Confessions of a TIG Noob

[DaveO]

The universe smiled on me at the last Everlast contest, and holy cow I won- who'da thunk it. I always enter this kind of thing totally expecting to never win, but here I am the proud owner of a 210 EXT. I'm mortified to admit it took me til today to just bloody make the time to weld with it. I should preface this by saying I've never even *held* a TIG torch before today, as the photo will show, but let me tell you I am completely jazzed. Can't get over it- the machine is just amazing. I'm totally psyched with this machine and the possibilities it is opening up. Thanks again, Everlast!

If you're thinking about a TIG machine but on the fence or intimidated by it, give it a go!

I realize these welds are nothing to write home about (but I may anyway). Mild steel, 2% lanthanated 3/32" tungsten, about 110 amps (I was experimenting), 7 LPM argon.

[Rambozo]

Congrats, and welcome to the world of TIG. Doesn't look bad for a first go. One thing, TIG is not tolerant of rust, mill scale, dirt, etc. like MIG and stick, so grind your metal clean and things will go a lot better for you.

[zoama]

Good start... clean the mill scale off before tig welding. Time to update your sig with the new machine.

[DaveO]

@Now@ I understand about mill scale and how clean surfaces must be. I got after it with a cup brush but clearly that wasn't enough, and explains why the edges of the puddle were sparkling.

Stoked for TIG, now, and very in touch with Undercut's "break it so i can weld it back together" tagline!

[cbmkr]

Just keep on practicing on mild steel you will get more comfortable at mild steel and then try some stainless its real close to welding mild steel. Aluminum will be a lot of fun and with the different settings on the 210EXT and low amps on AC it opens up a lot of Aluminum welding applications.

[DaveO]

Will do, definitely, Monday I'm off to visit scrap yards to find practice pieces. The steel supplier closest to me lets their drops go for cheap but they're a drive to get to.

[everlastsupport]

Drops will be easier to clean up in most cases and give nice straight line for the butts and all. Has a little more cost, but better to start out with. And a stainless steel brush with a BIG A on it.

[DaveO]

True, and I'll be more likely to find a large-ish plate for a welding table surface. In my mind's eye I envision finding the perfect piece of clean plate for a welding table at a scrap yard, which realisitically falls into the "Yeah, right, like that'll ever happen" category of expectations.

[zedron]

I still have the very first piece of material I TIG welded. I figured it would be a nice keepsake one day when I get older and it really is. I have it easily view able in the garage where I can see it all the time. My first TIG experience was on 3/16 aluminium plate and most of my general "practice" was on some assortment of aluminium.

[zoama]

Will do, definitely, Monday I'm off to visit scrap yards to find practice pieces. The steel supplier closest to me lets their drops go for cheap but they're a drive to get to.

I went to a local fab shop and told them I'm teaching myself to tig weld and would like to buy some scrap to practice on. The guy took me to a plastic barrel full of scrap aluminum and gave me all I wanted for free. I've been back two more times since and they tell me to take what I want every time.
This is some of what I have left.

[DaveO]

That's very generous of them. There's not a lot of fab shops in my immediate area, I'll have to look in the right places, I guess see if I can make that kind of connection. Do you ever bring them a box of Krispy Kremes, or something?

[zoama]

That's very generous of them. There's not a lot of fab shops in my immediate area, I'll have to look in the right places, I guess see if I can make that kind of connection. Do you ever bring them a box of Krispy Kremes, or something?

I just happened to stop in there one day a few years back needing a piece of aluminum to make a computer case panel from. The guy got the piece I needed, sheared it to size and said the price was $4, I gave him $10. I went back a couple more times over the next two years to buy similar pieces and the guy would give me a low price every time... then we started the scrap aluminum thing. They're just nice people.