Search found 10 matches

by mlevinson
Mon Jul 06, 2015 11:41 am
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Beginners progress - feedback wanted!
Replies: 25
Views: 1875

Re: Beginners progress - feedback wanted!

What do you mean by Tungsten points? The high-frequency is generated by a Tesla coil (at least in transformer welders), and they have a set of points spaced for an arc-gap. These should be clean, square to each other, and set to the recommended gap. I assume this is what the post referred to. Steve...
by mlevinson
Sun Jul 05, 2015 12:39 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Beginners progress - feedback wanted!
Replies: 25
Views: 1875

Re: Beginners progress - feedback wanted!

For .125 aluminum you want amps at about 150. 1 amp per .001 thickness +25. Also post flow at 5 sec will help, 1 second Will definitely cause multiple issues. Also what bevel are you putting on the tungsten and are you grinding it on dedicated wheel/belt only for tungsten. Grind inline with the tun...
by mlevinson
Sat Jul 04, 2015 12:43 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Beginners progress - feedback wanted!
Replies: 25
Views: 1875

Re: Beginners progress - feedback wanted!

Thank you for the tips Len. I'll try a new Tungsten first. I never had this issue with the last Tungsten so hopefully it's something related to this one. I did crack this one when I was grinding it, however I cut it off and re-ground it. I can't remember if it started then or not.
by mlevinson
Sat Jul 04, 2015 10:15 am
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Beginners progress - feedback wanted!
Replies: 25
Views: 1875

Re: Beginners progress - feedback wanted!

New issue. When striking an arc sometimes the arc is coming from up inside the nozzle of the torch before it stabilizes at the tip. Is this at all normal??? I also sometimes an extremely weak arc between the tip and the material even when I am "wide open" on the pedal. I checked my ground ...
by mlevinson
Thu Jul 02, 2015 8:01 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Beginners progress - feedback wanted!
Replies: 25
Views: 1875

Re: Beginners progress - feedback wanted!

One very important question often over-looked in aluminum TIG welding: How long does it take for you to establish a puddle? Oscar - I'd love to know the answer to this. Well only you can answer this! you're the one doing the welding. :lol: If it takes you longer than 3s to get an appropriately size...
by mlevinson
Thu Jul 02, 2015 10:49 am
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Beginners progress - feedback wanted!
Replies: 25
Views: 1875

Re: Beginners progress - feedback wanted!

One very important question often over-looked in aluminum TIG welding: How long does it take for you to establish a puddle? Oscar - I'd love to know the answer to this. I have found that I usually start out with pretty high heat to establish a puddle and get some filler material in as quickly as I ...
by mlevinson
Thu Jul 02, 2015 10:45 am
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Beginners progress - feedback wanted!
Replies: 25
Views: 1875

Re: Beginners progress - feedback wanted!

Are you pushing the pedal all the way down while welding? If you are only using about half of the pedal travel then turn your amps down so that you are using most of the pedal travel. That will allow you to taper the heat off better at the end. Try turning the post flow up a little and see if that ...
by mlevinson
Wed Jul 01, 2015 8:37 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Beginners progress - feedback wanted!
Replies: 25
Views: 1875

Re: Beginners progress - feedback wanted!

Do you have a foot pedal or some other amp control? You are cutting the heat off too quick at the end and leaving a crater. You need to taper off the heat slow so you don't leave a hole in the end. Use the rest of that aluminum to run bead after bead. Cover all of it and then cover it again. You do...
by mlevinson
Wed Jul 01, 2015 11:41 am
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Beginners progress - feedback wanted!
Replies: 25
Views: 1875

Beginners progress - feedback wanted!

Hi everyone, It's been a while since I've posted and since then I've had lots of humbling experiences with the torch. I've blown so many holes in Aluminum piping I can't even count!!! EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING!!!! I decided to take a step back and work with some 1/8" FLAT stock, and it's going MUCH...
by mlevinson
Sat Jul 12, 2014 3:24 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: The what I welded today (/whenever) thread (pics please)
Replies: 3253
Views: 541547

Re: The what I welded today (/whenever) thread (pics please)

Total newb here, and this is probably my third day of practicing laying down beads. I probably have 3 hours of total torch time and I feel like I'm kinda starting to get a handle on it. It took me quite a bit of time to get the settings right so I wasn't grinding my Tungsten every bead. I quickly le...