Welding Tips and Tricks

First off - thanks for all the information and videos. I'll be ordering my tig finger and some DVDs later today.

Newbee tig welder but getting better. One thing I seem to run into from time to time - when I get my arc started I will get both metals (mild steel) to puddle but the puddles will stay separate. When it happens I try different torch angles or spacing from the material - not really sure what fixes it. Comes and goes - I think the parts are clean (I use acetone) and the fit up is good. If I dip the rod into the separate puddles I can sometime to get them to combine and then it seems good from there but I'm wondering what I am doing wrong to cause it.

An suggestions appreciated.....

Thanks.

gmcconn1 wrote:First off - thanks for all the information and videos. I'll be ordering my tig finger and some DVDs later today.

Newbee tig welder but getting better. One thing I seem to run into from time to time - when I get my arc started I will get both metals (mild steel) to puddle but the puddles will stay separate. When it happens I try different torch angles or spacing from the material - not really sure what fixes it. Comes and goes - I think the parts are clean (I use acetone) and the fit up is good. If I dip the rod into the separate puddles I can sometime to get them to combine and then it seems good from there but I'm wondering what I am doing wrong to cause it.

An suggestions appreciated.....

Thanks.

What kind of weld are you trying to make? Give us some parameters such as metal thickness and amperage and all that kind of stuff so we have info to help you.

If your not running hot enough that can sometimes be a problem. Or if stuff is dirty. I work on a lot of stuff that's been in service and no way to clean it 100%. You can sometimes get your toungsten real close almost like your intentionally dipping it and then they will pull togeather. Or you can try adding a dab of filler to connect the two spots. Once they are touching then the pieces will heat more evenly and your problem will go away. If there is anyway to clamp or secure the pieces so there is no gap at all that can help some too.

sometimes its as simples as torch
length or torch angle.
more so with aluminum then mild steel.
craig

Thanks for the responses.

So most recently I was welding .083 thick mild steel square tube - trying a butt joint.

Using 100% Argon - Welder set to ~ 75 amps. 3/32 red tungsten.

The outside was clean - ground and wiped with Acetone. Inside I noticed is pretty dirty.

gmcconn1 wrote:Thanks for the responses.

So most recently I was welding .083 thick mild steel square tube - trying a butt joint.

Using 100% Argon - Welder set to ~ 75 amps. 3/32 red tungsten.

The outside was clean - ground and wiped with Acetone. Inside I noticed is pretty dirty.

Amps are too low...1 amp per thousandth of thickness. You should be at 90 amps or better with a pedal. You were welding too cold and waiting for a puddle to form.

How good is your fit up?

I had similar problems using round tube when I first started out. I'd rushed the cutting and my fit up wasn't tight enough, also the material was clean outside but a bit dirty on the inside of the tube.

The result was that the gas shielding was being sucked all over the place (through the gap) and that rubbish was coming up from inside the tube, too , causing contamination.

I cleaned the inside of the tube, worked on the fit up until it was super tight - problem solved.


Kym

Thanks.

It was a straight up butt joint so the fit up was good but I will try cleaning the inside as well.

I have read in other posts about welding too cold and slow so it heats up the metal too much. I'll also try increasing the amperage and moving faster.

Thanks exnailpoounder and mosquitomoto...

Yup, big mistake not bumping up the amperage. It's just one of those newb mistakes. I did it. If they're touching, blast it with 100A but for just a split second, add rod, then back off as you move along.