Thread: Tig 102
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Old 03-11-2013, 09:34 PM
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GriffithMetal GriffithMetal is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Revved View Post
Funny that you mention this as I've just started having this problem.... and interestingly enough I'm welding faster than I used to. Only thing that I've changed is that with steel I've noticed it puddles better when I'm pushing the weld rather than pulling the weld like I do with aluminum so I thought that might have something to do with it.

I'm using 3/16 red stripe (can't remember if that is ceriated or thoriated) tungsten with 1/16 rod as most of what I'm doing is lighter gauge stuff. I did try 1/8" tungsten when I was experienting with the intercooler tubing but with the .065 aluminum tubing I was melting down the tungsten just trying to puddle the weld.
Greg is right, always push the TIG torch. What's the torch angle? What thickness material are you welding? Thick and thin metals have different welding parameters when TIG welding. Was the 1/8" tungsten green stripe "pure"? You can google the amperage rating for different thickness tungsten and type. Are you welding the aluminum on AC or DC+? Are you using a transformer style TIG or an Inverter style?
I can weld .063" 3003 aluminum with 3/32 red stripe 2% Thoriated without a problem. I use 1/8" green stripe pure tungsten when welding something critical in thin aluminum. I am using a 110amp setting and probably welding at 80 amps or so with a transformer based TIG.
TIG welding is complex at times.
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