Welding Tips and Tricks

How do you know what size cup to use???

I start with a 10 (5/8) gas lense cup and go down in size to fit in tight spaces,extend tungsten to see with out too much back tilt.

Depends on what you are doing.
I do a lot of aluminum so a #8 is enough for me.

Yup, depends on what you're doing. Big enough to shield the arc, puddle, and tungsten, but not so big that you're just wasting argon. So what are you doing?

I am welding 2in SCH 80 pipe, what cup should I use??

Not often I do this - but I freehand it & find a No.6 is adequate for gas cover on carbon steel ( root run ) - I like the smaller cup for visibility but if you walk the cup it's probably easier with a larger one - say an 8 ( some like larger )- I doubt there is an absolute right & wrong here so it's more personal choice or your welding style as long as you get decent gas cover - if it's Tig all the way you probably want to change to a bigger cup once the root is in - sure others will chime in & I expect in the next segment of Jodies Tig video he'll cover this as he's just done torches.

I like DD's.

TwentyFourSeven wrote:I like DD's.

I was just waiting for that to pop up!
I wondered how long it would take...

I hate to admit it with all the tig stuff I collected torches, lens, cups but. . .
17 torch
3/32 gas lens with 2% lanthanited tungsten
#8 cup
Is what I normally use for everything I do for the most part, and could prolly even go down a cup size and would not notice. Just my thoughts.

I also start with a gas lens and a number 8 Cup....I free hand and walk the cup with that size