chopper

iTrader: (18)

I have been welding since the 1960's and have seen lots of changes in the industry over the years, have heard the "this is the best way" thousands of times, I have worked with hundreds of "non welding" inspectors and I have My personal favorites on verticals which are mig-downhill, tig uphill but have seen exceptional welders do differently with exceptional results.
I have seen the ball the tungsten before welding aluminum...OMG that is the dummest of all of the wives tales.
I'm a vet and welded for them, they are soooo lost, lol.
To Me there is no "this is the best way" it is what You know how to do best, and hopefully each time You drop that lid say to Yourself "this weld will be better than the last"!
Just My .02 cents worth, Carl.

DrivenWS6

iTrader: (1)

Yeah I always use a conical end on my tungsten when TIG. Balling it up makes a horrible weld.

Shuck

When I did vertical ups with a stick welder, I was taught to do the H pattern. It was not pretty but when taken into the testing lab it held up.

Silverback

huh, I've heard and use all sorts of patterns, but what's an "H" pattern?

MikeGyver

iTrader: (5)

I think he is saying that he was taught vertical up welding while the plane he was taking to the testing lab was in a holding pattern.