Welding Tips and Tricks

I am new to TIG welding.

I was practicing today and generally things were going well. Every once in a while i would get a splat and the area would almost instantaneously get black with soot the things would clean up.

Is this what happens when you touch the electrode to the work or filler?

I was using a gas lens, #7 cup, 15 CFH and 2% lanthanated electrode

Thanks

David_M wrote:I am new to TIG welding.

I was practicing today and generally things were going well. Every once in a while i would get a splat and the area would almost instantaneously get black with soot the things would clean up.

Is this what happens when you touch the electrode to the work or filler?

I was using a gas lens, #7 cup, 15 CFH and 2% lanthanated electrode

Thanks

You are new at tig and haven't dipped your tungsten yet?

I also am new to tig welding...
I probably dipped my tungsten 15 times the first night. Twice tonight..

I am not the expert, however my experience leads me to believe that your losing gas coverage when everything soots up.

David_M wrote:...Every once in a while i would get a splat and the area would almost instantaneously get black with soot...

Is this what happens when you touch the electrode to the work or filler?

Yes. That perfectly describes what happens when the puddle touches your tungsten when welding aluminum.

Steve S

When aluminum gets really hot it rises like dough in a bread pan. That's why why you'll see jody either raise his torch before he adds filler or move the torch away from the direction of travel.