[Jeff2016]

Hey CJ,

I've watched a few videos on Siler.

I haven't seen much about amp settings. The settings that I've noticed seem high for not melting the base metal.

Should the same rule of thumb for mild steel work well for these joints?

Thanks,

Jeff

[cj737]

No. Much less heated is needed. You are only “heating the base material” enough to melt the filler. You’re not fusing the filler with the parent.

For 1/8” I steel TIG around 130. For SilBr I’m closer to 90-95. That’s based off 3/32” filler. I like to run hot so the puddle is fluid. It allows me to move faster and work the puddle with less filler. Just how I do it…

Probably because a mate who used to run 6010 downhill ran it so hot the keyhole was behind the stick and the fluidity chased him due to gravity and heat and filler the root so perfectly. You’d swear he did it on a rotary. Dude could stick like nobody I’ve ever seen. That left an impression about heat control and fluidity of the puddle.

Not for everyone and my eyes probably are telling me to slow down and turn it down a bit more now. Who listens to Old Man Time anyway…

[Jeff2016]

CJ,

"Who listens to Old Man Time anyway."

Now that's funny.

I know I certainly do. (And when I don't, I sure wish that I had listened.)

Thanks for the advice on the current settings. For 1/16" Does it sound right to start out at 45 to 50 A with. 0405 filler, or possibly 1/16" filler?

Jeff

[cj737]

It does to me. You can always adjust up or down with the pedal to find your comfort zone.

[Jeff2016]

Hi CJ,

A couple attempts at outside corners on an inside out cube. I always have trouble controlling heat on these cubes when using mild steel filler. With the SilBr it is still a bit of a challenge. Quite a ways to go....

One of these pics may be acceptable, the other not so much. (I also need to go back and fill the voids on both at the corner.)

Thanks,

Jeff

[cj737]

Lower the heat you’re using and you’ll have better results. You almost want to have to “wait” for the filler to melt because the base is not quite hot enough. Loitering heats the base enough to get the filler to melt.

If you’re too hot, you run the risk of melting into the base and mixing the metals.

[Jeff2016]

CJ,

Thanks,

The metal is 11 ga mild steel. I was using 3/32 SilBr. I started out at 100 A. The last few corners were at 85 A. I could feel what you described.. almost like the liquid filler just soaked up the filler rod too quickly.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Jeff