Second days of tig welding and man this is harder then it looks. I got a few pics below don't be too harsh me now. I'm having alot of trouble with using a filler rod so I did some welding without the filler rod. Are there some tips on using a filler rod? I'm welding stainless steel with a Miller Econotig at 65 amps and argon is set at 15 cfh. Any tips on welding on a curve like a pipe. I have mechanic hands and I’ll admit.. My hands do shake once in a while..I’ll guess practice make perfect..Yeah, it just might take me over a year..

 

Looks to have some undercut... throw some more filler in there.

 

Did you weld on flat stock before doing pipe? Do some fillet welds on plate, and then go on to pipe. Your welds are definetly undercut (not enough filler in your case). As far as tips, practice makes perfect. Maybe you're doing some of it maybe not, but here it goes: Cut your filler so it's easier to work with, weld in sections (do 1/6-1/4 of a way around the pipe, stop reposition your work), leave the filler in the weld when you stop welding a section.

 

Cool..

 

Run some stringers on flat plate till you get the rhythm down.

 

Don't attach the ground clamp to your *****. I know this one from experience. j/k

But I agree with K24. You should be doing flat plate before you even attempt tubing. It's all about rhythm and heat control.

 

For your hands... Mine used to shake as well, the biggest thing is that you are using muscles in your hands that you aren't used to using. Stack jig blocks, big welding gloves, pieces of wood, whatever, under your forearms to help support yourself.

When I was teaching my brother, he had the same problem, it helped him a ton. Eventually, you'll build up the finger muscles and whatnot, and it will go away.

For everything else... Practice is everything.

 

This guy will have manifolds for sale in a week

Ramhorns....175.00

No offense O.P. it's just what struck me upon seeing what your heading towards welding. Not saying your really going to be selling in a week...it's just what some other new TIG guys have done about a week in...lol.

To help you out...yes your undercutting pretty heavily. Looks like your cleaning pretty well, but don't clean with a wire brush/wheel post weld. Your wiping away alot of what we can use to help you out.

 

weld fillets and lap welds on 1/4 plate first. then move to butt welds on plate with a v groove. then start welding on thinner stuff.


viola in no time you too can tig weld

 

I wish it were simply that easy.