Tig Welding advice needed, video, pics and questions inside.
 

Hi,

So I got my 180SD 2-3 weeks ago, had an issue with the power in the garage but all is fixed now so I could actually start laying some welds.

I think I'm doing ok but I would like help. I'm just working on technique now.

Please forgive some of the pics, camera doesn't take nice detailed close ups.

So here's the machine with the settings as in the pictures with the Argon at 15cfm:

http://www.jandtperformance.com/img/welding/machine.jpg

Welding 1/8th mild steel, 3/32nd 2% thoriated (I think, it's red band) tungsten with mild steel filler.

Electrode grounded to a point the proper way and sticking out from the nozzle like this:

http://www.jandtperformance.com/img/.../electrode.jpg

Here's what it's like when I'm welding, I took this video with my digi cam with a #10 spare welding shade taped to it..lol not the best view but you get the idea of what I'm doing.

http://www.jandtperformance.com/img/welding/filler.avi

Here's the result, look at the top left weld for this one I did in the video (again focus not really good on camera)

http://www.jandtperformance.com/img/welding/welds.jpg

And this is putting 2 pieces together, I started from the right to left and the yellow marks are my passes so I started off like poo and turned out ok as I went along.

http://www.jandtperformance.com/img/welding/welds1.jpg

What do you guys think?

Questions:

-T304 stainless piping, i have T308 filler, is that good?
-how far away from the metal do you hold the electrode tip?
-why is welding piping harder then flat? ;) (this is just me being frustrated lol)

Comments are welcome, I'm not a pro welder but I'd like to get better.

Re: Tig Welding advice needed, video, pics and questions inside.
 

practice practice practice, and remember when your doing stainless lower heat use the least amount of heat as posible

Re: Tig Welding advice needed, video, pics and questions inside.
 

you gotta work on your speed as you move across the piece. it's lookin like your slowing down, then speeding up, then slowing down, yada yada yada. work on 1 constant speed to make nice straight edges. and everyone's gonna tell you this, but the only way to get good is to practice

Re: Tig Welding advice needed, video, pics and questions inside.
 

Thanks guys, and yeah, practice, practice, practice! :)

Thanks for the tip about the lower heat setting, I did notice that for the same thickness of mild steel and the same amp's it would blow through stainless.

How about the "Is T-308 good filler for T-304 piping?"

Re: Tig Welding advice needed, video, pics and questions inside.
 

My hobart unit came w/recomended settings/filler per metal thickness/ect. so that took some of the guess work outta things and allowed me to focus on technique.

Re: Tig Welding advice needed, video, pics and questions inside.
 

Like everyone says its about consistency to get a good even weld.

I would first start by retracting your tungsten a bit. Bring it so that the cone starts where the cup ends.

Are you dabbing or walking your filler rod. The best results are from sizing your filler rod to the thickness of the metal and then moving your puddle so that it "walks over" stationary filler rod. This way you get consistent filler addition and puddle size. When you get your forward angle right you'll be able to see a tiny stream of filler flowing into your puddle as you move forward. Practice and more practice.

Re: Tig Welding advice needed, video, pics and questions inside.
 

Sweet, those are good tips.

I'm now dipping into it and I find that sometimes if my timing is off I'm hitting the electrode with the filler :S

I'll keep practicing for sure.

Re: Tig Welding advice needed, video, pics and questions inside.
 

TIG welding is a lot of skill and a lot of cleaning the material to produce good welds. Oh and another thing generally welding stainless requires more heat to weld than mild steel. But your welds look good for just starting out