First time ever TIG welding.

[Tianskull007]

Hi,
I finally got my old school econotig up and running.
Well here are some pics of my first try ever, i spent like 2 hours just practicing and figuring out the best settings for SS...
I'm a real noob so i'll try my best to explain what things i am using..
Ok for the tungsten i'm using the red colored one..
argon at around 12-19...
using a #7 pink thing (collet?)
and 309 rods...
I think this material is 304, its a crappy ebay ss muffler that broke and i'm just using to practice on...
Well my main concern is why its coming out soo dull and grey?
I little by little started nailing the movement and the filler rod, but still need A LOT of practice..

I think it is because of a lot of heat, because i can see towards the end when i'm lifting my foot off the pedal you can see some golden.. just a tiny bit. Although i kept trying to lower the heat, it wasn't enough to melt it and i just ended up getting the rod stuck in the material lol..
anyways, any help/tips? This is my first time ever, so i know i need lots of learning...
Thank you

 

[shenion]

What size filler? If it is sticking it probably is too big. Definitely looks too hot.

#7 shroud may be a bit small. Is that a regular shroud or a gas lens? (I'd use a gas lens)

12 SCFM should be enough. You are using pure argon?

I'd get some clean steel to work on.

That is DC right?, almost looks like the arc pitting of AC.

 

[Tianskull007]

^thanks for the response...
I believe after kinda eye balling it with my ruler, it seems like the diameter is around 1/8 of an inch.. yea it kept sticking and i would have to tug it to get it out of the pool..
Yes i am using pure argon, or at least i hope i am lol. The guy who sold me the welder gave me the bottle and he was an experience welder, that welded aluminum with this one, so i assume its argon. I do have an extra bottle of pure argon i may try just incase.
I am not using a gas lens, I tried upping the argon to like 20+ and nothing changed, then to 30+ and same thing... so i brought it back down.
Yes that's all the ss i had laying around, i do need to go and get some real clean ss.
Yes it is in DC -
I made sure...
I'm I using the right filler rod? is 309 ok? I need to go shopping for new rods, maybe get some mild steel ones too...

 

[Tianskull007]

Ok, just checked and for sure its a 1/8...
Also I am running a gas lens on a #8 cup (not 7 sorry)...
I think if i can just bring down the size of the rod, maybe i can pass through faster, without worrying about sticking, therefore maybe having to use less heat...

 

[shenion]

1/8" is huge for sheet metal. I'd use 1/16" for that.

For 304 SS I think 309L will work. According to the chart in the tutorial, 308L would be used.

 

[ChrisJohnsSculpture]

Is your torch assembled properly ? If you've got a bit the wrong way round or missing (perhaps the heat shield) then you won't get proper gas coverage on the weld. Also gas lenses can get clogged.

 

[hotrodder]

As said the 1/8" filler won't help, especially on thin stuff (rough rule of thumb = filler wire wants to be thinner than the work) but you're wasting your time trying to practice on something COVERED with paint and general filth. Read the TIG tutorial, note especially what it says about arc length and avoiding thin stuff when first starting out. Then read this thread, http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=7862&highlight=arc+length (actually a trawl through the entire TIG forum would be helpful as most stuff has been covered at least once) and then go and buy some new material. Buy some 1/8" thick flat bar in the 1 - 2" wide range for an easy life with regards to making practice coupons... simply cut it into 9 - 12" long strips and then you can tack them together to make larger practice pieces, can even tack them in a W shape for fillets and outside corners. Make 2 of them for each practice session and switch between them as a means of controlling heat soak i.e. keep welding away on one small piece/in one area and it'll get too hot

 

[langy]

Your wasting expensive gas !!! 6-7 will be fine

 

[shenion]

Your wasting expensive gas !!! 6-7 will be fine

You need to consider which side of the pond he is on (That is what he is using.)

 

[langy]

You need to consider which side of the pond he is on (That is what he is using.)

Ah goicha, didn't see the texas addy

 

[Tianskull007]

Is your torch assembled properly ? If you've got a bit the wrong way round or missing (perhaps the heat shield) then you won't get proper gas coverage on the weld. Also gas lenses can get clogged.

Hmm, Im pretty sure it is, I took it apart and put it back together as all the pics around the web show how to properly do it.
You know what, when I checked for the gas lens, it looked kinda dirty with a few tiny spots. I guess it could be clogged, since if i turn up the CFH i can hear the argon but can't really feel it on my finger like i would with my friend's.

1/8" is huge for sheet metal. I'd use 1/16" for that.

For 304 SS I think 309L will work. According to the chart in the tutorial, 308L would be used.

Yea, it is the only thing i had laying around, as soon as i started the machine up. I will for sure get some new material. Also some 1/16 rods.
Thank you!

As said the 1/8" filler won't help, especially on thin stuff (rough rule of thumb = filler wire wants to be thinner than the work) but you're wasting your time trying to practice on something COVERED with paint and general filth. Read the TIG tutorial, note especially what it says about arc length and avoiding thin stuff when first starting out. Then read this thread, http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=7862&highlight=arc+length (actually a trawl through the entire TIG forum would be helpful as most stuff has been covered at least once) and then go and buy some new material. Buy some 1/8" thick flat bar in the 1 - 2" wide range for an easy life with regards to making practice coupons... simply cut it into 9 - 12" long strips and then you can tack them together to make larger practice pieces, can even tack them in a W shape for fillets and outside corners. Make 2 of them for each practice session and switch between them as a means of controlling heat soak i.e. keep welding away on one small piece/in one area and it'll get too hot

Yea like I said, it was the only scrap metal thing I had, also I did grind all the paint down to bare metal to make sure it was sorta clean. I guess i missed a few spots. I was more focused on getting the technique and having both my hands works together, then slowly trying to improve. Thanks for the advice, i'll be sure to get some good material and try all of that.

Your wasting expensive gas !!! 6-7 will be fine

Hmm i didn't know how much gas over there is. BTW how much is it? For me a full tank that lasts a long time (mine went down like %20 after welding for 2 hours), is like $20 US dollars. So, pretty cheap..

Thanks for all the responses. I will try and get some material tomorrow and keep practicing. Maybe a new gas lens to make sure its not clogged.

 

[shenion]

Hmm i didn't know how much gas over there is. BTW how much is it? For me a full tank that lasts a long time (mine went down like %20 after welding for 2 hours), is like $20 US dollars. So, pretty cheap..

Thanks for all the responses. I will try and get some material tomorrow and keep practicing. Maybe a new gas lens to make sure its not clogged.

Gas there is a bit more expensive. The big thing is they have rental charges at the major suppliers along with collection and handling fees (even when they pick up.).

My 135CF tank (4' tall) was $37 to fill last time.

As both the places mine were filled before have closed, we'll see how much it costs next time. First place was $68 for a fill.

With a gas lens, it is harder to feel the flow. I'd check for leaks though. BTW, my gas setup was missing one of the plastic rings so it leaked and the ceramics tended to shatter as the threads bottomed out.

 

[Tianskull007]

^^ wow, yea welding things here in the US are kinda cheap, especially in Texas lol..
Alright, thanks for all of the suggestion guys, you were all right about the rods being too thick! Wow what i difference, although i still have that grey discolored. Although in one weld i did i was able to see some "gold" after i gently brushed it so that's kinda good. Obviously I still need LOTS of practice lol...
Also, now i do think it the lens might be clogged so some new ones are on their way. I mostly suspected this because when i did a quick t joint that was very deep it was golden. Meaning that its in need of gas, so as soon as i get the gas lenses i'll give it another try. Some other questions though... pics:
why so much splatter on this one? (don't mind the bottom one, that was from last week).

OK now on this one, i took two (flash and reg)... you can barely see the gold in the flash pic but on the other one, you can clearly see it, so that motivated me a lil more ..

also note, that these welds look big but i was fully zoomed on the macro setting on my camera, and these are as thick as a finger nail, just really close up pics... Here is the one with no flash..

So in the end using 1/16 rods was much better, i still need to improve my coordination of both hands though. I'll try to practice more on thicker ss and going to try to setup a backpurge and try on some elbows...
Thanks for all the help guys..