Welding Tips and Tricks

I am finally making some progress at doing Jody's TIG Welding Drill on aluminum. The following is how I am currently setup........HTP Invertig 221 TIG welder.......Amps 130.......Argon set at 15 CFH.........AC Balance 65.........Frequency 150.........2 % Thoriated 3/32 Tungsten..........brain fart on the number on the 3/32 filler rod.


Anyway when using the three finger technique for advancing filler rod how do you guys manage this and still stay in rhythm ???

Hi,

If you're only starting out, don't worry too much about feeding long lengths of filler through your hand. Just set up with a decent amount sticking out of your hand, do a small run, 4"-6" then stop, reposition and start again. When you get good at that, try the feeding method again. I also like to cut the long filler rods in half so they are easier to control. Also, you can practice the dry feeding method that Jody talks about where you just keep feeding the rod while doing other things like watching tv.

Mick

Glad to hear that you're using the three finger method. Becoming proficient with that style will help you later with smaller wire. Feeding .020 wire doing the inch worm doesn't work out too well. As far as how to keep your rhythm... It just comes with time and practice. Like Mick and Jody said just sit in front of the TV and feed the wire. I'd also say practice with both hands because you will come across times where welding with the opposite hand is necessary. Practice with as many different thicknesses you can get a hold of. It's a totally different feeling going from 5/32 to .035. As for cutting the rods in half... Places I've worked would be pissed at you for doing such things. Just means twice the amount of unused wire. That's just from my experiences. Sometimes you have to cut the rods but in most cases I'd get use to using the full 36" rods. Practice like you're working...

Hey,

I never even though the amount of wasted rod. My bad. Where i work, no one watches that sort of thing so bad habbits can flourish. I cut em mainly because i tig in some tight spots and i find the long rod gets hooked up on stuff.

Mick.

No worries Mick, ha ha! One place I worked at we had to weld our stubs together and reuse them... Cheap!! Where I'm at now being D17 we can't cut any wire cause it has a flag on the end. Big trouble if we get cough doing that. Stupid but don't want cross contamination. But, as you said sometimes you just have to bend the rules to get the job done! My favorite spots are when you have to bend the wire with a bent tungsten and mirrors. Really makes you wonder what the engineer was thinking...

Hey,

Ive seen plumbers do that with silver solder. (welding stubs together) . As for the cross contamination, thats a very valid point that i have not yet encountered. Most of my work is accesible enough if you do it right the first time but if you stuff it up its all carbide burrs and nightmares. Lovin it.

Mick.