Welding Tips and Tricks

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 had the guy demo it for me. He laid down some really nice welds with it. I started practicing and really got nowhere. Then yesterday I got in a Miller auto darkening helmet I got off Ebay and my test welds improved dramatically. I can actually see what I'm doing now.

I'm going to keep practicing and maybe someday soon I will have a bead I can post a pic of that I'm not too embarrassed to show on here. My first test part I'm going to wrap up in three layers of something and throw away so no one can ever see it

Welcome to the forum! Have you seen the TIG welding instructional videos that Jody (our host on this site) has produced?

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.

alloy,
You'll need to learn to add the filler rod to the leading edge of the puddle and not to the arc itself. If you keep it to the leading edge the puddle will pull in only the amount it needs. If you pull the torch reward and up slightly as you add filler then advance about an 1/8", it's a timing thing that takes practice. Keep after it, you'll get it down.

Len

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 instantly with the new helmet.

You won't get Stack of dimes without filler. Also that look is not required for a sound TIG weld. What material are you welding?

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.