Tig break test.

[Shield Arc]

I did the Tig test this morning. Set the machine at 250-amps for these 1/4-inch thick flatbar plates. I wasn't in the pedal fully at all times. Used 1/8-inch ER70S-2 filler rod, 100 % argon, about 18-cfph, 1/8-inch Ceriated tungsten.
I couldn't get a full 1/4-inch weld in one pass. I tried stuffing enough filler into the puddle to do it, but I could tell it wasn't digging into the heel / root, so I settled for little less than 3/16-inch. I let the plates cool to the touch, and broke it. 6-blows is all it took.
So I ran another coupon, but this time I made a 3-pass fillet weld, and got a full 1/4-inch weld.
It took 13-blows to break the plate, and when it broke it snapped!

 

[rjmack]

100 % argon, about 18-cfph, 1/8-inch Ceriated tungsten.

you mean cfpm (minute) and 'thoriated'? (alloyed with thorium)

red stripe 2% thoria

 

[deereman75]

No he means cfph because tig welding uses much less then one cfm, and also that is just a differnt kind of tungsten.

 

[Shield Arc]

Nope, cubic feet per hour.
Nope, Ceriated, (orange tip) tungsten. I welded this with an inverter machine.

 

[glc24]

I couldn't get a full 1/4-inch weld in one pass

I don't know why you couldn't do that.
I use 3/32" tungsten with 1/16" rods and can get 1/4" welds all day long.

Greg

 

[deereman75]

I don't know why you couldn't do that.
I use 3/32" tungsten with 1/16" rods and can get 1/4" welds all day long.

Greg

what amperage are you using, what kind of tungsten, and what gas. (argon or helium)

 

[Shield Arc]

I don't know why you couldn't do that.
I use 3/32" tungsten with 1/16" rods and can get 1/4" welds all day long.

Greg

That's because you're better than me! :thumbsup:

 

[dstig1]

You slacker weekend welder warrior

Sheesh. You even know how to make something hard look easy. That TIG weld looks perfectly awesome.

The typically accepted engineering terms are cfm and cfh cubic feet per minute and cubic feet per hour. The "p" is not typically noted, like in PSI ... Pounds per square inch. And yes, most inert welding gasses are in the cfh range.

 

[Little_Grizzly]

Pardon the silly question. I thought a proper weld actually melted and fused the two pieces. The filler just being there to reinforce. Isn't the fact that it only took a few hits with a hammer a sign that it was a cold weld? I'm confused.

 

[deereman75]

The filler and the base metal all become one piece, the filler is there to add enough material so that it will have enough thickness there, and to fill gaps in the fit up.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

I THINK, you may have gotten different results with 70S-6 filler.

 

[Shield Arc]

Why is that Mark, is the ER70S-6 stronger? Seems like I was looking for -6 but had to settle for -2.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

70 S-6 seems to wet in better, and has a high level of deoxidizers. And in my experience is fairly ductile.

 

[glc24]

That's because you're better than me! :thumbsup:

I doubt that. If I came off sounding arrogant I apologize.:ashamed:
I don't even have any formal training. I pretty much taught myself what I know and that isn't saying much.
What you're saying is a 1/4" weld is probably a correct weld,compared to what I would think it is.

what amperage are you using, what kind of tungsten, and what gas. (argon or helium)

deereman75
I use a Lincoln Idealarc 300 AC/DC,not sure of the year,but I think it's from the late 80's early 90's.
When I weld 1/4 inch plate,I have it set on high,36/215,but I have the fine control on about 7.5,so I'm not using the full amps. I use 3/32" 2% Thoriated, "red" and 1/16" ER70S-2 rod (in fact the 70S is all we've ever bought).Gas is 100% Argon.

Greg

 

[deereman75]

I doubt that. If I came off sounding arrogant I apologize.:ashamed:
I don't even have any formal training. I pretty much taught myself what I know and that isn't saying much.
What you're saying is a 1/4" weld is probably a correct weld,compared to what I would think it is.



deereman75
I use a Lincoln Idealarc 300 AC/DC,not sure of the year,but I think it's from the late 80's early 90's.
When I weld 1/4 inch plate,I have it set on high,36/215,but I have the fine control on about 7.5,so I'm not using the full amps. I use 3/32" 2% Thoriated, "red" and 1/16" ER70S-2 rod (in fact the 70S is all we've ever bought).Gas is 100% Argon.

Greg

Ahh the classic lincoln idealarc, oh how I wish I had one of those.

 

[deereman75]

I saw you can buy tungsten in 7 inch lengths, I am wondering how you cut them, isnt tungsten incredibly hard?

 

[fabberd]

I saw you can buy tungsten in 7 inch lengths, I am wondering how you cut them, isnt tungsten incredibly hard?

score it with a grinder and it will snap with minimum pressure.

 

[Shield Arc]

What I do is put them 45 degrees to the outside edge of my bench grinder wheel, grind a groove in the tungsten, then break it over the edge of the table. Then grind the desired point on each end.

 

[deereman75]

Ahh ok that makes sence. Also how much differnt is tig welding from gas welding, like if I am good at gas welding, how hard would it be to get good at tig welding.

 

[Shield Arc]

They say the fastest way to learn Tig is to start with O/A. I haven't done any O/A welding in just under 100-years:laughing:, so I can't hardly remember what it's all about. I do remember it being very hot.
The similarities of the two processes are, forming the puddle, then dipping the filler. Personally I think Tig welding is easier to make a nice looking bead.