Welding Tips and Tricks

New to Aluminun Tig welding, after practicing for about a week on pieces of aluminum, I started my project, welding 2" x 1/8" wall tube onto 1/4"x 2" flat stock, was using 3/32" pure tungsten electrode, with balled tip,I turned my amp to max 150 on machine, I was not getting the results it thought I should be getting, so I tried a 1/8"pure tungsten electrode, balled the tip, then it seem to work better. So I guess my question is should I stick with the 3/32" or is it ok to use the 1/8" on this machine, or am I exceeding the limits of this machine trying to weld 1/4"?

Welcome to the site freeagle. I'm moving your post over to the Tig forum where you'll get more views and replies.

I had that same machine for about a week.

For the 175amps it puts out, 3/32 is all you'll need....

That machine is very limited to aluminum.....
You'll be pushing it to puddle that 1/4.

I hooked up helium to mine, 5cfh of helium, and 15cfh of argon.

I was trying to weld 3/4 to 1/4.... air cooled 9 on it.

Bull.

That machine is very limited....

You can weld 1/4, it will be slow, and I'm sure you don't have the resources to add helium.

Unless you can get your LWS to get you a smaller bottle of 75/25 argon/helium

Get a pic of your attempted bead up, for inspection.

If 1/8 tungsten works better, use it....

Best,
~John

This was my first project with my Lincoln Tig 175, I added one foot to the height of the Top, for more head room.

Freeagle,
You can't hurt a thing using a bigger electrode than needed. That said I think that 3/32 pure should handle 150 amps with no problem but if it welds better with 1/8 then by all means leave it in.

Len

This is my machine.


Here is a picture or 3" 1/4 wall welded to 3" 1/4 flat bar.



I had no trouble at all with heat, I do run 85% argon and 15% helium all the time. I have a small machine shop and never know what projects I will do, so having the ability to weld thicker Alum. is always good. I have welded 1/2" alum with this set up (preheat was key). My tungsten was 3/32 thor. because that was what was in the torch when I did this test for you.

Ya I have the same machine, bought it 2 weeks ago, I like it so far, I went back to the 3/32 tungsten, and had no problem with it, guess I just needed some more practice, LOL, I am just running the Argon.

Let's see a pic of the welds!