Re: Question about TIG welding aluminum
- From: Ned Simmons <news@xxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 10:30:24 -0500
In article <pan.2006.02.24.06.13.48.121397@xxxxxxxxxx>,
dalenws@xxxxxxxxxx says...
I am taking a community college class in welding. I already have
some experience with, and own gas, stick, and MIG equipment. I am
trying to learn to do TIG and to weld aluminum. This is taught at
the local high school, and I am the only person to try using their
old Miller Syncrowave 180 SD. The class gave a quick demo of
gas, stick, and MIG. I'm pretty much on my own trying to practice
with the TIG unit and just a couple practice sessions so far
trying it for both steel and aluminum. I did buy my own tungsten
for this (both thoriated and plain).
In some practice the other night I was using a couple pieces
of aluminum "C" channel from the scrap bin - no idea just what
the metal was. I did clean them with a stainless brush. I found
that I could run a reasonably good puddle for a while and then
when I would feed the rod it would ball up and act as if it was
dirty. Made a real mess.
What do mean by "reasonably good puddle?" Before you add the rod the
puddle sshould have the appearance of bright, shiny mercury.
It sounds like you may have less than ideal shielding: not enough flow,
a breeze deflecting the gas away from the weld, contaminated gas (it
happens), a leak in your torch, etc. If there's any non-shiny or black
dross floating on the puddle, that's a symptom of inadequate shielding.
The fact that the puddle gets worse when you introduce the rod, assuming
your material and rod are clean, also points to shielding as the problem
- the rod is getting hot enough to oxidize before it's in the gas.
Try increasing the gas flow. I usually run 10-15 CFH for steel, SS,
etc., and 30 CFH for aluminum.
If you still have trouble and the stock you're working with is unmarked,
you might want to get hold of some aluminum and rod of known composition
and weldability. Welding alum, and troubleshooting problems welding
alum, is difficult enough without adding in additional variables. 6061
is common and easily weldable with 4043 or 5356 rod. Not too thick or
thin, either; something around 1/8" would be best. If that C channel has
radiused corners it's probably 6061, square corners is more often 6063,
which is also OK.
Ned Simmons
.
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