1 amp per .001 material is a good "gauge" --- so .120 thickness -- 120 amps
SPEED of travel has every bit as much to do with heat input as the amperage itself.... slow travel speed puts in more heat. Period. So speed is every bit as important as the amperage chosen. That's the tough part in the beginning. That's the learning curve...
At this speed I feel like I'm going to have an off-track experience.
I need to experiment with pulsing to see if that style better suits my age and lack of talent.
Don't forget a couple things --- you have a foot control -- let up on it as you weld because the heat it takes to stay going is far less than when you started the puddle.... these are small parts! Think of it as you're boiling down the freeway ---- you let up off the gas when you start to see traffic back up. Same with welding.
Also -- if you want to slow up -- THEN FOR SURE you let off the foot pedal. That foot pedal is there to use it -- you won't wear it out... HAHAHAHAHA
Don't forget a couple things --- you have a foot control -- let up on it as you weld because the heat it takes to stay going is far less than when you started the puddle.... these are small parts! Think of it as you're boiling down the freeway ---- you let up off the gas when you start to see traffic back up. Same with welding.
Also -- if you want to slow up -- THEN FOR SURE you let off the foot pedal. That foot pedal is there to use it -- you won't wear it out... HAHAHAHAHA
The pedal isn't close to pinned......seldom if it ever is it's only momentary.
So my lack of talent (frustration) with steel has basically left me scared to attempt aluminum Wednesday I attempted aluminum for the first time. The box and tube are 16g 6061. I don't know why but it seems much easier for me, maybe because I can see the work area better?
While the beads are far from perfect it feels like a victory.......now which scotch do I reward myself with?
A real celebration would be 60 year old The Macallan in a Lalique bottle....
I still wonder how well you see the bead when you're welding steel? Versus the brighter A/C TIG of aluminum. A small thing like that will make all the difference in the world.
BTW --- On a box like that --- always weld the corners FIRST... otherwise you chase the bead to the end and all the heat is built up and it just blows the corner away.
IF you've done a bunch of welding on a "small" part like that -- let it cool way down before attempting to stitch it closed - otherwise the expanding heated air inside the container will give you fits...
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
Wednesday I attempted aluminum for the first time. The box and tube are 16g 6061. I don't know why but it seems much easier for me, maybe because I can see the work area better?
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