Hi,

I have just started to Tig weld and have maybe only an hour or so under my belt.

My Mild Steel welds appear to be going OK but I have been asked to make some stainless manifolds for some friends in the future so I want to make sure my stainless welds are as good as they can be.

Im from the UK so my measurements are in mm and not imperial so sorry about that.

material is 2 1/4" 304 Stainless tube 1.5mm thick
Torch set up is a 2.4mm Red Tungsten
standard collet with a #7 cup.

amps are set to 25
up slope is 2.5
down slope 1
gas is 7lpm

filler is 1.6mm 308L rods

does this sound about right with the settings?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/orbitalmotorsport/6695485501/http://www.flickr.com/photos/orbitalmotorsport/6695485501/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/orbitalmotorsport/, on Flickr

my welds look very grey is this because the heat is too much or a lack of gas cover?

Any help you can give me will be much appreciated as the quality of welding on here is down right amazing

Thanks
Darren

 

lack of gas coverage, get yourself a gas lense and a bigger cup.

 

You definitely want a gas lense for stainless. Your cup size is fone though. You want to use anywhere from a #6 - #10 depending on application. As far as your argon flow I don't know the coversion off the top of my head. I would have to look at a meter. Remember the meter measures from the bottom of the ball. Good luck and keep playing with it.

 

thanks for the advice so far.

7lpm is about 14-16cfh, is that a bit low for SS?

I now have a gas lens and waiting on some cups to arrive and will give it another go.

 

Yes, that is low. Try pushing more argon. About 25cfh.

 

deff not enough gas thats why there grey, i usually run around 30-35 on my gas gauge and use a #8 cup with 1/8 inch tungsten, the weld looks a lil cold also u could bump the heat up a lil and work the heat with the pedal on that thin suff, and make sure when you do the manifolds to purge the inside with argon as well or your welds wont hold up to long and look bad on the inside. good luck man not to bad so far though

 

yea turn up the gas, stainless steel likes to be backpurged (gas on both sides) it wouldnt hurt to get another tank of argon and a regulator once you start makin good welds so you can practice backpurging. Good start for sure!

 

I think 25amps is too low. Try turning it up to 35amps or more (depends on your machine).