This isn't right

[Wyn F]

After many attempts I think I've just managed to lay down my first beads of weld ?
Previous attempts consisted of large furrows or holes so something must be going right
So I thought I would try join 2 pieces of tube together, but it didn't go to plan
Each time I try I seem to end up with the filler rod ending in a blob before it hits the join
So what's the technique to getting into tight spaces ?
Am using a size 8 cup with a gas lens but tbh I don't understand all the sizes or theory behind them

 

[BrokenBiker]

are you keeping the rod in the gas when its nit in the puddle?

i have noticed if i pull the rod out too far when it enters the gas again it balls up

 

[Wyn F]

are you keeping the rod in the gas when its nit in the puddle?

i have noticed if i pull the rod out too far when it enters the gas again it balls up

tbh from what I've seen today I can't say I even saw a puddle as such?
The filler rod just seemed to melt & blob away before it touched the join if that makes sense

Do you need to extent the tungsten out on tight joins ?

 

[AndyStobbs]

You need a puddle to begin with, then add the filler. You can move the tungsten further out to get it where it needs to be. Upto the point it moves out of the gas coverage, gas lens would further that distance, and still air.

 

[tedmagnum]

Like Andy says, you need a puddle. You have to manipulate and move that puddle around the joint whilst adding filler rod to the very front of the puddle. How much and how fast you add it is the hard skill of TIG. In my limited experience in it anyway.

 

[Wyn F]

You need a puddle to begin with, then add the filler. You can move the tungsten further out to get it where it needs to be. Upto the point it moves out of the gas coverage, gas lens would further that distance, and still air.

Ok will try again and wait longer before adding the rod
How do I tell if the tungsten is past gas coverage ?
By blackened outsides of the weld ?

 

[BrokenBiker]

the tungsten will deteriorate if its not covered by argon. What colour tungstens are you using?

 

[Paul.]

The problem is almost certainly with your arc length, you need to keep it very short to maintain a controllable pool, the filler rod should be melted by the molten puddle not the arc, a common mistake that beginners to tig make is to use the arc to melt rod and let it drip onto the joint, take a read through the tutorial and practice some of the exercises, particularly the page on fillets,
take a look at the two videos on this page http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/tig-fillet-weld.htm

 

[Hitch]

Good fit-up is essential too really, it will make your life much easier, for welding, but especially starting.
Probably worth practicing on some straight joints made up from sheet, that way there shouldn't be any gaps to worry about, so you can just start doing runs autogenously, then progress onto adding rod.

 

[Wyn F]

the tungsten will deteriorate if its not covered by argon. What colour tungstens are you using?

Grey and red but cant say I noticed any great difference

The problem is almost certainly with your arc length, you need to keep it very short to maintain a controllable pool, the filler rod should be melted by the molten puddle not the arc, a common mistake that beginners to tig make is to use the arc to melt rod and let it drip onto the joint, take a read through the tutorial and practice some of the exercises, particularly the page on fillets,
take a look at the two videos on this page http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/tig-fillet-weld.htm

Cheers, I need to try autogenous weld before I can learn to walk
Will give that a go next

Good fit-up is essential too really, it will make your life much easier, for welding, but especially starting.
Probably worth practicing on some straight joints made up from sheet, that way there shouldn't be any gaps to worry about, so you can just start doing runs autogenously, then progress onto adding rod.

Next on the list cheers

 

[piman]

Hello Wyn,

It looks from the picture that the fit is not 100%, and in that case I would start where there is no gap to establish the pool and then fill in as you work round to the gap. It's much harder to start at and fill an open gap.

Alec

 

[overload]

The arc angle needs to be right and consistent too when welding round tube. Too much angle will focus the heat away from the work piece and towards the filler instead melting it by mistake. Very easy to do if you're not careful.

 

[DrNik]

Why not bend a piece of metal into a 90 degree bend and then practice welding tight into the bend, that would give you some practice with getting the tungsten and the filler rod in the right place (says a man who welds the same as you lol)

 

[Wyn F]

It just happened to be 2 like pieces of tube I had, so thought I would give it a go where they touched
Lesson learned I hope so back at it again now with plate pieces instead

 

[zardoz]

A beginner is often better off practising joing some sheet together without filler rod, first. This helps you to get the feel of maintaining a moving pool without the extra complication of keeping the rod just near enough to the arc without being in it. Several hours of practice of this, all in one go would be favourite. Set aside an afternoon or evening, and prepare lots of metal before you spark up.

Exactly the same way I learned to weld with oxy acetylene, as well as TIG.