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Learning to Tig (Steel T-Joint Practice Pics)

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 8:57 am
by therbrig
Hello everyone, this is my first post with pics on my attempts of learning to tig weld.

Practice #1
Close Up
Close Up
1_T-Joint Practice _072615.JPG (38.74 KiB) Viewed 1309 times
Close Up
Close Up
1_T-Joint Practice _072615.JPG (38.74 KiB) Viewed 1309 times
Practice#2
This time I think I got a little better...
This time I think I got a little better...
2A_T-Joint Practice_072615.JPG (38.2 KiB) Viewed 1309 times
Welding with a Dynasty 280 DX_3/32 Filler 702s_149 Amps with foot pedal.

I am trying to become more consistent on the size of weld. Any critique is welcomed..

Re: Learning to Tig (Steel T-Joint Practice Pics)

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:05 am
by rick9345
welcome
Practice and pics and the welder becomes his own best critic.
By exhibiting, it improves ones progress.

Re: Learning to Tig (Steel T-Joint Practice Pics)

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 10:28 am
by big gear head
Looks pretty good. How are you cleaning the metal before welding?

Re: Learning to Tig (Steel T-Joint Practice Pics)

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 11:30 am
by therbrig
Thanks. I know I have a ways to go. On this particular weld i had some scrap that I cut then just wire brushed it and wiped with acetone.

Re: Learning to Tig (Steel T-Joint Practice Pics)

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 11:47 am
by big gear head
Looks like you could use some more cleaning. I'd use a sanding disc to get shiny metal, front, back and edge. Looks like you have some trash along the edges of the weld. A cleaner weld is easier to control and can be more consistent in width and spacing.

Re: Learning to Tig (Steel T-Joint Practice Pics)

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 12:28 pm
by therbrig
Thanks a lot for the advise!! Will do

Re: Learning to Tig (Steel T-Joint Practice Pics)

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 12:40 pm
by Oscar
scrap is fine, but it needs to be clean clean clean. Use a hard grinding disc on an angle grinder and clean all the crud/rust/millscale off. Some flap disks will only polish the crap, so be careful. Don't develop bad habits now. You may end up chasing your tail during your practices only to find that cleaning it properly would have prevented issues in the first place. For example, a clean puddle will be less "sluggish" and more defined on clean steel as opposed to crusty steel. In TIG welding, seeing/reading the puddle is of utmost importance. To establish consistency with the puddle size, you need to see it cleanly.

Re: Learning to Tig (Steel T-Joint Practice Pics)

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 6:24 pm
by therbrig
I cleaned up the next piece like yall said and it was ALOT smoother. Other than where I had a couple of tacks at....
Try Again.JPG
Try Again.JPG (40.56 KiB) Viewed 1258 times
Try Again Close Up.JPG
Try Again Close Up.JPG (44.1 KiB) Viewed 1258 times

Re: Learning to Tig (Steel T-Joint Practice Pics)

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 6:45 pm
by big gear head
Looks like you are doing good. You are probably going to be really good at this if you keep it up. You bead width is pretty consistent and it looks like your dipping is pretty good. Now cut it up and see how good your penetration is.

Re: Learning to Tig (Steel T-Joint Practice Pics)

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 7:17 pm
by therbrig
Thanks for the kind words. Will do...

Re: Learning to Tig (Steel T-Joint Practice Pics)

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 8:26 pm
by therbrig
Decent penetration I think?
Penetration Pic.JPG
Penetration Pic.JPG (52.7 KiB) Viewed 460 times

Re: Learning to Tig (Steel T-Joint Practice Pics)

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:23 pm
by big gear head
Looks pretty good to me. Keep practicing.