TIG welding...I suck, but have an opportunity, so can you help me out???

At my job, the TIG welder guy is moving into a different dept. and they know I can weld steel fairly good, and I want this guys job (actually I have it!!) and it en-tails the majority of the time TIG welding 1/8" aluminum plate butt welded together. He has been teaching me ALL his expertise, but I just have NOT "grasped" the knack for it. I did a search first, and came up with about 6 pages of stuff related to TIG welding so I kinda gave up!!!
SORRY, but I guess I am looking for "real world" techniques/help/advice!!! I can strike the arc, and can get the flow going, without blow thru, but I just can't get a stable, steady path of weld, an even width of weld, and NOT a comfortable position of holding the gun- with all the lenght of cable,& cooling line,etc.
I know a lot of you guys TIG on a regular basis, so if you could give me some tips/advice I would appreciate it. The guy teaching me says it is just "seat time" his term for PRACTICE, but with the ability I have at steel welding, it just PISSES me off that I am not catching on to this as fast as I thought I would!!! He is a "self taught" TIG welder, so alot of the questions I ask him, he does not have an answer for, he just says "do it this way" for his answer, BUT sometimes that doesn't help me out!!! ANYTHING would be great...Thanks, Ken
P/S: They will send me to school to get certified, BUT I have to pay for it first and THEN they will reimburse me (this company is GREAT!!!)... I will do that come this summer BUT just can't come up with the cash right now.

 

Thats all it really is though, practice. If you are welding for eight hours a day, you will get good sooner than you know.

 

if you cant weld good, weld alot.

 

O.K. is it REALLY JUST practice??? I was a ------>>>(NOT BEING AN ASSHOLE HERE)<<<----- natural at wirefeed (mig) welding, AND arc welding, AND Oxy/Acetelene welding!!!! Is TIG, THAT much more practice, practice, practice????

 

ditto, just takes time to find out what works for you

 

The trick is to throw the whip over your shoulder.
Keep your elbows always touching your sides. This will keep your hands steady. 1/8 aluminum is pretty thick stuff so in time you'll get the technique.
By now you know you can't see when the metal goes fluid by color.
So its a matter of finding what is the best position and technique and repeating it through the whole weld. With that thick of material you pick it up quickly. relax your practice with prevail. Keep your tungstun rounded and clean, be sure your using the right tungstun for aluminum. I have welded for too many years and have always found a way to sit when welding. There was times i had to set on a ladder to get comfortable. Sitting will help your technique especially during tig welding. Hope something here helps.

 

O.K. so I gues it is just PRACTICE!!! Here is another question... I am right handed and feel MORE comfortable with the gun in my right hand and stick of rod in my left, BUT my fellow employee/teacher says I need the gun in my left hand because I need to control the rod (in my right hand) MORE than the gun(in my left hand)??? Also one of my BIGGEST problems is when I stick the rod in the "pool" of weld, .....as I pull it back and move it down to stick it back into the "pool" I ALWAYS seem to get a --tail-- of the rod <-- do you know what I mean??? ---I small tail follows the rod OUT of the pool of weld--- sticking up from my bead of weld. is this speed, heat, thickness of rod??? or my technique???? Thanks guys also for the all tips!!!...Ken

 

I too am right handed and have always use the torch with my right hand. Most guys do. Thats your problem. Your left hand should push the rod. Learn to keep the end of the rod at about three to four inches from your hand and learn to push the wire with your fingertips. It takes alot of practice to do this/
Your tail problem is due to not being in the right area of the puddle. Hard to explain but the wire doesnt touch the puddle but the torch flame. The torch flame pushes the droplet into the bead. Keep your torch and wire out of the molten bead.

 

Petejoe... Thanks for the advice, and this is to ADD, ....when I saw your FIRST post (yeah I've been drinking !!) I saw at the bottom of you post ..."BE CAREFUL" I thought you were adding this to your answer to my question!!! Little did I know that Smokey The Bear would be showing me "his junk"...FUNNY AS FUCKING HELL!!!!! I called my wife over to see that and she about shit her pants too!!!! GOD that made my night!! (you will understand why my night has been bad if you read my (Turbo400 just quit post) Thanks man I needed that!!!!!....Ken

 

Take a piece of wire home and practice pushing it with your fingertips.
Grab a pencil right now near the tip and slowly work it to the eraser end.
Something like that. Its easier with a weld wire.
Smoky is a bad bear!!

 

what pete joe said. for aluminum i usaully wil move. pause, dab sounds simple its very easy to work with but joints pretty simple though just takes time

 

Just like the others have said, it is all practice. But I found you have to be comfortable as well. My dad taught me how to TIG and I hold the torch way different from the way he does. I find it to be much more comfortable my way, resulting in much better welds.

grumper

 

Also I have always "heard" --your weld should look like a row of dimes laying against each other real close", BUT when I see his welds, (and they look GOOD don't get me wrong) they don't look like a close set of dimes laid over!! His welds are NICE, EVEN, SAME WIDTH, STRAIGHT, just not as close as a set of dimes laid over close!!!! Maybe I should take pictures and let you guys "critike me" if you want??? I am NOT AFRAID of critisism!!! I feel I have a GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY and want to do the BEST I can!!!! I REALLY like my company!!!!!

 

penetration first , looks second

 

ive been at my new job for 3 months ,90&#37;of what i was wwelding before was mig .now 100% of my welding is stainless mig...just jump in and get to it....its making me a better mig welder!!!!

 

I'm in a welding program at school right now. Two of the biggest things my instructor stresses are body position and relaxing. The torch shouldn't feel like a hammer in your hand, just think of it as a pen you'll be writing with. My classes are 6.5 hours long and I used to be exhausted at the end of class. Now that I pay attention to being comfortable and relaxing, things are much easier. I used to find myself concentrating so hard I was holding my breath. So remember to breathe and take it easy. Also I found switching different cup sizes on the torch made things easier for me. I started out with a #6 and I think I was using a #10 towards the end. I also had 2-3 Tungstens all ground up and ready to go. Kind of a pain in the ass if you have to keep getting up and grinding those things between welds.

 

YES... I hold my breath, AND grind my teeth!!! Is this nervousness, scared, or "newbie anxiety"???? I didn't realize it, (although I know I do it) until you mentioned it that it may be a problem?????...Ken

 

Good luck with this opportunity, I hope it works out for you this time. Where do you work again?

 

W A G S T A F F , out on FLORA rd.!! Whats up??? when are you , me and the girls getting together to go out??? It is on YOU guys!!!!!!

 

I'm a newbie as well, but I did quite a bit of Qxy/Acet welding, stick welding, etc. Frankly, I was about half scared to try TIG - but I just figured if other guys can do it, I can do it. I purchased a Miller maxstar (don't need aluminum capabilities), and have been practicing quite a bit. It just takes time and your body position and comfort factor have LOTs to do with it. Couple things I've learned (just my own way).

a) Practice with different heat settings, different cups and different tungsten thicknesses. Most guys will settle on a single tungsten size, but I've found that working through a bunch of tests like above helps me to recognize what is working and what is not. I'm working with everything from 20 gauge to 1/4" plate.

b) Keep a booklet and write down what you learn. I keep track of amp settings, tungsten, cup sizes, metal thickness, etc.. I also take notes on how things "move" and part setup. I've found just a few pages of notes are really handy to refresh myself.

I also write down what didn't work and what I had to do to fix it.

c) I'm trying to learn to weld with either hand -- as I've just seen too many things over the years where being able to use either had sure makes things easier. Some may think I'm nuts, but it doesn't take that long to learn both ways. I'm most comfortable with the torch in my right hand, but find that it isn't terribly different switching hands.

Keep practicing and asking for help from those who know. Pictures always help!

 

it's not aluminum, but feel free to check out my videos to see my technique. I'm not saying it's the best way - you'll have to discover what's most comfortable for you. These aren't welding tutorial videos or anything, so please understand I'm not telling you you've got to do it my way!

video archive

 

I thought Wagstaff got bought out?

 

HELL NO!!!! This is by far the best place I have worked in my LIFE!!!!, (and I loved building motors at Motor Works!!!) You know Danny Anderson works here right? Jim Borman did until a week ago, also Mark Anderson until a week ago!!! This place has a great bonus, Medical/Dental benefits, and 401K program!!! If you have a chance I, honestly advise you to apply here!!!! Been strong since 1942!!!!! It is THE ONLY reason I am still here instead of going down to Hollywood Hotrods with Troy!!!!!!
Ken!

 

I jeard Borman left due to a buy-out, but the source was not the greatest. Go figure!

 

NOPE!!!!!! Bad source!!! I'll tell you by P.M. or in person if you REALLY want to know!!!! Wagstaff IS really a GREAT place to work at!!!!!

 

I don't really care to know, none of my business and I could care less really! But thanks Anyways, sorry for O/T on your post. I'll be following, as I am pretty ammiture at the TIG as well!

 

No problem!! Just gotta stick up for my company!!! They really stand by thier employee's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

nice tips, thanks cadillac dave

 

Wagstaff... you have a GIANT CNC planer mill there? The company I work for just did a CNC retrofit job, and I think it went there. What do you guys make?

Andrew