Do you guys have any suggestions for getting the most of out my TIG welder on Aluminum? I know I'm maxing out the machine trying to weld this 1/4" T joint... I can't even get the two pieces to fuse into a single puddle. I'm using a Lincoln PT225, #9 torch, gas lens, 1/8" green tung., 100% argon, 22cfh, cranked all the way up to AC 230A.

I've never tried Helium... would it even help me right now?

Would a bigger ground cable/clamp help? I'm using the factory one that came with my Lincoln.

Is it time to upgrade the machine?

 

Does the macking have adjustable wave balance? (I know some Lincolns got that rediculous "autobalance" feature, but I dunno if you can override it).

Anyways if you can find a way to over ride the wave balance so you can turn it up (more DCEN) that will help.

Preheating the pieces via torch/oven/BBQ wil help a LOT. Preheat preheast preheat. Huge when dealing with limited welding mahcine output.

Lastly if you plan on pushing the machine to its limits on aluminum often, consider buying a bottle of argon/helium mix (like 75/25 Ar/He), this will give the mahcine some more ***** as well.

I have a dynasty 200 and it does ok on 1/4" aluminum, but big pieces need some preheat- but I can clean the material well and get by at ~80% DCEN on the wave balance.

 

I have never ha da problem doing 1/4in material with my PT225, gran your balance **** and turn it to peneteratino and take it off auto,

what do you have you dial set to for AMPs?

 

Thanks for the great suggestions guys!

I was able to get the results I was looking for by switching over to a #17 torch, standard collet body, #4 cup, 12cfh, AC balance 80% EN and some minor preheating.

The standard collet body and #4 cup allowed me to get closer into the joint and directed more of the arc's energy into a smaller, more specific area. The smaller cup allowed me to turn the gas flow down, but I had to turn my post flow up to about 15 seconds so the tungsten had enough time to cool down. It was turning a bronze color with post flow at 8 seconds. The #17 torch allowed me to weld longer before overheating the torch (I'm sure the longer cup helped with that too.) I clean my materials very well, and turning the AC balance up to 80% EN had no negative effect on the cleanliness of the weld. The preheating seemed to help A LOT. I plan on doing more of that from now on when working with Aluminum.