[Otto Nobedder]

Time under the hood has taught me that 99% of my difficulties come from operator error. 1% come from machine or power input issues, mis-marked/poor quality consumables, etc.

I may have fewer issues than I once did, but the proportion holds, because I've learned how to take care of machines at about the same rate I've learned how not to do silly stuff with the torch.



Steve

[MosquitoMoto]

I decided to see if lanthanated tungsten was any more friendly than E3. I have a feeling the problem will still boil down to a total lack of skill on my part.

When I started playing guitar, I thought better guitars would make me play better. Seat time is the only way...lot's of it too

S'funny, I have a mate who is interested in learning Tig welding. He visited me recently and was talking about all the hoodoo he'd heard about Tig - it's a dark art, you need to sacrifice a BBQ chicken under a full moon, aluminium Tig can only be achieved if you can think in Japanese - and I told him that he'd be okay if he approached it exactly like learning guitar.


Moz

[Farmwelding]

I decided to see if lanthanated tungsten was any more friendly than E3. I have a feeling the problem will still boil down to a total lack of skill on my part.

When I started playing guitar, I thought better guitars would make me play better. Seat time is the only way...lot's of it too

S'funny, I have a mate who is interested in learning Tig welding. He visited me recently and was talking about all the hoodoo he'd heard about Tig - it's a dark art, you need to sacrifice a BBQ chicken under a full moon, aluminium Tig can only be achieved if you can think in Japanese - and I told him that he'd be okay if he approached it exactly like learning guitar.


Moz

Pick random strings to press and strum really hard and fast? That's how I play guitar. And if we had to sacrifice a chicken , tig welding wouldn't be taught at public schools due to laws and regulations preventing killing so...

[Chips O'Toole]

Someone somewhere recommended a #8 gas lens. When I was doing steel and making welds that looked almost like real welds, I was using a 5. Is 8 likely to be too big?

[noddybrian]

I use #7 or 8# gas lens for anything other than aluminum - works fine but use a standard #5 or #6 for aluminum - I rarely get new material so it's often boiling cr#p out which sticks to gas lens screens - I can't understand why but get a wider etch zone / better cleaning with a standard collet so can use a little less %EP - also the bigger the cup the more there is in the way when getting right into a corner so don't see any reason to go bigger than #6 for what I weld - not that I do much aluminum.

[Chips O'Toole]

The lanthanated tungsten seems a little more friendly, but the first 3/4" or so behind the tip turns blackish blue.

Today I found that the aluminum wanted to blow out before it really formed a puddle, and sometimes the metal turned into a black foam. Also, something was blowing the molten filler rod away from the weld. It left lumps on the end of the rod, and I had to cut them off with pliers. I guess I'll figure it out.

[MinnesotaDave]

You need to sit down and weld with someone experienced man - it will straighten out a lot of problems.

[Poland308]

You need to sit down and weld with someone experienced man - it will straighten out a lot of problems.

Right on! Even if it's just for a half hour or less. But a short term class or a nights or weekend class at a school would help too. Especially since you have some of the basics down.

[MinnesotaDave]

You need to sit down and weld with someone experienced man - it will straighten out a lot of problems.

Right on! Even if it's just for a half hour or less. But a short term class or a nights or weekend class at a school would help too. Especially since you have some of the basics down.

Since he's taught himself off the internet, better at least double the time needed with the pro

[Chips O'Toole]

In South Florida, welding classes do not exist. I might be able to con the people at one of the local vocational high schools to let me spend $2000 on a class for people in a certificate program, but even I have better things to do than drive to class in heavy traffic three times a week for three months.

It's funny, because the American Welding Society is headquartered here. I'm not sure why. I guess they like South Beach.

They do offer courses in welding inspection, so it's completely possible for me to learn how to criticize other people's welds without actually being able to weld, myself.

No one in the Miami area can do ANYTHING. Can't weld. Can't build houses right. Can't fix a car. You name it; they can't do it. People arrive here from other countries, buy used Harbor Freight tools, and immediately start working at things they can't do. They price everyone else out of the market. As a result, there are no welding or machining programs here, but you can find them in rural towns like Ocala, where there is much less industry.

[MarkL]

In South Florida, welding classes do not exist.

I'm surprised because there are so many community colleges in the Miami area. Welding is a curriculum in all the community colleges around here. Maybe they're teaching surfing and night clubbing around Miami.

[Chips O'Toole]

It's very strange. Here's another strange thing: Miami is much bigger than Fort Lauderdale, and it's full of boats, but if you have a yacht that needs work, Fort Lauderdale is way better. Down here they just hack things up.

Luckily for me, I am working on moving out of this awful place.

[Chips O'Toole]

My dad bought a sportfisherman in 1988, and when he needed an aluminum tuna tower, we had to take the boat clear to Fort Lauderdale. No one down here could weld it.

[LtBadd]

In South Florida, welding classes do not exist.

Really, and it's the home of AWS