here, I didn't buy a chinese one

I had finally settled on buying a new R-Tech AC/DC unit when a local firm offered a Migatronic 240 Navigator AC/DC, with all the gubbins, full adjustable control foot pedal, water cooler, etc. Only thing missing was a gas bottle and consumables (filler, electrodes, etc.) So I bought that at a very reasonable price.

Now, onto the hard part... I've had a bit of a play and apart from being able to tack 2 pieces of stainless tube together, I'm not having much joy on AC aluminium welding, other than making a complete mess.

Is there anyone in south wales who has some experience and would be willing to come to my place and offer some advice? I'm based near Neath and would be happy to part with beer tokens for anyone able to help

Thanks.

 

[justin]

There are some good welding courses in neath college

 

[Richard.]

Before you get that far have you had any explanation on how to be setting your machine up
As you've been gas welding for quite some time there will be parts of the technique you will take too quickly.
Run us through what your doing, how your setting things up etc etc in detail. Pics are always useful.

 

[shambo]

There are some good welding courses in neath college

I'll look into those thanks.

Before you get that far have you had any explanation on how to be setting your machine up
As you've been gas welding for quite some time there will be parts of the technique you will take too quickly.
Run us through what your doing, how your setting things up etc etc in detail. Pics are always useful.

Hi Richard, Well I've watched lots of videos and read your sticky post here. I'm pretty sure I've got the balance right because when I light up, I see a decent amount of cleaning before the puddle starts. I've set it around 65% DC-, frequency is around 125Hz (machine goes upto 500Hz), tungsten has a ball that matches the second pic in your thread so I think that side is all good. Amps are as per your thread also, around 40 amps per mm.

I'm pretty sure it's just down to me either not being comfortable enough (position) or just not taking my time and trying to rush with the puddle.

Pics:

First ever weld... I just jumped straight in and so did the tungsten I'm in no way proud of this by the way... we all have to start somewhere

 

[lchris21]

I'm not a welder, there are many more experienced lads on here that can give you some good sound advice, but from my amateur eye....

Looks like your rig is set to DC, unless you've changed it since the picture?? Go back to basics, set the balance to 50%. Get a thicker, bigger piece of plate to practice on, as that small piece will heat up really quick, that's why its cold at the start and melts away very quickly by the time you get to the end??? The material looks clean enough so don't worry about the cleaning balance for the time being. Lots of variables with TIG welding that's were the confusion comes in, running before walking....do some research on tungsten types, sizes, cup sizes and gas flows, fillers, etc...... Keep it simple, learn to prop yourself and relax, keep a steady hand, and get some more material to practice. When you've laid down a decent looking weld on some flat plate, Fiddle with with things to see what affects what, you'll soon get the hang of it coming from gas welding background.

Can thoroughly recommend welding tips and tricks, http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/ there's a few others out there and google overload is inevitable......

There's a decent operating manual for your machine online to tell you what all the knobs do, to get you started. Good luck!!

 

[Richard.]

I'll look into those thanks.



Hi Richard, Well I've watched lots of videos and read your sticky post here. I'm pretty sure I've got the balance right because when I light up, I see a decent amount of cleaning before the puddle starts. I've set it around 65% DC-, frequency is around 125Hz (machine goes upto 500Hz), tungsten has a ball that matches the second pic in your thread so I think that side is all good. Amps are as per your thread also, around 40 amps per mm.

I'm pretty sure it's just down to me either not being comfortable enough (position) or just not taking my time and trying to rush with the puddle.

Pics:

View attachment 88615

View attachment 88616



First ever weld... I just jumped straight in and so did the tungsten I'm in no way proud of this by the way... we all have to start somewhere

View attachment 88617

View attachment 88618

I like the machine. Looks a nice tool.
Your settings are working because despite you not been proud of that weld it's clean
Heat got the better of you towards the end but hey that's ok.
You have got settings in the ball park from what I wrote now you need to sort out technique and as you say 1-1 would get you there quicker. Good luck with the search and fire away with the questions.

 

[shambo]

I'm not a welder, there are many more experienced lads on here that can give you some good sound advice, but from my amateur eye....

Looks like your rig is set to DC, unless you've changed it since the picture?? Go back to basics, set the balance to 50%. Get a thicker, bigger piece of plate to practice on, as that small piece will heat up really quick, that's why its cold at the start and melts away very quickly by the time you get to the end??? The material looks clean enough so don't worry about the cleaning balance for the time being. Lots of variables with TIG welding that's were the confusion comes in, running before walking....do some research on tungsten types, sizes, cup sizes and gas flows, fillers, etc...... Keep it simple, learn to prop yourself and relax, keep a steady hand, and get some more material to practice. When you've laid down a decent looking weld on some flat plate, Fiddle with with things to see what affects what, you'll soon get the hang of it coming from gas welding background.

Can thoroughly recommend welding tips and tricks, http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/ there's a few others out there and google overload is inevitable......

There's a decent operating manual for your machine online to tell you what all the knobs do, to get you started. Good luck!!

Thanks Chris, Yeh, those pics are when it arrived to me, changed it to AC

Yes I've watched all of Jody's videos. He makes it look so easy.

I got the manual and read through it before starting, I'll read over it again though.

I like the machine. Looks a nice tool.
Your settings are working because despite you not been proud of that weld it's clean
Heat got the better of you towards the end but hey that's ok.
You have got settings in the ball park from what I wrote now you need to sort out technique and as you say 1-1 would get you there quicker. Good luck with the search and fire away with the questions.

Thanks Richard, I was pretty sure I dialed it in right but never hurts to check again. I think I had the pedal too hot too, I tried to taper off as I got to the edge but it didn't happen, went to dip some filler and blurgh... blew through...

I'm going to have another go on the weekend all being well, If no one is available in South Wales I'll just have to go it alone and see how I get on

 

[Richard.]

Well the first bit of advice I can offer is get some decent metal to practice on. That looks a tiny thin bit and not the best to practice on. A nice bit of 3/4mm bar or sheet 300 mm long and plough some runs down the middle of it.
Next patients. Your start looks cold and raised because you have got that filler rod fired straight in before a pool is properly formed. This leads to the filler been melted across the arc which doesn't penetrate the plate and makes a mess. Let that pool come right out before your first dab. Again that's easier to control on thicker plate.

 

[shambo]

I ordered 6 3mm ally sheets today... decent size ones too. I also ordered new tungsten and filler, acetone, stainless brushes, etc...

Before I knew it that was another 250 spent haha, but I have plenty of everything on the way now

Thanks again for the advice

 

[K18 NOB]

I am by no means an expert but if you're ever in dorset for one resaon or another I'd gladly spare you some time for a bit of 1 to 1

 

[HughF]

I am often up in Abergavenny... I'm that way for a week in 2 weeks time. If I can spare any time to pop down I will send you a PM.

 

[shambo]

I am by no means an expert but if you're ever in dorset for one resaon or another I'd gladly spare you some time for a bit of 1 to 1

I am often up in Abergavenny... I'm that way for a week in 2 weeks time. If I can spare any time to pop down I will send you a PM.

Thanks for the offers folks. Much appreciated. Hugh, by all means pop me a PM, I'm about 40 miles from Abergavenny so if I'm still having trouble I'd happily pay you to pop over if you have the time. If I have got the hang of it by then I still have Tea and biscuits at the ready if you fancy a social call

 

[shambo]

Well, my kit finally arrived. I ordered a stubby gas lens kit last Tuesday, paid an extra £8 for delivery by Thursday but they didn't even send it out until Friday...

Anyway, hopefully I can have some play time on it this afternoon or tomorrow.

Will update as I go

 

[Arc Tourist]

Hello shambo,

I'm just over the hill near Treorchy. Can't help at the moment as I am less than a beginner, but look forward to your progress.

Cheers

 

[shambo]

I hope you enthusiastically complained about paying extra for expedited postage that didn't happen...

You damn right I did they seem reluctant to answer emails though so I may have to call them and give them earache.

Hello shambo,

I'm just over the hill near Treorchy. Can't help at the moment as I am less than a beginner, but look forward to your progress.

Cheers

Ah awesome. When I get sorted and setup I'll post my bird droppings here for all to see

Feel free to pop in if you're in the area

 

[justin]

close to me then. I have never welded ali so i cant help either.

 

[shambo]

So, I finally got some time this morning to have another go. I decided to go back to the beginning and start from scratch. Started just by running a smooth consistent bead... or tying to anyway. First run was the bottom one here. I camped out too long and the heat took over, mask was difficult to see through, yes, that's what it was, the masks fault.

After getting to grips with that I just had a go at running a filler bead. Didn't come out too bad, until I dipped the tungsten into the bead haha

 

[shambo]

Getting there slowly. I think I've got the torch and filler controlled, seems like its just down to controlling the pedal/heat input. More practice required yet

 

[shambo]

Garage next door asked me to try an emergency repair on an oil cooler, I wasn't happy about doing it but they were happy for me to try so I jumped in.

Didn't come out too bad, fortunately it was on the water side not the oil side so it went quite well. I turned the balance a little more toward DC+ to be on the safe side. They fitted it back on and it doesn't leak so maybe I'm doing something right

 

[sixtwoeight]

Getting there slowly. I think I've got the torch and filler controlled, seems like its just down to controlling the pedal/heat input. More practice required yet

View attachment 89028

Obvious and good improvements from your first post to the one above