Welding Tips and Tricks

Hi - new to the forum here - would like to brush up on free hand tig - the lab I weld at has only size 17 torch - this makes it hard to post my hand or prop my finger with the tig finger and have the electrode pointed at the joint - I can walk the cup fine with bigger big or when there is a bevel even on smaller pipe but really like to free hand it on smaller pipe - so am asking for any tips on how to get by this or is it just get a smaller torch - hope made sense thanks Dave

Dave,
My opinion is you are going to have to just practice. Try running beads 2" long in a strait line and move up to longer beads as you get more comfortable. You can get a plate and just pad beads all day, this will teach you free hand and how not to dip the tungsten. Since pipe is your goal, practice on the flat and then practice, practice, practice on some pipe. Propping will be a big thing to learn, get a Tig Finger!
-Jonathan

Chunky rigid torches can be a challenge. One solution is a torch with a flex head (not so good for walking the cup, I hear), or a torch like CK's FlexLoc 150 with a pivoting head. Add in their Superflex cable, and you have a very nimble size 17 solution. Because you can pivot the head, it's easier to prop and still have a good angle on the tungsten.

After buying this setup (plus some shorter cup setups), I've shelved plans to add a small size 9 torch to my toolbox, which would have used entirely different accessories. I use the FlexLoc up to about 150A and use a bulky 26 torch for hotter work (which shares accessories with the size 17).

A non-gear solution is to choke up on the torch, maybe even holding it around the head for low-amp work, which won't be too hot to handle. This makes it easier to prop your hand, and a Tig Finger will go a long way to keep from roasting your fingers from radiated heat or a hot workpiece.

Cheers,
Richard

Thanks for replies. Have thought about the gripping it nearer the head method - gets a bit toasty though! Air cooled torches - Thought about the flexi head or smaller torch but since these are what we have in the lab and more than likely all we will get in the field am trying to make do with whatever is there

An alternative is to craft a propping surface independent of the weld target (e.g., a clamp), so you can get the right angle with the torch you have.

Cheers,
Richard