All the aluminum I've welded is 6061 with 4043 filler and never a problem. That is interesting. If it is sticking to the plate like you are saying you have to keep the rod off the plate. I do it a lot when running aluminum get lazy rest it on the plate and then it won't move and then got to stop or...

So, I still didn't figure out the problem completely, but I believe it's filler and/or gas related. I bought new filler from a more reputable place, cleaned the aluminum with aluminum cleaner for welding and a new stainless brush, cleaned the filler, and the 4043 still turned out looking just as bad...

Did you change argon cylinders? Yeah, I used a different machine with a different tank of argon with the same result. The funny thing is, my instructor welded the other day on the same joint to look at my issue, and while his bead was laid in the joint correctly, it was also excessively grey and ki...

Did you change argon cylinders? Yeah, I used a different machine with a different tank of argon with the same result. The funny thing is, my instructor welded the other day on the same joint to look at my issue, and while his bead was laid in the joint correctly, it was also excessively grey and ki...

Are you using the same base material and filler alloy? Its 6061 aluminum and 4043 filler 140 amps is enough to get the job done on 1/8" aluminum. My guess is that you were using 6061 filler on the good weld and now you have switched to 4043 filler. 4043 doesn't flow as evenly as does 6061. You...

I was working on flat T joints in school about a month ago, then worked on some vertical up and now I'm working on flat again. Last time I welded this joint the welds looked great (last pic attached). Now all I get is frosty, dull grey welds with the same settings on the same material. 180 amps (to ...

This is slightly off topic, but I think you deserve the comment. It really doesn't matter what school, what instruction, or what program you attend. The extent and quality of your education will always depend upon you. You can extract everything you need from the worst school. True, you may not hav...

What kind of school are you going to? Uh oh our one tig teacher is gone so we can't teach it? Do none of the other instructors know how to tig weld. That is one crappy set up. Most of the money in welding is stick and tig. Props to you for taking the initiative to learn and coming here for help. I ...

Aside from looking pretty good, if you want "critique" then I'd say two things: by the time you reach the last 1/3 of your weld, the accumulated heat is building up a great deal more than you think. You can back off the pedal a little bit and not have to rush so much. It looks like you ge...

Hey exnailpounder, my school doesn't really emphasis TIG much since they lost their primary TIG instructor. I'm the only student there this year who is going for the TIG general cert. They don't really require me to do all positions, but I wanted to learn anyway because I want my knowledge to be bro...

I'm currently practicing TIG aluminum in the vertical up position and it's been a difficult challenge. I think I've been working on Tee joints in this position for almost a month and I feel like I'm not seeing the progress I should be. I really just need someone to look at my positioning and beads b...

Hi there, A neighbor has come to me with a project he would like built. He wants a custom "china box smoker". I've attached a photo on the bottom to show what the components are. The idea we came up with is a simplified version of this, and it would not have a top grill like the one in the...

Bottom line is still the detail in viewing the puddle and arc but not much talk about the frequency on this weld type. I've found aluminum butt welds looked prettier on my old transformer welder and balled pure tung when I first got the new one. Everything else was better, it seemed, with the newer...

I would respectfully disagree on beveling 1/8" and below. Without a gap, full penetration and proper weld is possible after a ton (or metric ton) of practice. 130 amps is a little low - I would be at 150 amps at the start at least. The practice pieces are too small in my opinion. Not enough ma...

Thanks guys, I clean the aluminum with a dedicated SS brush and scotch brite pad before welding, including the edges. They don't allow us to use acetone or any other solvents to clean it at school. I clean the filler with the scotch brite pad too. The way another tig student showed me today did help...

I'm a student in trade school trying to cert in TIG. I've been running aluminum beads pretty well, but I've hit a wall with butt welds and I feel like I'm missing something. I've gotten three different answers from my instructors, and my TIG mentor was let go recently so I feel like I don't have som...