Did a little more tonight. I started of ok and did my best bead so far, then it went downhill fast. I just can't find a comfortable way to hold the torch so I can control it. I got another torch in today that doesn't have the button on the side of it and that helped, made it easier to hold. I'll kee...

This was 1/8" material. I have been sanding the material, but I've been through so much this weekend I gave up sanding until I got a better looking bead. I also have some 16 gauge material to practice on. I will start sanding again on my next try at it. I do have a tig finger, it really helps s...

Here is my latest effort. To save gas I have pre and post flow off. I'm still struggling with torch control, I'm jerky when moving the torch, but I went 1/2 hour without dipping the tungsten. That's the longest time yet for me. I was using a lanthanated tungsten and was struggling so I watched a vid...

I went and got some thinner material before the supply yard closed for the weekend. I think they are about 1/16" and the others are 1/8". The thin burns through very easily. Haven't tried the 1/8" yet. I will tomorrow. I've not tried to weld two pieces together yet, just running beads...

Would you suggest some thinner material to practice on? These were 6"x6" pre cut plates at $2. They have thinner material there also. I just watched a vid and thy said the rule of thumb it 1 amp per 1 thou of thickness. I'd not seen that before now. I'll crank it up and give it a try. Than...

Got the tanks switched. Was much more than I thought it would be. $95 for a 150 tank. Got home and hooked it up and immediately noticed a difference. The arc started much easier, but I got no penetration. At 100 amps (same as the old gas) I didn't really get a puddle. Had to go up to 150 and still n...

Well that explains a lot. The tank was off my old mig welder.

I'll get it swapped out today. I look forward to seeing the difference it makes.

Thank you for letting me know.

I am advancing about 1/8" each time. It's looking better than when I first started. My beads with filler look more like my beads without filler. At first my beads with looked like a rope on top of the metal, now they do flow out, bu just not like I want them to. Here is a pic of my tank label.T...

I've been practicing since yesterday using the start pause technique and I just can't gt an acceptable looking bead. It looks like I'm either too hot or too cold when I back off on the pedal. I'm starting the weld, waiting for a puddle to form, dipping the rod, then moving and letting another puddle...

I've been practicing on 4130 tubing. Today I picked up some 3/16" 6"x6" CRS plates to practice on.

I have a thread in the tig forum about this.

I picked up some 6" x 6" 3/16" CRS plates today to practice on. They were cheap, $2 each.

I will see what I can do on them tomorrow. Been working overtime this week so haven't had any time to practice.

If I do any good I'll post some pics.

Thank you for your reply. It's a big help. I have sharpened my tungsten so many times I'm a pro at it. I got a box of ten and I'm pretty much through 3 of them already. I have some tubing and I cleaned it on my belt sander. It's a clean shiny surface when I'm done. I just went out and turned my pre ...

I have to say I never thought what I've done so far would inspire anyone :-) I almost instantly cured my dipping the tungsten when I got my Miller auto darkening helmet. No matter ho hard I tried with my old helmet I kept dipping or sticking the tungsten when starting the weld. There was just no way...

Hello everyone. New here. I picked up a Everlast 200DX about a week ago. I'm a machinist and have never really welded much before. The welder was a decent deal at $600 so I thought that tig welding would be a good skill to learn. I know I have hundreds if not thousands of hours ahead of me to get go...

Thank you. That's a very big help. I've not heard it explained like that. I've only been welding for a week now and I can run a 6" bead without dipping. My bead doesn't look like a stack of dimes yet, but it's way better with the new helmet. I was really surprised how my beads improved almost i...

Yes I have been watching his videos. They are a big help.

I also ordered a tig finger today.

I've been running beads without filler and it's going ok. Much better now that I got a new helmet so I can actually see what I'm doing. But I've found when you add filler rod it's a whole new ballgame.

New here today. I picked up an Everlast 200DX a couple of weeks ago and am going to attempt to learn how to use it. I'm a CNC Machinist by trade making parts for helicopters. I also have a small business at home modifying transmissions with my Bridgeport mill. I picked up the Everlast for $600 and h...