Welding Tips and Tricks

New to Tig Welding, I am a hobbiest and I've used and "mastered" other processes. I got some pictures here and was wondering if I can get some little tips.

Welcome Juliano
The dark tungsten, you need more post flow time

Tell us what machine you have, and your settings

add to the above,

what are you welding?
is it cleaned?
what gas are you running?
thats some funking looking marking around the welds.

I got an eastwood tig 200, I have a 75% co2 argon mix @ 15 cfh and running with a 3/32 tungsten set at 110 amps. The steel is 3/16" and it wasn't cleaned before use. I know that it should be cleaned with a wire brush but I was too lazy to pull out the grinder . However I don't dip the tungsten in the weld pool and it still has trouble keeping a pointy tip.

Juliano_R wrote:I got an eastwood tig 200, I have a 75% co2 argon mix @ 15 cfh and running with a 3/32 tungsten set at 110 amps. The steel is 3/16" and it wasn't cleaned before use. I know that it should be cleaned with a wire brush but I was too lazy to pull out the grinder . However I don't dip the tungsten in the weld pool and it still has trouble keeping a pointy tip.

forgot to mention, running 0.1s pre flow and 4seconds post flow

Juliano_R wrote:, I have a 75% co2 argon mix

thats why its all funky and probably why the electrode is looking bad.
you need 100% argon.

I though you needed 100% argon just for aluminium

Juliano_R wrote:I though you needed 100% argon just for aluminium

with tig you need argon for everything.
with mig you need argon for aluminium.
thats one reason i prefer tig. you can use one gas with everything.
with mig you need to change the gas for each material and even material size.

Alright thanks for the tips, looking forward to drop $250 on an argon tank..

Gotta pay to play. Search your craigslist first. I've scores lots of empty tanks for $75-$100. Just have to make sure your LWS accepts trade-in's that you "own".

Juliano_R wrote:Alright thanks for the tips, looking forward to drop $250 on an argon tank..

You might be able to take your C25 tank back, even if its not empty and exchange for pure argon, that way you just pay for the argon and not another tank. My lws says a tank is a tank, you don't have to get what you bring in. good luck!

Don't buy a tank that is stamped with a company name at the neck (its not an owners) and make sure you can trade it like others said.

Juliano_R wrote:

Juliano_R wrote:I got an eastwood tig 200, I have a 75% co2 argon mix @ 15 cfh and running with a 3/32 tungsten set at 110 amps. The steel is 3/16" and it wasn't cleaned before use. I know that it should be cleaned with a wire brush but I was too lazy to pull out the grinder . However I don't dip the tungsten in the weld pool and it still has trouble keeping a pointy tip.

forgot to mention, running 0.1s pre flow and 4seconds post flow

Some people say a rule of thumb for post flow is 1 sec for every 10 amps.

Juliano_R wrote:Alright thanks for the tips, looking forward to drop $250 on an argon tank..

You can buy a 125 cf argon cylinder full of gas delivered to your door for free from Amazon. Have done this and was very happy. More than half the price of my LWS


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