Hallo everyone, Two weeks ago I took ~15h private lessons in MMA, MIG/MAG, TIG welding. Yesterday I had BD, and I got GYS LCD EXPERT 9-13 welding mask,



as far as I know, will be good for me - beginner So, basicly I'm intrested in getting better in TIG welding, that is what I want to learn. Today I got my hands on some MMA/Lift TIG inverter,



and wanted to try to make some welds, and I had some problems welding 1.1mm stainless with 1.6mm electrode, ~35-40amps, and, argon gas, but is it 99% argon or 80% argon dont know,
This is from up side(welding side):



this is other side



So, what is problem here, why they are like that? Please help, dont understand why its like that

P.S. when I had those private lessons, we were welding with Lincoln Electric DC/AC welder with costs about 5k $, here is a pic of the first welds(or are they called beeds???) I did on aluminium(never welded aluminium, had ~6h on TIG ever), third from from up was third ever on aluminium



Thanks guys for help

 

interested bump

 

what tungsten are you using? the back side shows FAR TOO MUCH PENETRATION. stainless "sugars" like that so thats why its all crusty, and that happens that bad when you are welding with far too many amps for the thickness of the metal.

 

Hmm, yeah, I talked to the man I was learning from, and he said the same thing I just didnt know that 35amp could really be that much over for that 1.1mm stainless

I'm practicing on steel now(black steel in our language, dont know, is it mild steel in english?), practicing T joints and just welding two pieces together Will try to post up some pictures how I'm doing right now, and hope on some good advices This is my 4th day TIG welding(I weld about 3-4h every day ) hmm and maybe today I will do some stainless pieces again, cause I think they are only I have left for now

P.S. oh yeah, and in terms of saving money, I'm welding stainless and black/mild steel with stainless filler rods... maybe you've some input on that? is it fu**ing everything up? can I do it when practicing?

P.S.S. and yeah, I'm welding with 99% argon And I'm using 1.6mm(I think its 2/32") tungsten with red color on tip

Ok, thanks guys

 

309l is good for stainless, e70s2 is good for mild, and 4043 for aluminum. that should be all you need to get started.

look into getting a gas lens for welding stainless, you will enjoy it!

 

I would recommend ceriated tungsten if its an inverter

 

Today I did some welding, and I did much better then yesterday, this is my 4th day of welding with TIG, I'm using Luftarc 190C scratch TIG, I have only one pic from today, IMO it was the best weld of today Its 3mm mild steel, welded with 2mm mild steel filler rod, 1.6mm red electrode, ~90amps:



P.S. I was using cup with nummber 5 on it, I have 4th and I think 6th too, maybe someone could explain, when and why which is better... and maybe some toughts and advices on weld too

Thanks guys

 

I think I see some undercut in that last picture. Or it could just be the image.

 

Yeah, there is a bit of undercut will work on that

 

"Hmm, yeah, I talked to the man I was learning from, and he said the same thing I just didnt know that 35amp could really be that much over for that 1.1mm stainless "

try 20amp you should be getting a rainbow colered welds .

 

Ok, yesterday I didnt weld, today welded for 2h and IMO did good at least for how I was doing before and I know that I have plenty to work on, and practice for few years but, here are two pics, maybe I can get some input





Thanks guys

P.S. I've been TIG welding for ~20h now

 

how are your hands positioned when you weld? it looks like your hovering them and shaking really bad. you need to use more filler too. what material is that, what filler are you using, and how much cfm?

 

It was 2mm thick mild steel, used 1.6mm tungsten(red color), 1.6mm mild steel filler, ~70amps. yeah, I know my hands are shaking, I try to lie my arms on edge of table, but it dosent work that well... dont know, maybe you could get some vid up for me how you do it, whit some tips?

 

Pay attention to puddle control and travel speed. Looks as though there is a lack of filler and alot of undercutting. For only 20h of tig it's not that bad, believe me i've seen worse from people who claimed to be welders. LOTS of practice required for tig!

 

Yeah, I know, should I maybe get sheet metal and just work on making beads? like, just to learn puddle control and putting filler in?

And yes, I think one of my problems is that my hands shake a bit... and, when I welded this 2F position, I'm trying to make oscillation, goint forward, from up to down and introducing filler when I'm on the up side, then I move, from up - introduce filler, go down side, move... something like that...

I know there is undercut, so, I try to add more filler, on upside, but, I think maybe I use to much amps, like, I want to go forward with little oscillation, from up to down in this 2F position, and, I want to do it like, when I move and make one up to down oscillation, then add filler, I want to do that oscillation from up to down only once, but when I have like 5amps less or maybe 10amps less, there is situations when I make only one up to down, add filler, and it doesnt stick, and I need to give more heat in down and up to get it right...

Ok, I've talked to much :D I hope you understand me

P.S. please more inputs and advices and, if someone has link with some nice video, where is some explanation and maybe some real futtage with lens, where I could see how it really should be done, it would be great

 

Yes, it could not hurt. Try some butt welds.
Also, instead of needing videos to show how, practice. Get the book called Welding Essentials, great book with lots of references. Will also teach you a little metallurgy.
Good luck and have fun.

 

what is butt weld? maybe you can throw in some link with image?

 

http://http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/butt-weld.htm
Quick google search.

 

no offense but you arent ready for butt welds yet.It will only serve to frustrate you at this point.
In fact I don't think practicing on 1.6mm stock is helping much either. Snag something around 3.2mm thick.

Scratch all the circular stuff and do some basic fillet welds. That weld you have trying to fill the groove left by the corner of square tubing isn't exactly representative of what that weld could be. Its a ton of fill to do that in one pass so the excessive undercut is to be expected. I would have ripped that in at least two passes.

Get some flat 3.2mm plate. make a T out it. set your machine at 80-110 amps and weld away. Show me a good fillet weld then we will move on to the harder stuff.

*tip* stick your tungsten out slightly less than half the diameter of your cup. Rest your cup in the corner of the T and tip it back so you have an appropriate arc length. That is a decent angle to start with and should help make adding filler easier. Slide your cup along the joint, maintaining contact with both sides of the joint, and weld away.