I used to weld copper a lot. We did work for a company that made crosses for the steeple on churches. They would take them and have them gold plated. It was pretty easy, there can be a lot of distortion in some alloys. Ya have to experiment a little. But like said look for de-oxidized copper. There ...

Good to point out HFAC interference Nova. It may be important to note that HF interference is easily avoidable by grounding all fo the metal stuff in the shop. If you ground the work tables, metal rack and other large items there will be no chance of interference. If you refer to the manual that com...

Thanks for the correction.

They are on Ebay. Im gonna check with my supplier too.

Pure tungsten is pure crap. Balling sucks too.

Go with lanthanated. Rounded tip.

I would love to try the zirconioated.

Hmm, just checked, zirconiated is available in the US and it is color coated 'brown'

Sometimes SS will have rust on it from carbon steel contamination Either from tooling or steel that is around it. That would mostly show up on the surface. Try putting a magnet on it. Most SS isnt magnetic, that is not 100% cause some SS is magnetic. Im pretty sure you could use almost any SS rods t...

Oh yeah, I remember hearing that, I wonder if that is true? Im new to glasses, had 20/20 my whole life till a few years ago.

If its true, I could just drink some milk.

Now, THAT. is artwork right there. I am impressed. Really cool. Do you have to form the plates that make up the hull or do you just bend them in line? Is there compound bending? I think Australia leads the world in aluminum boat and ship building. This company makes some cool Aluminum boats. http://...

I wear bifocals and it is a real problem, I get funny looks from people when they see me wearing my glasses upside down. With some tests coming up I have to do something cause I run into the same problem you are having. I have to get a pair of large lens glasses with my far sighted prescription on t...

Man that boat is SWEET! I would love to build something like that. Do you make these on your own or do you work for someone, if I may be so bold?

Jpence, so using helium tigging aluminum you will get better penetration? Thats very interesting. I am pushing it sometimes on heavier material.

Plate boats? That's awesome. I would love to see some pics. Ever see the USS Independence LC2. Man, that thing is bad ass. I use Helium when welding titanium, and on Stainless in is real clean. I notice that I can run it at 10-15 with no problems where I run the argon at about 20. So maybe a bottle ...

One thing about Tiggin aluminum is it is kinda hard to get the hang of, but once you do it is soooo easy. It is soft, clean, solidifies fast and it just goes where you want.

A quick search turned up some wiki info. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-phase_electric_power Its crazy stuff. I wired it up to the static converter myself and I am not an electrician. :? I was biting my lip when I threw breaker to the on position. I have the 240 two phase going to a static convert...

Sounds like you are not getting enough shielding at the weld pool. The weld may be crystallizing. Try sticking the tungsten out only a small amount past the cup. Maybe 3/16. Do it by loosening the collet and resting the cup and tungsten on a hard surface. Then lean the cup over untill you get it whe...

Yep, it is definitely not 'split phase'. We were talking about it today. It is two-phase. Philadelphia and I think Cincinnati are the only two cities that still have it. Many of the old industrial buildings in these cities are still wired with it. It was phased out (no pun intended) around 1910. The...

They refer to tungsten as "semi consumable". Meaning yes it does become consumed, but very slowly. When I weld stainless steel I get a point to last a long time, sometimes even a whole day of welding if I don't accidentally dunk it. Half inch sounds a bit far. Are you reaching? If it is ou...

Not sure what you mean when you say 'wear down''? If you are sharpening a point and after a short time of welding the point is gone you are most likely pulling contamination from somewhere. Could be you are too close to the steel and the tungsten is pulling up some steel. Or there is not enough shie...

Im pretty sure it is true two phase. Each Phase differing in voltage by 90 degrees. There are 4 wires two for each phase. No neutral. Its definitely strange.

My shop is in an 19th century textile mill.

Have you tried clamping some other heavy piece of stock along the outside like a splint?

This might pull everything in line.

Clamp up both sides like that before you tack it together so you are not fighting it on the other side.

Does that make sense?

It has AC. Same machine just a little less power.

The HF start machines work great for stick too. You can use the Ac, and hot start for stick welding too. No need to strike the arc. Just get the rod close and you are welding.

Do the lift start machines work with stick?

The machine has to have lift start capabilities. What it does is the current wont start until you litf the tungsten away from the metal. For example; you touch the tungsten to the work piece and hit the current. The machine will not deliver power until you lift the tungsten away and then the arc wil...

They say the milk thing here for welding galvanized steel. Personally I think it is BS. Plus it is better to wear a respirator, grind the galvanizing and use an exhaust system. Milk....nah.

Interesting. I want to try it. I have some welding tests coming up. One of which is aluminum pipe, I think? I dont know if it will be open route or backing strip. Trying to get the info. All this talk reminds me of a place I worked at briefly years ago. It was aluminum pipe welding with all kinds of...

That makes perfect sense.

I have never welded Al pipe with a backing. Im either welding couplings on tanks or pipes.

May be a stupid question; but, the backing sleeves into the pipe? Then the key hole opens up off of the backing plate?

Hey Otto, great looking welds and your explainatons are very well written.

I see Airgass is looking for more combo welders. I was thinking of sending my resume.

On your aluminum pipe weld do you dip or do you burry the rod and drag? I have a lot of luck with the burry and drag techniquie.

Yes, but if there is only one regulator you will still have to change the hose over. The alternative would be to put a y valve on the bottle and have two regulators. Im pretty sure then you could run two machines at the same time. Perhaps you can put a Y valve after the regulator then run either wel...