Welding Tips and Tricks

OK. So I was trying my hand at tig welding aluminum, neither of which I've done before. I don't know how to adjust the settings. In all of the reading that I've done, there seems to be no consistency. I am trying to reach out to those that actually do this. In the pix that I have attached are the pieces that my shop has. Hand controls, no foot control for the torch. HF 251 D, trailblazer 302D and WC 24 (for aluminum MIG). Trying to understand the settings. I am told that on the HF box, I should max it and put it on START not continuous, and switch to remote (then use my thumb control to fine tune). On the generator, I should be 150-200 amps and on a/c. And I do not use the WC 24 for tig. Am I correct on all of this? Please, any of those that can help, I take all suggestions.

Welcome, Tom,

First, you should be on "continuous" HFAC for aluminum....

Steve S

Otto Nobedder wrote:Welcome, Tom,

First, you should be on "continuous" HFAC for aluminum....

Steve S

Thanx. Now with tig, your current is adjusted by amp settings correct? I had someone else tell me that I should Max the amperage on my machine.

If you're using the remote, then, yes, crank up the machine. Whether you want "max" or not depends on the thickness you're welding, but, starting out, for anything 1/8" and over I'd max it at the machine. It takes a lot of heat to get the weld started.

Steve S

Otto Nobedder wrote:If you're using the remote, then, yes, crank up the machine. Whether you want "max" or not depends on the thickness you're welding, but, starting out, for anything 1/8" and over I'd max it at the machine. It takes a lot of heat to get the weld started.

Steve S

I think if he is only doing 1/8", max on that welder would require him to rotate that thumb wheel down pretty fast

150-200 should be enough I would think

Edit: I'm wrong, just looked up the specs - it only maxed out at 225 AC - listen to Steve

I seem to remember Lanse & his mate Pete did a couple of videos Tig welding from a trailblazer - maybe worth a look on YouTube - think he ran through machine settings.