Tig practise

[bluebobtail]

Thanks for that, yes i'm left handed.
I am struggling to get comfortable with this piece. I've ordered up a tig finger from welding tips and tricks so hopefully i should be able to steady myself a little better.
Next week i'll be choosing a different booth tho, as the support bar im using is on the right, hopefully with one on the left should help with my position.
Ill try cleaning the metal up, add more filler and watch my torch angle.
I was told to have it at about horizontal or pointing the torch slightly up with it been a vertical weld. Is this right?

 

[bluebobtail]

Well last night i cracked my vertical fillet after a few goes and not quite getting it. But i realised the higher up on the test piece the better my weld. So i lifted it up and hey presto, spot on it was. So did my nick break test, it passed

So next up was a vertical but using a purge, got it first go so im well pleased with myself.
So next week its tube to plate and thats the last one for level 2.
If all goes well with that ill just keep practising i think to improve my technique and the overall apearence of the weld.

 

[bluebobtail]

Update,
Have now completed all my level 2 test pieces.
The tube to plate I liked doing. It was just the heat it was giving off i struggled with.
So now its theory work and more practising.
My instructor Geoff is bringing in some alluminium in next week to try my hand at some of the test pieces for that.
Will let you know how i get on and post some pics up.

 

[bluebobtail]

right here goes, pics of the ally welding from thursday.

i know not perfect but keen to learn
There are 2 butt joints
3mm ally, with a 1mm gap.
Shots from front and back

Comments welcome

 

[hotrodder]

Update,
Have now completed all my level 2 test pieces.
The tube to plate I liked doing. It was just the heat it was giving off i struggled with.
So now its theory work and more practising.
My instructor Geoff is bringing in some alluminium in next week to try my hand at some of the test pieces for that.
Will let you know how i get on and post some pics up.

Nice one. Bet the radiant heat from the tube to plate doesn't seem so bad now you're playing with ally

If you aren't already then tack up several coupons (each with a few joints) and swap between them as aluminiums thermal characteristics are magnified when playing with small offcuts. Don't be afraid to feed the weldpool

 

[bluebobtail]

thanks hotrodder.
Ill try that this week if there is some more ally to play with.
I think i'm getting a bit better at it and my technique is improving.
Thanks to everyone who comments they all help good or bad.