So today was the first time I ever TIG welded, though I have stick welded and MIG welded a couple times before (for fun). I was pretty impressed that I could even lay a bead down.

I didn't get any instruction, just read the wikipedia article on tungsten inert gas welding to understand the theory, read some threads here, and looked up some videos on youtube.

I know I have a lot to learn, but I figure this info might be helpful to others as well.

my main question is:

1. How do I know the speed at which to travel? and the rate to add filler? I pretty much just guessed, and looked at the weld puddle trail and kept pushing the puddle forward while adding tiny bits of filler.

2. The foot pedal controls the amps, but how do I use it to control heat input into the metal? Should I go full throttle, input filler, then lay off pedal, move forward, full throttle, input filler, etc?

3. This was steel, but what changes do I make for aluminum? I know settings wise I need High Frequency, AC current, pure tungsten electrode. The main reason I want to TIG is to fit my ebay FMIC piping as cleanly as possible.

Any other general tips?

<flamesuit on>

 

Not bad but I would recommend that when beginning GTAW learn what you are working with, understand what options you have as far as gas lenses, collet bodies, back caps, proper sized tungsten and its alloys, back purge, adjusting your flowmeter. Basically start from the ground up. I would start by tacking two plates you have around together and fuse them evenly. Meaning that you have determined you can sucessfully fuse two plates together with the same amount of heat and consistency without any or little contamination in the weld itself (weld prep is always priority) make sure you scotchbrite and acetone whatever you are welding. As far as foot pedal, for ie.. if you set it at 60amps and step on it all the way you're at 60amps, us welders well, most don't use this method, we like to feather the pedal at ie.. 60 amps, and realistically we're welding at 45amps or so. There's too much to list. Methods of grinding tungsten to create a stable arc, back purge, post flow, pre flow, pps, ac, balance, etc.. there's a lot of variables when it comes to welding. I'm just giving you some basic info because it's basically a learning process all the way through. I'd recommend you to start from scratch, not just pick up a torch and strike an arc on some metal then add filler. The fusing portion I've mentioned will help w/ consistency (which is actual welding) filler is just your reinfornment.

 

fastest way to learn arc control and to be straight and steady is to hold a piece of 1/8" material up and down and weld a bead on the edge. Get good at that, then go down to 1/16" and practice more. Good luck

 

thanks for the feedback guys.

is there any good website or videos i can look at to learn technique? i mean i pretty much just guessed (as you can prob see from my welds)

maybe a step by step on what to look for during welding?

also how close should the tungsten electrode be to the part? ive been having issues touching the electrode, which i know contaminates things.

ive been doing a lot of electrode grinding

 

http://www.homemadeturbo.com/f...101.0

some videos on there