TIG welding stainless rod - advice needed

[Eastblock]

I've started practising TIG welding stainless rod. I'm attmepting to join 2.4mm 316L TIG rods. I use a 1.6mm tungsten and run at 12 amps. The welds in the picture are fusion welds and I'm not happy with them. I would prefer to make the joints using filler. I tried with 1.6mm filler but by the time there is enough of a weld pool to melt the wire, the rods I'm trying to join are starting to melt away. When fusion welding it's a bit hit and miss and the threshold between a succesful join and burn through is about a second or two. I set the argon at 8L/min on the regulator but the weld is quite black. Increasing gas flow doesn't seem to make a different. As I've never done TIG/stainless before I have no idea if this is normal.

Would I be better off using a 1mm tungsten and 1mm filler?

Is 316 filler rod different from 316 stainless steel? It was convenient to buy filler rods to start with. Once I master the technique I will probably be buying 3mm 316 rod.

Michael

 

[chevy2]

If its not draughty where you're working you can go down to 5-6 lpm on the gas flow so long as the tungsten isnt out too far,

1.6mm tungsten should work fine so long as it sharpened to a real sharp point at that low amperage, 1mm filler will work much better than 1.6mm at that low amps,
a foot pedal will also give far more control if you dont have one.

 

[Eastblock]

I don't have a foot pedal and I'm not sure if one can be used with the R-Tech 160amp DC TIG? Don't have the money for one at the moment anyway.

I will get a hold of some 1mm filler rod.

 

[wheresmejumper]

mig wire might help

 

[langy]

I would use 1mm tungsten & 1mm rod but I also would use a pedal, Also as Gary said your wasting expensive argon, 5lpm should be fine.

 

[Eastblock]

I've ordered some 1mm tungsten and am getting a spool of 316Lsi MIG wire. My machine does not have connections for a foot pedal so will have to make do without it.

One person suggested to me that I could make quick fusion welds at 60amps so will try that as well.

 

[langy]

I've ordered some 1mm tungsten and am getting a spool of 316Lsi MIG wire. My machine does not have connections for a foot pedal so will have to make do without it.

One person suggested to me that I could make quick fusion welds at 60amps so will try that as well.

The mig wire is a pain to use, the 1mm tig rods are much better

 

[Eastblock]

I found that using high amps (65A) and doing 1-2 second spurts whilst moving the torch just a little bit produces quite decent fusion weld. This was with the 1.6mm tungsten. I still have to try the 1mm tungstens. I forgot them at home last time I went to the workshop