Tig welding tips, questions, equipment, applications, instructions, techniques, tig welding machines, troubleshooting tig welding process
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awal88
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I'm just started doing tig welding on pipe and I'm and right handed and I'm am really having a hard time with the right side of the pipe I tried using my left hand but its really uncomfortable and when I use my right hand and wrap around the pipe I have a hard time seeing what I'm doing
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awal88 wrote:I'm just started doing tig welding on pipe and I'm and right handed and I'm am really having a hard time with the right side of the pipe I tried using my left hand but its really uncomfortable and when I use my right hand and wrap around the pipe I have a hard time seeing what I'm doing
Here's Jody's bunch of tig video's.
He has a handful of 6g video's.
Might have a look thru them.
http://welding-tv.com/category/tig-welding/
~John
Just a couple welders and a couple of big hammers and torches.

Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it.
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coldman
  • coldman

Unless you are allowed to reposition your coupon during the 6G test, it is difficult to get both side of the pipe done with your right hand only. The best way is to learn to use your left hand as well. Let's face it, if you are seeking a career that involves pipe welding, you're going to have to learn lefty anyway.

It feels awkward and just plain wrong to start with. Helmet time fixes this, nothing else. Put in as much practice as possible and you will be surprised how quick it normalizes. (Cursing every time you stick your tungsten also helps, but keep it sharp).
Good luck!
awal88
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Lol yeah that's the biggest problem I have left handed is getting into position and not sticking my tungsten
Rick_H
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Are you walking the cup or dabbing? Either way make a lot of practice dry runs with the torch and muscle memory will help you a lot. I have found since I prepared and passed my ASME IX pipe and pressure vessel cert I am a lot more comfortable swapping hands. Now I switch back and forth all the time it makes life much easier.

Just watch your torch angle that was the hardest thing left handed for me as I was coming up the left side.
I weld stainless, stainless and more stainless...Food Industry, sanitary process piping, vessels, whatever is needed, I like to make stuff.
ASME IX, AWS 17.1, D1.1
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