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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2021
    Location
    Sunshine Coast QLD
    Posts
    62

    Default Adventures in TIG

    Background.
    Semi proficient “stick welder” (MMA) as a kid in the ‘70’s. Including a TAFE course while still at school.
    Tiny bit of “oxy” “back in the day”

    Virtually no welding for approx 30 years.

    Ordered an AC/DC TIG with the optimistic desire to learn to weld Aluminium.
    Resurrected my O/A set up to practice while I waited for the new TIG (Back order for the one I chose). Who knew about “blow back arrestors”?!?

    I feel I’ve hit the jackpot with the TIG machine.
    Set to “TIG Easy” it adjusts most parameters automatically.
    Choose AC or DC, “Pulse” if required, then adjust “Amps” and weld.

    I’ve never used anything else but the #8 cup. (Bought most sizes available. Mainly as a kit.)
    1.6mm Tungstens for thin material. 2.4mm for everything else. (Did a brief experiment with other “flavours” but 99% with “2% Lanthanated”)

    Foot pedal seems essential. (Supplied)

    A little bit of youtube, a fair bit of practice, and “I can weld Aluminium”!!
    Stoked to be making parts for my Race bike, etc.

    Yesterday I took the next step, and changed from “TIG Easy” to “TIG PRO” - many more options. Seems slightly better already. (Thanks to generous advice from the guy, Travis, who answers the phone when I ring the place I bought the machine from - sensational after sales service!!. And the useful manual.)

    Even going to try a #6 cup for fillets!

    Machine
    https://swswelding.com.au/collection...-dc-tig-welder

    Manual
    http://specialisedweldingsystems.com...CK%20START.pdf



    Latest project - bike stand.


    Attached Images Attached Images

  2. #2
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,182

    Default

    I'm, sort of going through a similar thing ATM.

    Have had TIG for about 7 years and when I first got it my boilermaker BIL came over and helped me to set up and give me a lesson to get me started but then only used it on little jobs <40A very short (mm) runs - mostly spot welds.

    Recently I just finished a SS trolley were I was able to use higher currents and longer runs. I had forgotten most of what BIL told me so I got him back last weekend. He's a really good teacher, he's coming back for an Al tutorial in a couple of weeks tom.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Ipswich QLD
    Age
    68
    Posts
    1,996

    Default

    Being to long since I TIG'd but not to shabby for what you've done. A little to much undercut if memory serves me well this can be either to high amps, to slow moving, slightly wrong angle if undercut one sided. To big a gap between tip and work. Ali can be a bugger to do knowing when its hot enough and when its to hot. Watch of the puddle colour change then go go go.

    Happy for others to correct me as i said way to long ago.

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