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Weld analyze
- Thread starter Oppet
- Start date
Hi, I was always given a guide at college that lovely shiny welds with reds and blues are the perfect tig welds. I often get the dull matt grey and always believe this to be due to not enough current and hence needing to go much slower resulting in more overall heat input to the work (if this makes sense). It would be good to get a few other views on this subject from expert tig welders.
I wouldn't get too hung up on weld colour, at least in isolation. Soooo many things can effect it and while it can be important, in of itself it's just the result of light surface oxidation.
Welds on carbon steel are never going to as bright/colourful as stainless, Ti can produce some lovely colours but such welds would be far from perfect! It's more difficult to get 'good colour' on thin material than thick as there's less mass in the part to draw the heat away i.e. pretty easy to get straws with a hint of blue if say welding a fillet on a thick chunk of stainless- virtually colour free is possible depending on the weld size required, shielding quality etc. Butt weld on small dia 16swg tube on the other hand will be quite a bit more difficult
Faster with more amps can help as said. Arc length makes a BIG difference to more than just weld colour... http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=7862&highlight=arc+length
Welds on carbon steel are never going to as bright/colourful as stainless, Ti can produce some lovely colours but such welds would be far from perfect! It's more difficult to get 'good colour' on thin material than thick as there's less mass in the part to draw the heat away i.e. pretty easy to get straws with a hint of blue if say welding a fillet on a thick chunk of stainless- virtually colour free is possible depending on the weld size required, shielding quality etc. Butt weld on small dia 16swg tube on the other hand will be quite a bit more difficult
Faster with more amps can help as said. Arc length makes a BIG difference to more than just weld colour... http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=7862&highlight=arc+length
