Hi guys, here are some beads I ran last night with my Smiley TIG. Some passes were with filler some without. I realized, that with using a 3/32 tungsten, the 1/16 filler wasnt cutting it, I need 3/32 filler.

Settings on Smiley were maxed out at 120 amps.

Base metal was 1/4" steel flat bar I had laying around. I had some graying around the outside of the beads, so I turned my argon up to 30cfm ( which I think is really high for welding in a garage) and kinda solved the problem. I think it was needing a flapper disk to clean up the surface. But please advice me on my technique and what else I can do.

I apologize for the pics, camera phone

 

Try actually welding 2 peices of metal together. That would give use a better idea of what your doing.

 

I did, piece of angle iron, seen in the first two pics. I'll use my good camera tonight. I wanted to run some beads on the flat bar to see what kind of puddle action I could muster up

 

looks good from those shitty pictures :P why do you need 3/32 filler? that ---- is thick as hell. 1/16 should suffice.

 

I've used 3/32 filler on MS, it was nice depending on what I was weldigon, the burn is a lot more controlled as you don't dab your filler as much, but I got those filler rods for free and wanted to try them, I only use 1/16 or .035 on REALLY thin ---- all the time now.

 

I use 1/16" for just about everything.

 

with 3/32 tungsten? Reason I ask, is on the beads I ran on the flat bar, I wanted to get some raised beads and the 1/16 seemed to be too thin, But on my fillet welds it seemed to be adequate.
Keep in mind guys, this was my first night, about 4 hours worth of welding

 

Ya, but answer me this. When ever are you going to need to weld a bead straight across a peice of flat bar?

 

Yeah, 3/32 2%

 

how much did the smiley tig cost you?