Welding Tips and Tricks

Hi All
Newbie here - but long time follower of Jody's channel and love the info flow - makes me think I can weld anything except my finished work says I can't LOL! Still practice makes perfect ! ! !

Now a poster on another forum asked if it was possible to weld aluminium with DC TIG and how successful it would be as he has a DC machine and outsources all his Aluminium stuff. My opinion followed usual advice to use AC and if amperage limited, add some helium but a couple of posters chimed in saying that yes DC is fine with Alum. using pure Helium only !

So the question is who is right - is it possible and would a video showing the technique be something anyone would like to see if only to dispel some myths / misunderstandings?

PS - still loving my weekly fix - every day is a skool day!

katana wrote:Hi All
add some helium but a couple of posters chimed in saying that yes DC is fine with Alum. using pure Helium only !

So the question is who is right - is it possible and would a video showing the technique be something anyone would like to see if only to dispel some myths / misunderstandings?

Yes Ally on DC TIG with 100% helium.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1dCZyH_NBI

from what i've seen its either DCEN with helium (lots of it) on thick aluminum or DCEP with argon on thin aluminum (with a big electrode and torch).
it seams to be a specialized thing. need helium, or thick electrodes, only works on certain sizes etc. its more of a work around for most people.
for most people it would be better to just get an ac tig welder.

I played around a bit. Using argon, I formed a puddle. A "skin" of oxide forms. I feel I needed a bigger, more fluid puddle, then stab the filler into it. Filler flows beneath the skin.

It ain't a pretty weld, but it is a weld. AC works better, or on special applications, use helium. Probably buy a used AC TIG cheaper than a large tank of HE

Willie

cj737 wrote:

katana wrote:Hi All
add some helium but a couple of posters chimed in saying that yes DC is fine with Alum. using pure Helium only !

So the question is who is right - is it possible and would a video showing the technique be something anyone would like to see if only to dispel some myths / misunderstandings?

Yes Ally on DC TIG with 100% helium.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1dCZyH_NBI

That's a really excellent description and demonstration video