Tools & Fabrication - Enrolled in a TIG class at the local JC

Been in school for 3 weeks now, got some training on different techniques, some history of GTAW, learned how to sharpen our tungsten, the do's and don'ts, basic machine operation (Miller 250 Syncrowave, Lincoln 255 Square Wave, Miller Dynasty) yada yada.

Laid my first pad of beads using a #6 cup, 3/32 tungsten (2% thoriated) on 1/8" steel plate, DC-, @ 100amps.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/moregrip/DSCN1918.jpg

don't forget to turn ON the Argon! :bang:

here are some lap joints I did fusion welding, this was on our first night on lap joints. we had to square the corner instead of rounding it. bottom corner bead(on the metal stack, not the picture) was the first, top corner was the last.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/moregrip/DSCN1933.jpg

this was later in the week:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/moregrip/DSCN1938.jpg

this is from this last week, 6061 T6 1/8" aluminum plate, 5356 filler material, pad of beads using the Miller Dynasty & 2% tungsten

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/moregrip/DSCN1996.jpg

I know they aren't pretty but its a start :cry: :jest:

I'd love to learn to weld. How much does a class like this cost? Are you doing this for fun or for a job?

I'm doing this to become more self sufficient with projects.

Total cost with parking permit was about $80 plus a $50 materials fee.

That's pretty sweet man. I was actually going to sign up for a welding class at my local college but decided not to for some reason. Looks like I'm missing out.

Wow thats cheap, I wonder if there is anything like that local that I could take.

Then I would only need $4000 for a good tig welder & gas :P

Wow thats cheap, I wonder if there is anything like that local that I could take.

Then I would only need $4000 for a good tig welder & gas :P

Not true, you dont need to go out and buy a syncrowave 350 for your first welder. I actually just got a bigger unit. Lincoln 350 amp, with new cool mate, and new 275 amp torch. Its about 15 years old, but I only paid $1500 for it and it works great. For even an intermediate level welder you are not going to see the difference in alittle older machine, or a brand new one for $4K+. The bottle should run $250-$500 depending on what size you get.

Moregrip, looks good man. I am by no means the more pleasing tig welder to the eye, but you just get better the more rods you burn. To me, its the most enjoyable form of welding, and as you know, the most "artistic"

Brandon

I'm doing this to become more self sufficient with projects.

Total cost with parking permit was about $80 plus a $50 materials fee.

DIRT cheap!
Wanting to do something like that soon.

I do a lot of TIG welding at work along with stick and MIG. Being that we have TIG capabilities I rarely want to go with the other processes because it's so much cleaner and so controllable. MIG is nice also depending on what job you're doing, but TIG really is the Cadillac of welding. I am currently saving so that I can have my own machine some day.

Moregrip, looks good man. I am by no means the more pleasing tig welder to the eye, but you just get better the more rods you burn. To me, its the most enjoyable form of welding, and as you know, the most "artistic"

Brandon

Thanks Brandon. with the heat wave we've had lately I have to take breaks every 45min or so even with the TIG process. I went through a stick(SMAW) class last year. For some reason MIG doesn't appeal to me as much as TIG and Stick though.

I do a lot of TIG welding at work along with stick and MIG. Being that we have TIG capabilities I rarely want to go with the other processes because it's so much cleaner and so controllable. MIG is nice also depending on what job you're doing, but TIG really is the Cadillac of welding. I am currently saving so that I can have my own machine some day.
ya Once you tig weld you never want to pick up the nasty smokey stick welder.
Great job by the way, not bad looking beads, aluminum is so much fun to weld.At least when it clean that is, now trying to repair a 10 year old dump truck body full of blacktop and stuff that sucks.

looking good man!i started welding 3 1/2 years ago, basically when i started my apprenticeship, and it's by far the saving grace of my job, i love doing it......and i'm with machinist, if its possible to tig it, that's what i use......learn how to walk the cup and you'll be laying down art gallery quality welds in no time.....

Shoot, I just looked into taking a course like this myself here in Cypress. To take the TIG class you have to take 2 prerequisite classes. That sucks. All the classes are in the daytime too. That sucks even worse.

Look great, I just looked into a class at the local CC here, and it doesn't look too expensive, I might have to give it a try.

Ryan

Those welds look good. I have a certificate for sheet metal but took a bunch of tig classes, those welds look good. Have you welded before? I remember when i first started tig welding and my welds looked like shit.

your doing what i used to do on the laps, your running the edge of the puddle into the metal on both sides which is good, but your doing it more like a weave. try and get them a little more convex and they will run in better and a smoother. always watch the puddle. you should work on starts and stops and try more tie ins instead of only stoping once or twice. and for the people who dont want to take the prerequsite class, take it you will benifit a lot from it. most places i think its stick1/2 with learning how to cut with a oxy acetline torch. the prerequisite classes wouldnt be there for no reason.

Thanks Brandon. with the heat wave we've had lately I have to take breaks every 45min or so even with the TIG process. I went through a stick(SMAW) class last year. For some reason MIG doesn't appeal to me as much as TIG and Stick though.

i used to hate mig welding till i learned how to do it properly and the the penetration was awesome and the bead looked good. most people dont know there are 3 types of mig welding, globular, short circit, and spray/pulsed welding.

I am a fabricator and have been for quite some time. I am new to the site so as soon as i figure how to post pics i will post some of my micro tig beads. I work with custom motorcycles and cryogenics and pretty much every thing else. I love it and once you get good at welding start getting into fabrication it pays very well and its a blast. good luck.
Make sure you are sharpening your tungsten vertically to prevent swirling of your argon keep it as sharp as a needle( unless alum ). Also if you are not running high grade argon you will start getting porosity when you near the end of your tank, trust me its not worth fighting those damn bubbles on your stops just change the tank. This is exceptionally annoying when you use a turn table. If you do get bubbles just lower your heat gradually while making small circles around the bubble. When bubble pops simply increase your heat and allow to fuse add some metal to fill if need be or if working with pressure vessel. Always make sure your electrode is as close to the weld as possible a all times. This is one of the most precision applications in fabrication but once you get the hang of it its a blast. I can walk a bead straight up into the air it looks amazing from inside the helmet. Practice makes perfect and if you an artist you will find yourself around the learning curve faster than you thought possible.

i used to hate mig welding till i learned how to do it properly and the the penetration was awesome and the bead looked good. most people dont know there are 3 types of mig welding, globular, short circit, and spray/pulsed welding.

How do you do MIG properly? I have a flux-wire type.
I have an awesome auto-darkening helmet and love it... makes alot of difference

thanks for all the advice guys, appreciate it :)

With a dynasty, I run 2% thoriated for everything and run a sharpened tip on everything. Getting the ball isnt necessary with todays technology and it is really an old welders (Wives) tale :D

How do you do MIG properly? I have a flux-wire type.
I have an awesome auto-darkening helmet and love it... makes alot of difference

i really reccomend you take a class on mig, or even flux core mig if they offer it by you. i dunno how much i could explain online like this.

also have a miller inferno auto darkening helmet, i reccomend it to anyone who is going to be welding a lot. i sometimes dont wear it if i stick weld something because of splatter, but it saves so much time for me when tacking stuff. heres a pic of what it looks like, sorry its the only pic i got. id also like to idvise against welding in a t shirt, its not safe i only did it for the pic.
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2415/picture2024nw5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

With a dynasty, I run 2% thoriated for everything and run a sharpened tip on everything. Getting the ball isnt necessary with todays technology and it is really an old welders (Wives) tale :D

I had to as well, the pure tungsten wasn't working out, however I did leave the tip dull for the aluminum.

cool/pretty helmet!
The only advise or research I have on how to use my MIG is to use a dragging motion.
I have been successful so far.
Come on, any advise for MIG? Anyone? Bueller?

I'm trying to enroll in a college class, or get a welding job. But hopefully both!
I've found that welding in anything except for certified welding clothes.. it will burn right through and kinda almost hurts.

Running a ball an alum is not a wives tale in anyway shape or form. Welding micro tig on alum is the only time you keep your electrode slightly dull. Lincon electric all the way. I still like my old buddy blue though. I have been welding alum for about 9yrs now and I love it. My fovorite is still stainless.
I weld in clothes that cover its to damn hot for welding chaps... as for getting spatter burns, they dont burn bad unless u are welding hot. Be carfull of flash burn to your eyes or skin it will tear you up but we all get it from time to time... allways wear cloths that completely cover your skin.
As for speedglass(auto lens) I cant live without it when tacking. I use a #12 gold lens. The gold lenses are the best... be carfull not to scratch it and if you do throw it away its not worth your eyes for 12$.

Welding with a ball on an inverter machine is not necessary, and do NOT use pure tungsten with an inveter machine, like the dynasty and the invertec lines. Arc starting is difficult and works the machine over its limits.

If you are using a 1960s or 70s machine, then yes, you cannot get around the ball.

If Im welding 40 thou sheet, why do I want a ball that is almost 100 thou in diameter?

Welding with a ball on an inverter machine is not necessary, and do NOT use pure tungsten with an inveter machine, like the dynasty and the invertec lines. Arc starting is difficult and works the machine over its limits.

If you are using a 1960s or 70s machine, then yes, you cannot get around the ball.

If Im welding 40 thou sheet, why do I want a ball that is almost 100 thou in diameter?


not exactly an old wives tale then is it:jest: (old wives tales are usually things that never were true, right?)

with the newer machines where you can adjust the hertz as opposed to using high frequency all the time you can actually use a sharpened tungsten and it welds like mild, but even with a miller synchrowave 350(which is from the last decade or two, not the 60s or 70) you need to use a balled up tungsten...usually the electrode will ball itself up, and it if you're using a small dia. electrode on sheet then you really don't need to do it, but it's hardly an old wives tale:eyes:

using a pure tungsten on aluminum was for the stability it gave the arc, because continuous high frequency caused a rough arc....so i can see where on a machine that uses a higher hertz setting as opposed to hf you would want to use 2% because it's more robust.....

As for speedglass(auto lens) I cant live without it when tacking. I use a #12 gold lens. The gold lenses are the best... be carfull not to scratch it and if you do throw it away its not worth your eyes for 12$.


my helmet has adjstable delay, sensitivity, and shades 9-13, i usualy have it set to about 11.2 for my eyes. it would have taken me 10 years to install and tig my roll cage without it.

Weld with your balls all you want then :P

Weld with your balls all you want then :P


i prefer welding with my stick:secret2:

i used an ac/dc inverter for the first time up at the tech center a while back, welding aluminum was unreal.......keeps a nice point and gives you unreal puddle control.......we don't have that in our shop yet, so i'll continue to play with balls:)

Is Tig welding the one where a constant stream of wire is propelled from the welder onto the surface you are welding?

Is Tig welding the one where a constant stream of wire is propelled from the welder onto the surface you are welding?

no tig is gas toungsten arc welding, the one you are talking about is MIG, or gas metal arc welding.

A few years ago I purchased a student package from Miller. Only $25 and worth every penny in my opinion. http://www.millerwelds.com/education/tools/index.html#books