Today was the first day tig welding. Nobody has taught me anything i just picked up a tig and started to go at it. Here are a few pictures. The welder is a Miller Econotig that i just picked up pretty much brand new for 800 bucks with bottle and everything. i know i still need alot of practice. If anyone has any pointers feel free to shoot me a reply on here or a PM.

here are a few beads on some really thin thin metal using mild filler rod

Here is some stainless

Here is just fusing the two thin thin peices together. The bottom one was the first try and the top was the third try

 

i'll post pictures tomorrow of some 3'' pipe butt welds i did. i forgot to take a picture of them.

 

yeah, show us the pipe welds. That way we can judge and let you know what to do to improve. Welding across flat plate is kinda pointless unless your learning to be consistent i guess. Good Luck

BTW, did you get that Miller on Ebay? I saw one forsale the other day like what your talking about.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDMs1eeper &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yeah, show us the pipe welds. That way we can judge and let you know what to do to improve. Welding across flat plate is kinda pointless unless your learning to be consistent i guess. Good Luck

BTW, did you get that Miller on Ebay? I saw one forsale the other day like what your talking about.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ok. i will go take some pictures right now. i picked it up off Craigslist from a guy here in oregon.

 

Ok. here is my first and only butt weld i did. I will cut up a few more peices tomorrow and weld them up but today i was mainly learning to work the pedal. Also i will get some cleaner pipe thats not rusty.

 

and without the sticker still on it

those things comtaminate a weld from like 3" away.

 

Dude, don't be lazy. LOL.

CLEAN IT FIRST!! Then practice. Then take new pics. lol.

PS: Remove any stickers, as well.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AspectIndustries &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Dude, don't be lazy. LOL.

CLEAN IT FIRST!! Then practice. Then take new pics. lol.

PS: Remove any stickers, as well. </TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL. hey i was just excited to finally have a tig haha. i will do some more tomorrow with some clean pipe and take new pictures.

 

is it just me or do the 1&3 pic of butt welds turn out looking like mig welds?

 

^ they do! , i remember when i first got my machine.. i was welding every piece of metal i could find.. later when the excitement of having a tig welder wore off i was left with pounds of wasted stainless and aluminum.. you name it i wasted it... plate, sheet, tubing rod...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KENetics1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">is it just me or do the 1&3 pic of butt welds turn out looking like mig welds?</TD></TR></TABLE>

haha i actually thought the same thing right after i welded it. but nope they are tig welds i dont even have a mig anymore i sold it right before i bought the tig.

 

Keep practicing. You will get better and more consistent with practice. Are you doing an prep to the metal first. You have to prep to get a pretty weld. Get a stainless brush or wire wheel to get you started. Get on for each material you are working with. This will help to not contaminate the material and weld.
James

 

Why does everyone start on pipe joints? There is a reason they teach you to weld flat **** before you do pipe in welding school.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by k24em2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why does everyone start on pipe joints? There is a reason they teach you to weld flat **** before you do pipe in welding school.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i totally agree, i started on flat 1/8th " plate/sheet. after that i did some butt welds and so on. and this was all mild steel.

tube was the last thing i tried and it is way harder for a beginer to keep the torch angle, etc. correct then sheet/ plate...

 

Keep Practicing so you can hold a consistent bead and clean your work prior to welding. Its helps tremendously