First TIG welds

[2tailfins]

Finally got my TIG class going- We are learning to do welds first in mild steel, then we progress to stainless Steel, And finally aluminum with 4 basic plate designs- Corner Joint, Lap weld,Butt weld, and T joint-

My first one is merely fused with no filler-16Ga Mild steel Lincoln Precision TIG 225- set current to 90 but only use around 1/2 pedal: And a shot of the backside.

[2tailfins]

Here are a couple of my "Lap Joint" attempts-16ga Mild steel, 1/16" ER70S-2 filler rod, 90 amps with about 1/2 pedal argon on about 5-10 seconds post flow. What do you guys think?

[Rambozo]

Looks like a little undercutting on the right, but hard to tell from the pics, the flash washes a lot of detail out. Maybe try to concentrate a little more of the heat into the bottom piece. The edge piece needs a lot less than the other piece. Overall looks pretty good. Do they have you cut them up to see the cross section afterwards?

[2tailfins]

Looks like a little undercutting on the right, but hard to tell from the pics, the flash washes a lot of detail out. Maybe try to concentrate a little more of the heat into the bottom piece. The edge piece needs a lot less than the other piece. Overall looks pretty good. Do they have you cut them up to see the cross section afterwards?

I am working no my technique and its not easy! keeping the torch at the right angle/speed/heat/height and all the while dipping the filler in the puddle without contaminating the tungsten! I love it! They do not cut them up to look for penatration but I am getting just a hint of a HAZ and where it looks like it almost ready to come through
on the back side

[performance]

HAZ isn't visible to the naked eye. Color change doesn't necessarily indicate the length or extent of the HAZ. The HAZ is found in the microstructure of the metal, and changes the microcystalline formations of the metal.

[MoparCar]

I think it looks pretty good for your first shot. Where are you taking your classes? Local community college?

[2tailfins]

I think it looks pretty good for your first shot. Where are you taking your classes? Local community college?

Yes local comunity college- It was a great deal, a whole semester for around $400 and it included all supplies, lab fees etc. There are only 7 other guys in the class and its Mon and Wed night 6-9:30.

[everlastsupport]

Yes local comunity college- It was a great deal, a whole semester for around $400 and it included all supplies, lab fees etc. There are only 7 other guys in the class and its Mon and Wed night 6-9:30.

Yea, welding classes always impressed me at the community colleges, not sure how they do it. The low cost, with the consumables/electricity, actual machine cost, teacher cost, etc. It is always a bargain for sure.

TIG is a little bit of multi-tasking but it will come to you lots of practice.

[MoparCar]

That is a good deal at the C. College. Consumables and everything included. You can't beat that at the price of gas, tungsten, rod and of course good advice!

[DaveO]

For one reason or another I haven't been able to synch up with my local CC. First time I missed a deadline, next time they didn't offer the night courses I wanted (I'm limited to night time courses), etc. I know they keep class sizes small because last time the class was by the time I registered. But as others have mentioned it's a good deal- meets twice a week for 4 hours per session, 1 hour lecture / 3 hours lab, very reasonable cost.