First attempt at scratch start tig welding

[City Farmer]

I put together a scratch start tig for my Miller thunderbolt ac/dc stick welder today. These are my first and second beads with a tig torch. I'm using 100% argon set at 15. It seems to run ok once it gets hot but the tungsten gets worn out really quick. Any tips for that? Here's a couple pictures. Any tips or recommendations would be appreciated. The second & third picture are the front and back of the same weld, I never welded the back side. I think there was to much heat to make it blow through like that.

 

[k0ua]

I put together a scratch start tig for my Miller thunderbolt ac/dc stick welder today. These are my first and second beads with a tig torch. I'm using 100% argon set at 15. It seems to run ok once it gets hot but the tungsten gets worn out really quick. Any tips for that? Here's a couple pictures. Any tips or recommendations would be appreciated. The second & third picture are the front and back of the same weld, I never welded the back side. I think there was to much heat to make it blow through like that.

Might be hot.. What size tungsten, what kind of tungsten, (what color of band) and what amperage? I use lanthanated, and they last well, as long as I don't dip it in the puddle,, (which I still do more than I care to admit)

Oh, also did you have the metal perfectly clean? no rust or scale in the welding zone?

 

[DXN1EL]

Maybe is the type of tungsten you are using??:confused3:

 

[Shield Arc]

Oh, you have to clean the metal better before welding!

 

[k0ua]

Oh, you have to clean the metal better before welding!

Nope, just kidding

 

[City Farmer]

I'll give it another try tomorrow on some new pieces that are all cleaned up and repost.

 

[Arc weld]

TIG doesn't fill as much as other welding processes. It looks like you're trying to fill too much at a time. TIG is usually used for small really neat welds on thin material. Using it on thick material is a waste of argon. If you're burning the tungsten up are you on straight polarity?

 

[CNC Dan]

are you on straight polarity?

And by straight polarity, he means electrode negitive.

 

[SquirmyPug]

TIG doesn't fill as much as other welding processes. It looks like you're trying to fill too much at a time. TIG is usually used for small really neat welds on thin material. Using it on thick material is a waste of argon. If you're burning the tungsten up are you on straight polarity?

Tig is used on thick steel all the time, its not a waste of argon.

Straight polarity is what it should be on, if the tungsten is eroding then its on reverse polarity or there is a shielding problem. Don't know if that is what you meant or not, just don't want the OP confused.

 

[k0ua]

yeah, there is no way to be confused by "straight polarity" and "reversed polarity" That is SOOOO descriptive. As if the OP would just inherently know what is "straight" and what is "reversed"..

Why in the wide world of sports do professional welders continue to use this totally useless description of polarity settings.? Can you not understand if a new person to welding does not know enough to set the polarity correctly, how in the world is he going to know what is "straight" and "reversed"? HUH?