Tungsten balling instantly

[Brad93]

Is your TIG torch plugged into the negative on the welder?

You may find that ESAB reads the balance the other way round to the conventional way. I.e. it’s telling you EN (electrode negative).

what thickness is your aluminium?
For 3mm thick aluminium you’d need about 130-150A just to get a puddle going. Then back off once the plate has become heat soaked.

 

[Brad93]

Thats quite a complex machine for its age. It looks to be an aristotig?

Anyhow, its got square wave and a softer sine wave option.

Your balance knob wants to be at the 1-2 o'clock position in my mind.

Also on th left hand side of the machine is a knob with like a spike in the current graph. make sure that is turned down. It shouldn't affect the tig settings, that should be for hotstart on stick welding but just incase.

 

[Munkul]

The balance control on the aristotig shows a shallow puddle anticlockwise, and a deep puddle clockwise. This is your guide... you want it around 70% towards the deep puddle, this is %EN. Basically keep experimenting with turning it up until your weld beads turn slightly speckled, this is the point where you need a bit less %EN and more cleaning. It should be about 70% for most stuff.

You will be able to put a rough point on a 2.4 tungsten and it will ball back so far, but not as far as the end of the prep. This is with Lanthanated tungsten, correct?

Then, your 140 amps will definitely be able to do something on your 3mm ally It's a nice set, it's a bit newer and fancier than mine was.

 

[fizzy]

Is your TIG torch plugged into the negative on the welder?

You may find that ESAB reads the balance the other way round to the conventional way. I.e. it’s telling you EN (electrode negative).

what thickness is your aluminium?
For 3mm thick aluminium you’d need about 130-150A just to get a puddle going. Then back off once the plate has become heat soaked.

Backing off is the problem - no foot pedal - will have to make one or find a used one.

 

[Munkul]

you don't need a foot pedal, you'll weld beads on flat 3mm at 100 amps no problem, it'll just take a little while to get going while the material is cold.

Once it heat soaks, you'll probably be backing off even further. But you don't need a foot pedal.

forgive the beads, they aren't the best, but the setting isn't bad - 90 amps on 3mm flat, no foot pedal in sight:

You'll want like 130-140 amps for fillet joints.

 

[fizzy]

What is the best tungsten to use or doesn't it make much difference?

 

[Barking Mat]

I like the green ones.

 

[qwakers]

and the word like is very important there. its very personal, once you get experienced youll get to know what you prefer. lm not experienced enough to have a preference yet myself...

 

[Brad93]

Lanthanated.

1 tungsten for everything that way.

 

[Brad93]

When i say back off, I mean run your first weld, then turn the amps down.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

you don't need a foot pedal, you'll weld beads on flat 3mm at 100 amps no problem, it'll just take a little while to get going while the material is cold.

Once it heat soaks, you'll probably be backing off even further. But you don't need a foot pedal.

forgive the beads, they aren't the best, but the setting isn't bad - 90 amps on 3mm flat, no foot pedal in sight:

You'll want like 130-140 amps for fillet joints.

I'm pretty new to TIG welding aluminium and as such I joined this excellent forum to gather advice from welding experts whilst also watching dozens of YouTube TIG welding aluminium videos. Most of the videos show the use of a foot pedal and I felt tempted to buy one but at around £200 do I really need one. Like you advised Munkul and also Hood saying a foot pedal isn't really a must have item I took your advice and confess I struggled as a novice not only in controlling heat runaway but with the bewildering welder adjustments but the quickest way to learn for a novice is to get stuck in and make all the mistakes; persistence and patience will win through in the end; I've had to endure many problems during my TIG learning curve but I'm stubborn and during the last six months have learned how to metal spin and TIG weld; I'm no expert at TIG welding but neither am I still a novice. Our dire weather is putting me off spending time in the workshop as it is today with high wind and lashing heavy rain but if ever this bad weather passes then I'll definitely be doing more TIG welding because I'm finding it to be addictive.

I bought 1mm; 1.6mm & 2.4mm 2% Lanthanated tungstens in packs of ten; my filler rods are 4043 in both 1.6mm & 2.5mm packs of 2.5kg. Correct collets & collet holders were also bought; it's surprising the number of filler rods used and initial set up cost is high but once set up then it just comes down to Argon gas and consumables; I'm on the BOC Hobby account for Argon with "Y" 20L cylinders which are considerably cheaper then general hobby 9L cylinders which rapidly empty; I used 3 x 9L Hobbyweld cylinders in no time at all now I'm with BOC my high pressure 20L cylinders only cost just over £50 per exchange collected from The Wakefield Welding Center. I'll soon be collecting my third BOC cylinder.

Kind regards, Colin.

We've all got to start from scratch; my first welds were all over the place as I struggled with so much to take in all at once.

I got through many practice pieces and lots of gas; just a few practice pieces shown above; I was fighting everything from welder settings; puddle dipping; dire weather and even my heavy clothing but kept having a go.

My dream six months ago was to make a new aluminium petrol tank for a mower I had fully restored; I learned metal spinning because I wanted domed ends to the tank and I've also learned TIG welding as seen above done a few days ago.

Dreams do come true; here's the finished petrol tank without a single leak which has made all the hassle and frustration worthwhile; once again the weather is too bad to allow me to spend time in the workshop but I'm looking forward to tackling more projects soon. Sorry if I've hijacked this thread but I'm now a keen metal spinner and TIG welder. If I can do it then I'm sure anyone else can because I'm not the sharpest tool in the kit; I make up for it through determination to succeed however long it takes.

 

[minimutly]

Is there no roof on your workshop then @Retired ?
Put the heating on, turn the radio up and enjoy.....

Like your tank - metal spinning - go on, let us know where you gleaned that from - with pics if possible

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks for asking minimutly; yes a roof in fact the workshop is our 22' x 11' garage located beneath our detached bungalow; I use a 2kw fan heater but I daren't switch it on and leave it unattended for safety reasons due to all the flammables making it dangerous; I've got to walk down to the workshop and mostly in dire weather as it is today so I get wet hence I'm wearing my big heavy site coat which I wear until the heater gets on top by which time it's a mealtime; I've tried using an umbrella for trips to the workshop but its a nuisance especially with the powerful wind we suffer here on the exposed valley side. We've talked about moving but on a rare good day it's absolutely beautiful living here and we've spent the last 33 years virtually rebuilding the bungalow from replacing foul drains to replacing the chimney stack adding a chimney also we're now afraid of moving given the criminals are so well looked after here in the UK.

It's enough distance from either the front or rear door to the workshop to give me a good soaking the rain often driven by strong wind. It's pointless complaining its just something to live with.

I have a mini hi-fi in the workshop and I play my favourite sixties songs from CD which I've downloaded years ago.

I don't want to wander off topic but if you're interested I don't mind adding metal spinning details on a new thread with lots of pictures because metal spinning is also a fascinating hobby.

Kind regards, Colin.

My workshop location beneath the bungalow. I made the side hung doors; all the new cladding; decking extension; dug out 42' of wet clay and laid the new path; built the low retaining wall and designed and installed the new bespoke fence; just a bit of the work carried out all on my own with my lovely wife fully supporting me; I'm so fortunate in many ways.

I daren't leave the fan heater unattended for safety reasons; here's the workshop crammed with tools and machines; a lovely place to spend time in but not whilst wet and feeling cold; I do lots of assorted hobbies TIG welding just one of them.

 

[minimutly]

Why not leave the heater running - really - what do you exepect to happen?
I could upload a pic of my workshops, but neither would be as neat and tidy as yours...

 

[John Hale]

I'm thinking of getting 2 of these

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005WJBNUK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_6I2wEb3KYCNYZ

And leaving them on low to keep the damp and humidity down, I'm in a concrete sectional garage

 

[minimutly]

Just buy a dehumidifier, a few hendred watts rather than Kilowatts

 

[Dr.Al]

Just buy a dehumidifier, a few hendred watts rather than Kilowatts

^^^ This.

I have one running on a low setting in my garage all the time and I haven't had any rust problems since I installed it (with the drain pipe going out through the garage wall into the garden).

 

[Hood]

^^^ This.

I have one running on a low setting in my garage all the time and I haven't had any rust problems since I installed it (with the drain pipe going out through the garage wall into the garden).

Do you think it would help in my workshop?

Here is a pic from the office above my workshop

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks minimutly for asking. What I expect to happen is the unexpected to happen and I'll not leave a fan heater running in my workshop unattended because if there's a fire it could prove catastrophic having the bungalow directly above; I won't risk it; here's an example of not what could have happened but actually did happen;

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/blown-my-welder-up.94007/

Here's a fan heater example;

https://www.imca-int.com/alert/397/small-fire-caused-by-portable-fan-heater/

I was taught strict safety whilst working underground down a deep coal mine also in my last job of 24 years in charge of three departments I did risk assessments; I trust nothing.

Thanks for the tip John; I'll have a good look at the heater on your link.

Nice one Hood; you must have a submarine as a workshop?

Sorry to be the one to divert this thread so far off topic but I'm encourageable.

Kind regards, Colin.