TiG Newbie

[Gary100]

Hello everyone.
I often refer to this site when I'm struggling with stuff - what a wealth of helful information!
Seemed a bit rude not to join, so here I am.
And tearing my hair out trying to learn to use a Lincoln V140S scratch-start TiG.
Practising by welding up a very thin and rusty wheelbarrow. I realise that's not ideal, but it needed doing anyway.
The Tungsten seems to burn away very fast? I've tried red & grey - both about the same. Argon about 8 L/min, power ~40; does that sound reasonable?
Thanks to all for all the help so far!

 

[Paul.]

Hello Gary, welcome to the forum
Things to check,
make sure the torch is connected to the Negative (-) terminal on the welder,

Gas is a bit high unless you are working in a draft, just wasteful more than a problem though, Red (zirconiated) or grey (ceriated) are fine for DC tig.

Make sure you are welding on clean material, any rust will cause spitting and electrode contamination.

When you break the arc, keep the gas flowing for a few seconds to allow the electrode to cool in the shield

Keep a tight arc, but don't touch down, scratch start will be harder on the electrode than HF machines.

Have a read through the TIG tutorials and watch the videos in there,

 

[Gary100]

Thanks for that Paul
The tuturiols are a big help - I hadn't noticed them before
About 12 gallons of tea later, and things are starting to look reasonbly acceptable, especially on the fine gauge (22swg) stainless.
Struggling a bit with the tip burning away though - either too far away or so close it sticks in the pool. Practice I guess.
Happy days...
Hopefully funds will run to an HF AC/DC machine sometime soon.
What do reckon to these?:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140923403179?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

[Paul.]

A forum search for "Eastwood" or any other welder you may be considering will throw up a enough hits for you to form an opinion on whether to buy or not,
here's just one to have a read through

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=30143&highlight=eastwood

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Welcome

 

[Shox Dr]

Practice writing you name in a flat sheet, it will teach you hand eye, and distance