Regulars will recall I posted re. TIG welding aluminium housings for a picaxe project.
I recently bought this TIG unit.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BOSWELL-200AMP-AC-DC-INVERTER-TIG-ARC-ALUMINUM-WELDER-/270507388880?cmd=ViewItem&pt=AU_Welding&ha
Contrary to what some advised me I can report that TIG welding aluminium is pretty straight forward. I have probably spent 3 hours in total practicing and I can now lay down a reasonable looking weld bead.
The things I learned here have been critical in making progress.
http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/index.html
Things that are important:
Get a machine with a pedal
Keep the electrode about its own diameter from the puddle
Keep the hand piece about 10 degrees off the vertical from the work.
Use a helium/argon mix shield gas
And the most important, make sure you have the machine (dial settings) set up correctly
If you keep having problems this is mos likely what is wrong.
I have done a reasonable amount of stick and MIG welding previously and that has helped a lot. Still, even if you are new to welding TIG isn't that hard. Forget what the hand wringers tell you, have a go.
I recently bought this TIG unit.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BOSWELL-200AMP-AC-DC-INVERTER-TIG-ARC-ALUMINUM-WELDER-/270507388880?cmd=ViewItem&pt=AU_Welding&ha
Contrary to what some advised me I can report that TIG welding aluminium is pretty straight forward. I have probably spent 3 hours in total practicing and I can now lay down a reasonable looking weld bead.
The things I learned here have been critical in making progress.
http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/index.html
Things that are important:
Get a machine with a pedal
Keep the electrode about its own diameter from the puddle
Keep the hand piece about 10 degrees off the vertical from the work.
Use a helium/argon mix shield gas
And the most important, make sure you have the machine (dial settings) set up correctly
If you keep having problems this is mos likely what is wrong.
I have done a reasonable amount of stick and MIG welding previously and that has helped a lot. Still, even if you are new to welding TIG isn't that hard. Forget what the hand wringers tell you, have a go.