OK so I did some but welds with 1/8" aluminum. They looked so pretty . Then I ground down the weld and I noticed that I could see a line where the joint matched up. I was surprised because it seems to me this means I had only the most superficial penetration (yet the joint feels solid). So I tested how much time on my inverter it would take to get complete penetration and it was a long time at a lot of heat. I swear I almost saw the puddle drop as a sign of complete penetration. After complete penetration the metal shape was pretty distorted from the heat. Long story short what do you guys/gals look at as a sign you have adequate penetration to advance the tungsten when looking for complete vs only partial penetration
Hope this makes sense. thanks
Tig welding tips, questions, equipment, applications, instructions, techniques, tig welding machines, troubleshooting tig welding process
- MinnesotaDave
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Weldmonger
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Joined:Sun Oct 27, 2013 10:57 pm
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Location:Big Lake/Monticello MN, U.S.A.
More power allows you to penetrate quickly and get moving - 3 seconds or less approximately.
170 amps starts the puddle quickly, you'll see the puddle drop very slightly - don't miss it as this will be your only signal.
170 amps starts the puddle quickly, you'll see the puddle drop very slightly - don't miss it as this will be your only signal.
Dave J.
Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~
Syncro 350
Invertec v250-s
Thermal Arc 161 and 300
MM210
Dialarc
Tried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~
Syncro 350
Invertec v250-s
Thermal Arc 161 and 300
MM210
Dialarc
Tried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
metaldreams
- metaldreams
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New Member
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Posts:
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Joined:Sun May 24, 2015 7:25 pm
thanks. I just went out and tried 170 amps and wow what a difference. I was using the miller calculator and was working at max amps 127. I was under the impression that inverters need less amps than the calculator suggested .
thanks
thanks
Inverter based welders consume less amperage from the outlet. That doesn't change the amperage output requirement at the tig torch/tungsten.metaldreams wrote:thanks. I just went out and tried 170 amps and wow what a difference. I was using the miller calculator and was working at max amps 127. I was under the impression that inverters need less amps than the calculator suggested .
thanks
metaldreams
- metaldreams
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New Member
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Joined:Sun May 24, 2015 7:25 pm
- MinnesotaDave
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Weldmonger
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Posts:
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Joined:Sun Oct 27, 2013 10:57 pm
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Location:Big Lake/Monticello MN, U.S.A.
Power is your friendmetaldreams wrote:thanks. I just went out and tried 170 amps and wow what a difference. I was using the miller calculator and was working at max amps 127. I was under the impression that inverters need less amps than the calculator suggested .
thanks
Dave J.
Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~
Syncro 350
Invertec v250-s
Thermal Arc 161 and 300
MM210
Dialarc
Tried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~
Syncro 350
Invertec v250-s
Thermal Arc 161 and 300
MM210
Dialarc
Tried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Dave is right power is your friend....crank it up and get moving.
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
Instagram #RNHFAB
ASME IX, AWS 17.1, D1.1
Instagram #RNHFAB
metaldreams
- metaldreams
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New Member
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Posts:
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Joined:Sun May 24, 2015 7:25 pm
thanks everyone. I got into tig for thin aluminum so I was always afraid of burn through. This is the thickest material I have worked with. I will kick up the power. By the way I have struggled with fillet welds on aluminum but cranked up the power and it went like a breeze. Thanks again
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