Search found 16 matches

by CaseyCat89
Thu Mar 30, 2017 10:57 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Why are my aluminum welds turning out like this?
Replies: 16
Views: 9660

Re: Why are my aluminum welds turning out like this?

All the aluminum I've welded is 6061 with 4043 filler and never a problem. That is interesting. If it is sticking to the plate like you are saying you have to keep the rod off the plate. I do it a lot when running aluminum get lazy rest it on the plate and then it won't move and then got to stop or...
by CaseyCat89
Thu Mar 30, 2017 10:06 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Why are my aluminum welds turning out like this?
Replies: 16
Views: 9660

Re: Why are my aluminum welds turning out like this?

So, I still didn't figure out the problem completely, but I believe it's filler and/or gas related. I bought new filler from a more reputable place, cleaned the aluminum with aluminum cleaner for welding and a new stainless brush, cleaned the filler, and the 4043 still turned out looking just as bad...
by CaseyCat89
Wed Mar 29, 2017 9:46 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Why are my aluminum welds turning out like this?
Replies: 16
Views: 9660

Re: Why are my aluminum welds turning out like this?

Did you change argon cylinders? Yeah, I used a different machine with a different tank of argon with the same result. The funny thing is, my instructor welded the other day on the same joint to look at my issue, and while his bead was laid in the joint correctly, it was also excessively grey and ki...
by CaseyCat89
Wed Mar 29, 2017 5:58 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Why are my aluminum welds turning out like this?
Replies: 16
Views: 9660

Re: Why are my aluminum welds turning out like this?

Did you change argon cylinders? Yeah, I used a different machine with a different tank of argon with the same result. The funny thing is, my instructor welded the other day on the same joint to look at my issue, and while his bead was laid in the joint correctly, it was also excessively grey and ki...
by CaseyCat89
Fri Mar 24, 2017 9:29 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Why are my aluminum welds turning out like this?
Replies: 16
Views: 9660

Re: Why are my aluminum welds turning out like this?

Are you using the same base material and filler alloy? Its 6061 aluminum and 4043 filler 140 amps is enough to get the job done on 1/8" aluminum. My guess is that you were using 6061 filler on the good weld and now you have switched to 4043 filler. 4043 doesn't flow as evenly as does 6061. You...
by CaseyCat89
Fri Mar 24, 2017 2:04 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Why are my aluminum welds turning out like this?
Replies: 16
Views: 9660

Why are my aluminum welds turning out like this?

I was working on flat T joints in school about a month ago, then worked on some vertical up and now I'm working on flat again. Last time I welded this joint the welds looked great (last pic attached). Now all I get is frosty, dull grey welds with the same settings on the same material. 180 amps (to ...
by CaseyCat89
Wed Mar 08, 2017 12:18 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Frustrations with vertical up aluminum TIG
Replies: 20
Views: 3934

Re: Frustrations with vertical up aluminum TIG

This is slightly off topic, but I think you deserve the comment. It really doesn't matter what school, what instruction, or what program you attend. The extent and quality of your education will always depend upon you. You can extract everything you need from the worst school. True, you may not hav...
by CaseyCat89
Tue Mar 07, 2017 7:58 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Frustrations with vertical up aluminum TIG
Replies: 20
Views: 3934

Re: Frustrations with vertical up aluminum TIG

What kind of school are you going to? Uh oh our one tig teacher is gone so we can't teach it? Do none of the other instructors know how to tig weld. That is one crappy set up. Most of the money in welding is stick and tig. Props to you for taking the initiative to learn and coming here for help. I ...
by CaseyCat89
Tue Mar 07, 2017 7:36 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Frustrations with vertical up aluminum TIG
Replies: 20
Views: 3934

Re: Frustrations with vertical up aluminum TIG

Aside from looking pretty good, if you want "critique" then I'd say two things: by the time you reach the last 1/3 of your weld, the accumulated heat is building up a great deal more than you think. You can back off the pedal a little bit and not have to rush so much. It looks like you ge...
by CaseyCat89
Tue Mar 07, 2017 7:29 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Frustrations with vertical up aluminum TIG
Replies: 20
Views: 3934

Re: Frustrations with vertical up aluminum TIG

Hey exnailpounder, my school doesn't really emphasis TIG much since they lost their primary TIG instructor. I'm the only student there this year who is going for the TIG general cert. They don't really require me to do all positions, but I wanted to learn anyway because I want my knowledge to be bro...
by CaseyCat89
Tue Mar 07, 2017 6:00 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Frustrations with vertical up aluminum TIG
Replies: 20
Views: 3934

Frustrations with vertical up aluminum TIG

I'm currently practicing TIG aluminum in the vertical up position and it's been a difficult challenge. I think I've been working on Tee joints in this position for almost a month and I feel like I'm not seeing the progress I should be. I really just need someone to look at my positioning and beads b...
by CaseyCat89
Sat Feb 11, 2017 9:17 pm
Forum: Welding Projects - Welding project Ideas - Welding project plans
Topic: First Project: China box smoker. Looking for advice
Replies: 1
Views: 651

First Project: China box smoker. Looking for advice

Hi there, A neighbor has come to me with a project he would like built. He wants a custom "china box smoker". I've attached a photo on the bottom to show what the components are. The idea we came up with is a simplified version of this, and it would not have a top grill like the one in the...
by CaseyCat89
Thu Oct 20, 2016 9:29 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Really need help with aluminum tig butt welds. Pics attached
Replies: 16
Views: 2458

Re: Really need help with aluminum tig butt welds. Pics atta

Bottom line is still the detail in viewing the puddle and arc but not much talk about the frequency on this weld type. I've found aluminum butt welds looked prettier on my old transformer welder and balled pure tung when I first got the new one. Everything else was better, it seemed, with the newer...
by CaseyCat89
Thu Oct 20, 2016 11:52 am
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Really need help with aluminum tig butt welds. Pics attached
Replies: 16
Views: 2458

Re: Really need help with aluminum tig butt welds. Pics atta

I would respectfully disagree on beveling 1/8" and below. Without a gap, full penetration and proper weld is possible after a ton (or metric ton) of practice. 130 amps is a little low - I would be at 150 amps at the start at least. The practice pieces are too small in my opinion. Not enough ma...
by CaseyCat89
Wed Oct 19, 2016 8:12 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Really need help with aluminum tig butt welds. Pics attached
Replies: 16
Views: 2458

Re: Really need help with aluminum tig butt welds. Pics atta

Thanks guys, I clean the aluminum with a dedicated SS brush and scotch brite pad before welding, including the edges. They don't allow us to use acetone or any other solvents to clean it at school. I clean the filler with the scotch brite pad too. The way another tig student showed me today did help...
by CaseyCat89
Wed Oct 19, 2016 12:46 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Really need help with aluminum tig butt welds. Pics attached
Replies: 16
Views: 2458

Really need help with aluminum tig butt welds. Pics attached

I'm a student in trade school trying to cert in TIG. I've been running aluminum beads pretty well, but I've hit a wall with butt welds and I feel like I'm missing something. I've gotten three different answers from my instructors, and my TIG mentor was let go recently so I feel like I don't have som...