first tig fusion bead attempts.

[Ram48]

Well It looks like I may finally have a good chunk of time this week to devote to teaching myself Tig. The new Imig 205 will not be here until wed late and I am waiting parts on the Classic Mini cooper project.
Please feel free to critique the pictures, they are not that clear but I hope I can get some good feedback on what I am doing wrong or right.
Settings are 130 amps on the foot pedal and 1/16 tungsten.
Thanks Ray

[Legacyartist247]

Hello... Looks like you have a fine stable when it comes to tools. It's hard to tell how thick the metal is that your welding on, but I'd imagine it's must be less than 3/16" for a 1/16 tung.... Looks like your on the right track.

Practrce m@kes perfect!

[performance]

So you didn't go with the MTS 200? Too bad, after all those calls and time. The MTS is a better and more advanced mig than anything we have. You would have been pleased. The IMIG 205 is fine, but it doesn't have the burnback control or the 2T/4T torch control.

Also 130 amps on 1/16th is too much. You need 3/32 in that neighborhood. The pictures are awfully fuzzy and out of focus, but I think I can see undercut...That's caused by too much amperage. You didn't say what kind of material you were welding and how thick or tungsten type.

[Ram48]

So you didn't go with the MTS 200? Too bad. The MTS is a better mig than anything we have.

MArk What drove my decision was the lack af availability of the 80/20 mix and the fact that I really did not need the tig function already having a 250ex. I also got the spool gun and had enough left over in price difference to pick up a shrinker and stretcher for my metal working. The 205 gets great reviews and for a hobby welder it is really more then I need . Hey if I find I need the MTS I have 30 days to trade it back in. Plus the resale value on the machines is unbeleivable

Hello... Looks like you have a fine stable when it comes to tools. It's hard to tell how thick the metal is that your welding on, but I'd imagine it's must be less than 3/16" for a 1/16 tung.... Looks like your on the right track.

Practrce m@kes perfect!

The material was 1/8 2 inch sq tube.

[performance]

Really, you will want to turn it down to about 80 amps for that. You can weld the world with tig and 80 amps. As always, I recommend customers start without the foot pedal, and learn proper technique.

[Ram48]

here are some better pictures
130 amps 1/16 tungsten, and 3/32 rod where used.
Material is 2x2x.125 sq tube
First three are fusion next two snakes are first attempt at adding filler. I know I need to work on keeping straight thanks for your input.

[performance]

Ray,

Too small of tungsten, too many amps. The pictures are better, but the parameters aren't.

[Ram48]

Ray,

Too small of tungsten, too many amps. The pictures are better, but the parameters aren't.

Thanks Mark
They are the same welds from last night just better pictures. I will make those changer tomorrow and see what difference it makes.
Hey one out of two aint bad
Ray

[performance]

A good way to practice is to take a piece of 6-8" long piece angle iron and turn it up so that it is in the upright "V" position, maybe 1/4" 2x2. Start laying beads in, starting at the bottom, working your way up, laying beads side by side, tying them into the side and slightly overlapping the previous pass bead until the metal is filled up. IF you have a band saw, weld a piece of tubing or anlge on the outside of the angle so that it forms sort of a handle that you can clamp in the vise and cut the angle down the length of the weld. You can then inspect the long way cross section for weld quality and defects. It'll take a pound of rods or so, but it is a training technique used to teach students how to weld properly and to give them feedback that they can visually see and evaluate for themselves without an instructor giving a "pass" or "fail" right out of the box.

[Tritium]

I like that Mark. Thanks for that tip.

Thurmond