Starting to get really frustraited with Ali TIG welds, can't figure out the problem?

[Munkul]

Its either the metal, or your AC settings.

 

[Popcorn]

2 Seconds Preflow isn't enough, when I first started that's what I was doing and getting the same sort of results. Seem to recall it was Richard who put me straight on this.
Read this thread it's brilliant:

Aluminium tig guide getting started.

As has been requested by a small number of members I'm happy to start a small guide as a starting point for newcomers into welding aluminium. The idea is to simply give you a starting point so your new toy can be taken from the box and dialed in without the grief of guess work or diving through...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

 

[AdventuresInMetal]

Preflow setting to me is irrelevent as I'm kicking the pedal before I start anyway and i'm still flowing post flow by the time i actually start welding.

 

[Tigman]

Put a picture of your machine up knobs dials so we can see everything on the machine ! I had to send my ewm tetrix 230 back , it would weld dc , steel and stainless but I was getting results like that on ac on aluminium , it had a fault !!

 

[AdventuresInMetal]

its not really going to help much vs settings ive already listed but ok..

 

[8ob]

Looks like quite thick material, I use/tig weld 15mm thick ali stips together for mold making and for that the set has to be up around 300 amps.

Bob

 

[AdventuresInMetal]

the first test coupon was 6mm, the second one was 2mm, I wasn't really going for full penetration at this point i'm just trying to lay somewhat of a decent bead of weld down even if its mostly sitting on the surface.

 

[8ob]

the first test coupon was 6mm, the second one was 2mm, I wasn't really going for full penetration at this point i'm just trying to lay somewhat of a decent bead of weld down even if its mostly sitting on the surface.

Is the bench heat sinking the workpiece?

Bob

 

[tom2207]

a bottle of gas from somewhere would be handy , if anyone lives local ,,, just to rule something else out.

 

[AdventuresInMetal]

Is the bench heat sinking the workpiece?

Bob

To a point yes, the bench is 25mm aluminium plate and i'm using a couple of offcuts of ali or steel plates as spacers to create a gap between so i don't accidently weld it to the bench.

 

[Cheesie]

I use 0.2 seconds preflow, postflow will depend on tungsten size and amperage, if you're tungsten is blue when you terminate your arc up the post flow it should always shine if your weld starts of with black specs, up your pre flow, your actual gas flow while welding is related to your ceramic size

 

[Munkul]

2 Seconds Preflow isn't enough, when I first started that's what I was doing and getting the same sort of results. Seem to recall it was Richard who put me straight on this.
Read this thread it's brilliant:

Aluminium tig guide getting started.

As has been requested by a small number of members I'm happy to start a small guide as a starting point for newcomers into welding aluminium. The idea is to simply give you a starting point so your new toy can be taken from the box and dialed in without the grief of guess work or diving through...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

0.1 second preflow is enough. In my experienced opinion, and I've set up half a dozen different AC tig sets.
Post flow as cheesie says depends on amps and tungsten, general rule of thumb 6 to 8 seconds and work from there. As long as it stays shiny.

 

[Richiew]

Cup size is a bit of a red herring too. It's not steel or stainless. IMHO.

 

[Munkul]

Settings look/sound fine. Up the balance to at least 30%, it will run better.
120 amps is low for 6mm, even just padding beads, it'll take a good 10 seconds to get a puddle going from cold. Once hot then yeah that's fine.

 

[Munkul]

Cup size is a bit of a red herring too. It's not steel or stainless. IMHO.

I agree. Absolutely anything will work for practice bits like that - WITH the right gas flow.

 

[anto44]

I find for aluminium a standard collet and no 7 cup works just fine for pretty much anything I do.

 

[doubleboost]

It has to be a gas issue

 

[Cheesie]

It has to be a gas issue

Getting uncontaminated gas from any other supplier bar boc where I live is a nightmare

 

[Ruffian]

Would drop the frequency also as like it around the 50-60hz,
Feel I get a better clean of the alloy to prevent contamination.

 

[voipio]

Also, tungsten balling will occur, when the AC balance is right, especially with higher welding currents. Don't think of it being a problem.