I am a beginner tig welder It's my 5 time welding i started with aluminum and now am trying to weld mild steel. Today was my first time welding mild steel, 1/8 in. thick mild steel useing ER70S-2,3/32 filler rod at about 90 amps. My concerns are when I was welding aluminum once the puddle got initiated and once i started dipping the filler rod in it flowed into the puddle very smoothly and consistently. Now when I try mild steel once i get the puddle initated and start dipping the filler rod it dosent flow very well. It keeps sticking to the matterial and i have to quickly pull it off so i can try and add more filler rod. And becuase it keeps sticking and not really flowing very consistently it's not making my bead as uniform as it should. Do i need more head , different filler rod, whats causing this. I'm useing Orange tungstein btw

Thanks Brian

 

Filler rod is way too big. I would suggest .045 or 1/16.

 

ok Please explane if you can i'm dont understand why that would cuase this. I'm not saying your wrong i just dont understand.

 

it takes more heat to fully melt the 3/32 rod into the puddle. smaller filler will allow you to weld at that low amperage. .035 .045, or 1/16th will help alot

 

you can use the orange tunsgten, nothing wrong with that. i only use red tho i like it best. all we have at work is red for mild steel and stainless and brown for aluminum

 

ok which one should I get ? .035 .045, or 1/16th I want something Thats a good all around size something that will work at lower amps and is also big enough if i ever need to turn the amps up. And how come aluminum is so much different ? I used 3/32 with aluminum and that just melted right away.

Thanks again for all the help.

 

Aluminum and steel are totally different animals. The smaller rod will help you out a lot on what you are doing.

 

out of thoes 3 sizes mention which would do you think would be best ?

 

Also am i useing the right filler rod I'm useing ER70S-2 is that ok ? or would ER70S-6 be better ?

 

hi get 1/16 S-2 it is best all around size

 

honestly get both .045 and 1/16th wire, depending on what your welding youll use both alot. thinner stuff youll want that smaller wire instead of using those little bit of amps to melt in the 1/16th wire

er70s-2 is fine.

 

Yup, get both .045 and 1/16. Depending on what you're welding and how you're welding it (straight weld vs fillet weld) you'll want to use both and it will give you a feel for how different sized filler metals work within your puddles at different amperages.

 

I love the small stuff for thin gauge.. So easy to keep it nice and neat.

 

ok thanks I baught them just waiting for them to come in ill post some pics it's only my 5th time welding so hopfully the smaller size rod will do the trick.

 

I have smaller Filler rod on it's way I was wondering also is my tungstein to big ? i'm useing 3/32 should I switch to a 1/16 or is 3/32 ok ? Is there a general rule of thumb for which size per amps.

 

i use 1/16 and use .35 mig wire when i get into the really thin gauge for mild steel

 

I use 3/32 for almost everything for car stuff use 3/32 and your 1/16 rod and you should be happier learning with that