TIG Welding

[TomG]

(08-24-2012, 08:28 PM)EdK Wrote:

(08-24-2012, 04:11 PM)TomG Wrote:

(08-24-2012, 03:59 PM)EdK Wrote: It was 3/16" steel plate being T welded with little to no gap so that's probably how we got away with it.

I noticed I could see the puddle much better with TIG than I've been able to with MIG. That's why it peaked my interest. I think my dismal results with MIG so far have been due to the fact that I've been practicing on too thin of steel for a newbie. Does that sound like a reasonable assumption?

Ed

Nah, MIG is the king of welding processes for thin steel. You probably have the same problem as I do, you just can't see the puddle. I think it's a combination of not much light due to the small diameter of the wire and eyes that don't work as well in low light as they used to (at least for me). Try using an auto darkening helmet and back off the shade a bit and use lots of auxiliary lighting. Oh, and don't forget to remove your sunglasses before you start.

Tom

I thought TIG was better for thin metals.

Ed

I was thinking thin metals as in automotive sheet metal. MIG is good for that because you can stitch it together quickly. TIG will do the same thing, it's just slower and more difficult to use in all positions.

Tom