Welding Tips and Tricks

hello everyone, my name is evan andi live in central illinois. I have been around cars ever since i was 13 so welding was a part of it. But i was around flux core and mig, never really got around tig. About a year ago i worked with a good friend of mine and he taught me some of the basics with his super nice miller, dont know what it was exacty. Anyway i work on cars in my garage myself, love the aftermarket side of cars and and love working on my car and my brothers car. But it got to the point where i need my own, so i bought the eastwood tig200, i had looked at there website and they sel it normally for i think around 1000, I got it on ebay on sale for 740, so i cant complain. I have past experience welding stainless, but i got excited and decided to try aluminum but man i could not figure out why my arc was walking. But i am here to learn so im gratefull to be here thanks guys

Welcome to the forum, and personally, please keep us updated on how you like the Eastwood welder. I was originally going to get that one but decided on the Everlast powertig 185.

As for your arc wandering, post pictures if you can and also what settings are you using? What material specs as well?

Welcome to the forum.

welcome aboard!

I have a Tig 200. Be sure you are on AC for aluminum. I've not noticed arc wandering with mine.
And welcome to the forums

here is the deal on my aluminum welding, I am on AC amps im at 110 foot pedal set at 100amps, my "clearance effect" or balance is at +1, Metal thickness .074 mm thick "its intercooler piping" I used a stainless wire brush. Now i kinda figured something out last night first time i tried to run a couple beads it was with the 3/32 green tungsten then when i was having problems i was using the red so i switched back to the green and that helped. But the more i read the more i find people "BALLING THERE TUNGSTEN" ive tried to figure that outbut am unable to do so. I cant post pics right now but i will, i do appreciate the replies and i have questions so that means alot to know that there is a wealth of imformation. Started watching welding tricks and tips on youtube so this is pretty cool. I love tig welding cause it is a ART form in itself so. any replies are welcome and thanks i feel welcome already!

Hey,

Lose the green tungsten, I'm sure they work best on big azz transformer machines. Go for a 2% lanthinated one. Much better on inverters.

Mick

I don't even use pure tungsten (green) at work on our big transformer machine, I use 2% thoriated (red) at work and e3 (purple) at home.
As for balling the tip, I would actually suggest a truncated tip. Meaning sharpen similar to doing dc welding, but leave a flat spot on the tip. Then to slightly ball the tip turn your cleaning action to the most cleaning setting and strike an arc on a piece of scrap. Watch carefully until the tip looks the way you want it, terminate the arc, return your settings to what you need and stay your normal welding.

weldin mike 27 wrote:Hey,

Lose the green tungsten, I'm sure they work best on big azz transformer machines. Go for a 2% lanthinated one. Much better on inverters.

Mick

I ordered 2% lathenated 3/32, jodey from weldingtricksandtips swears on these so i ordered some. cross my fingers lol

If Yoda uses them they must be good enough for us lackies.

Mick

weldin mike 27 wrote:If Yoda uses them they must be good enough for us lackies.

Mick

i got my 2% lathenated and some aluminum to practice on, and Ill tell you what. Ten times better found out how to ball my tungsten and here are some pics of the welds mind you it is 1/8 inch think.

im still trying to get the hang of not making a crater at the end of welds but they are aton better then befor. ive learned that prep is critical so that helps as well running with -2 balance. or clearnace affect. running on 110 amps and 2 sec pre flow and 3 sec post.

Very nice. Glad its going well.

With your craters, do a little swirl motion, as you taper off. Or even run back along your weld a little.

weldin mike 27 wrote:If Yoda uses them they must be good enough for us lackies.

LOL! Do the Yoda voice: "Mmmm... too much torch angle you have."

Welcome to the forum.

Tig finger buy you must.

Good looking that is.
Question though; does your tungsten turn colors after you terminate your arc? 3 seconds post flow is probably not enough. In use a basic rule of 10 seconds depending on what I am welding and how much gas I have left
-Jonathan

Superiorwelding wrote:Good looking that is.
Question though; does your tungsten turn colors after you terminate your arc? 3 seconds post flow is probably not enough. In use a basic rule of 10 seconds depending on what I am welding and how much gas I have left
-Jonathan

Um yes it turns into a rainbow kinda with more dark blue. Another thing is i tried to get a ball again with the 2% lathenated but that didnt happen. dont know if there is a certain way with this tungsten, how ever if i grind it to a small flat point it works alright but not near as good as the ball. as for the post flow ill change that once i get another tank of argon lol