TIG - Practicing beads on mild steel, getting a bump at the end

[seanm]

Oooo, when will the winter lighten up
Well, I can practice welding

I'm practicing beads. This is 1/4 mild steel. Filler is 1/16 ER70S6, and tungsten is 3/32 2% ceriated. Machine is an analog iTig 200. I've got a foot pedal. Post flow is around 2:00 (scale of 0-25 might put that around 12 seconds), and down slope is set to 1 (on a scale of 0 to 5). I'm left handed so the torch goes from left to right and I end on the right. I'm ending up with a bump at the end of the bead. I've tried changing a few things but haven't really figured out what makes this better or worse. Maybe someone else has. I've put in the standard dime size benchmark.

While I've got ya looking, how am I doing? I know some of these are too flat, and I'm learning more about what happens as the base material soaks up more heat. Are some of these beads at least halfway decent? I've been a hobby welder long enough to figure out there's a lot more I still need to figure out! I have read in other postings mild steel beads should look at least a little shiny, but the only time I get anything shiny is when tack welding.

Thanks in advance for your time and tips.

[Kevin Caron]

Maybe set your down slope to 3 or 4 and try that.

Or set your down slope to 0 and just back off the pedal slowly at the end of the run.

And what flow rate are you running on the argon?

[seanm]

Hey Kevin. I appreciate and enjoy the videos you've put out there. Thank you for the time you put into that. I'll try both suggestions on the down slope & foot pedal. Flow rate is at 6 LPM. The torch is a CK 9 flex with the gas saver and a 5 cup. I believe the CK information says to set the flow at 4-5 for this size cup. I've tried 4 through 6 LPM and maybe even higher flow rates, but don't seem to get the weld looking any less dull.

[performance]

Check your preflow and postflow. Increase it as much as you can.
The beads are fine. It's hard to make beads on a flat plate look good. Likely it is your torch angle or gas flow rate that may be an issue. You aren't going to get a mirror finish typically unless you wire brush it. A gas lens helps.