Re: For anyone who thinks that TIG wedling steel is difficult
[Re: sgcuda]
#2541939
08/27/18 11:24 AM
08/27/18 11:24 AM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,921 Ontario, Canada
Stanton
Don't question me!
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Don't question me!
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,921
Ontario, Canada
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I have been using straight Argon, but also have a Ar/CO2 mix that I've been using for my Mig. Maybe I'll try using that. Don't do that !! To get the ball tip on the tungsten, sharpen the tungsten then hit the power with it over a copper penny. Bring it straight down towards the penny and the tip will ball up. Now you're ready to tig aluminum.
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Re: For anyone who thinks that TIG wedling steel is difficult
[Re: Stanton]
#2541949
08/27/18 11:40 AM
08/27/18 11:40 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,992 Anoka County, MN
Leigh
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I have been using straight Argon, but also have a Ar/CO2 mix that I've been using for my Mig. Maybe I'll try using that. Don't do that !! To get the ball tip on the tungsten, sharpen the tungsten then hit the power with it over a copper penny. Bring it straight down towards the penny and the tip will ball up. Now you're ready to tig aluminum. Except that newer, inverter machines tend to like sharpened tungstens. My Lincoln Tig 200, is my first hand example. My Miller Syncrowave 180, transformer liked balled tungsten. Experiment with both, and check the tech tips from the manufacturer. For me, it's always a struggle with seeing. I'm extremely myopic, but can see great up close without glasses to about book holding distance. Cheaters don't work with me. I'm going to get a second prescription for 2 foot myopic glasses. I'm a home hack, so take it with a grain of salt. 😉
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Re: For anyone who thinks that TIG wedling steel is difficult
[Re: sgcuda]
#2542120
08/27/18 06:49 PM
08/27/18 06:49 PM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 725 Southern Alberta
Uberpube
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Nov 2013
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Southern Alberta
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I'm welding on 110 volts. It has a 220 volt adapter but I didn't get my garage rewired yet. Welding at 120 amps. Pulse turned off. aluminum takes way more heat, and it raises as it turns molten, so you need more arc space. use the grey electrodes.
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Re: For anyone who thinks that TIG wedling steel is difficult
[Re: sgcuda]
#2542177
08/27/18 09:32 PM
08/27/18 09:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,243 Charlotte, North Carolina
sgcuda
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Starting the weld has been the easiest part for me, especially after using my other welder with a scratch start. Using cheater lenses has allowed me to get really precise on some welds. The downside is that there is a short window of field of vision, so if I can't be the right distance from the joint, I'm better off without the cheaters. I welded my chassis with purple E3 tungsten. I don't know what the welder came with, but it doesn't seem to be working out too bad. In fact, I think the tungsten lasts longer welding aluminum than steel. I seem to always eat up tungsten on the C/M tubing. Worst that happens on the aluminum is that I accidently dip it in the puddle or touch the filler rod. The tungsten gets coated and quits working until I regrind the tip.
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Re: For anyone who thinks that TIG wedling steel is difficult
[Re: sgcuda]
#2542178
08/27/18 09:35 PM
08/27/18 09:35 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,243 Charlotte, North Carolina
sgcuda
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Before I forget, I just want to say thanks for all of the responses. You guys were extremely beneficial when I was learning how to TIG weld steel, so I really appreciate everyone and anyone that can share their experiences with an old dog learning another new trick.
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Re: For anyone who thinks that TIG wedling steel is difficult
[Re: sgcuda]
#2542182
08/27/18 09:45 PM
08/27/18 09:45 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,203 PA.
pittsburghracer
"Little"John
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"Little"John
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,203
PA.
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I bought several different grades of cheater lens at my welding supply store and tape them on my hood with Gorilla tape.
1970 Duster Edelbrock headed 408 5.984@112.52 422 Indy headed small block 5.982@112.56 mph 9.42@138.27
Livin and lovin life one day at a time
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Re: For anyone who thinks that TIG wedling steel is difficult
[Re: sgcuda]
#2542210
08/27/18 10:47 PM
08/27/18 10:47 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,291 Morrow, OH
markz528
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Morrow, OH
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When I went to the Lincoln Motorsports Welding class (week long) they taught us sharp electrodes for inverter machines. I have a Lincoln Precision Tig 225 and use pointed electrodes for aluminum.
67 Coronet 500 9.610 @ 139.20 mph 67 Coronet 500 (street car) 14.82 @ 94 mph 69 GTX (clone) - build in progress......
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Re: For anyone who thinks that TIG wedling steel is difficult
[Re: markz528]
#2542225
08/27/18 11:07 PM
08/27/18 11:07 PM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 725 Southern Alberta
Uberpube
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super stock
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Southern Alberta
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When I went to the Lincoln Motorsports Welding class (week long) they taught us sharp electrodes for inverter machines. I have a Lincoln Precision Tig 225 and use pointed electrodes for aluminum. Yes, same with big blues.. The grey electrodes work well with any metal on inverters, I haven't touched red or greens since I sold my synchrowave. Acetone is your best friend when welding aluminum, the more cleaning action you use, the less depth there is to the weld and the the less concentrated the bead is. I wipe everything down with acetone, and as others of said, stainless steel brushes, that only get used with aluminum and nothing else. I even have a set of gloves that I use for specifically for aluminum. I got my Tig training in Japan, with a guy yelling clean clean clean in my ear for 2 weeks.. Forget about that caustic stuff they sell in welding stores, doesn't work..
Last edited by Uberpube; 08/27/18 11:08 PM.
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Re: For anyone who thinks that TIG wedling steel is difficult
[Re: justinp61]
#2542286
08/28/18 01:03 AM
08/28/18 01:03 AM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,267 North, Alabama
D-50
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pro stock
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North, Alabama
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I Tig welded aluminum at my job since 1986 and I agree with Mr P Body. And I never sharpen the tungsten.
1.33 60 ft,6.21 at 110.59 in the 1/8, pump gas small block,2950lbs,drag radials,mufflers and driven to track ...
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Re: For anyone who thinks that TIG wedling steel is difficult
[Re: sgcuda]
#2542392
08/28/18 11:37 AM
08/28/18 11:37 AM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,942 Metro Detroit
OUTLAWD
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top fuel
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Metro Detroit
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As others have said, with aluminum it better be clean...also, keep your gaps tight.
Tungsten type and tip will depend on the type of machine. Jody's youtube channel offers a ton of good reference material.
Faster, Faster until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death...
71 Swinger - slowly collecting dust/parts 66 Belv. II - just a streetcar 88 Mustang - turbo LS beater
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Re: For anyone who thinks that TIG wedling steel is difficult
[Re: Uberpube]
#2542647
08/28/18 06:29 PM
08/28/18 06:29 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,769 Bitopia
jcc
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,769
Bitopia
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When I went to the Lincoln Motorsports Welding class (week long) they taught us sharp electrodes for inverter machines. I have a Lincoln Precision Tig 225 and use pointed electrodes for aluminum. Yes, same with big blues.. The grey electrodes work well with any metal on inverters, I haven't touched red or greens since I sold my synchrowave. Acetone is your best friend when welding aluminum, the more cleaning action you use, the less depth there is to the weld and the the less concentrated the bead is. I wipe everything down with acetone, and as others of said, stainless steel brushes, that only get used with aluminum and nothing else. I even have a set of gloves that I use for specifically for aluminum. I got my Tig training in Japan, with a guy yelling clean clean clean in my ear for 2 weeks.. Forget about that caustic stuff they sell in welding stores, doesn't work.. I have used Acetone, but with a wider range of contaminates that I seem to encounter, I've found Lacquer thinner a better/wider solution. I also dedicate gloves for alum, I think some may forget just holding the tig rod as one is welding with a gloved hand, is contaminating the weld puddle thru a dirty weld rod..
Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
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Re: For anyone who thinks that TIG wedling steel is difficult
[Re: justinp61]
#2545937
09/05/18 12:23 AM
09/05/18 12:23 AM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,399 Aurora, Colorado
451Mopar
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I use blue, 2% lanthanated for steel and aluminum. Same here. Don't need to ball the end on my inverter machine, Miller Dynasty 280.
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Re: For anyone who thinks that TIG wedling steel is difficult
[Re: moparlulu]
#2546236
09/05/18 03:46 PM
09/05/18 03:46 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,769 Bitopia
jcc
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,769
Bitopia
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On that seat rim weld, do not discount that welding alum in most cases removes the original beneficial tempering decreasing some (50%?) of the physical properties in the welded material, ie its weaker. Which, more to the point, sometimes doing smaller separated welds makes a better stronger final assembly, which is the opposite of what I saw in your pic. Of course there are also situations where a continuous weld is the best solution. Pick your poison.
Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
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Re: For anyone who thinks that TIG wedling steel is difficult
[Re: sgcuda]
#2546492
09/06/18 12:49 AM
09/06/18 12:49 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,243 Charlotte, North Carolina
sgcuda
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OP
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Charlotte, North Carolina
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I matched the original weld lengths. Strength wasn't important. It's just a bead on the edge of the seat that the fabric goes over. I did notice that my puddling was smaller than what was done by Kirkie. Maybe they used a larger diameter filler rod?
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