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FourBlades |
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#1
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From Wreck to Rockin ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 2,056 Joined: 3-December 07 From: Brevard, FL Member No.: 8,414 Region Association: South East States ![]() ![]() |
I have been thinking about learning to TIG weld for a few years and took the plunge.
I bought the Eastwood AC/DC unit and have been playing with it for a few weeks. ![]() I did all the obvious learning stuff, watching you tube videos, reading about it. I like WeldingTipsAndTricks.com videos. At first I just could not see what was going on well enough so I bought a 3x magnifier for my helmet. I also had a lot of trouble with fogging so I got some FogTech drops which completely stopped the fogging. These tips made it a lot easier to see the arc and the puddle. Now if I could just stop touching the tungsten to the puddle it would be nice. I'd like to be able to TIG thin metal to limit heat input, do good roll bar welding, and make stuff from aluminum. I know this will take a lot of time and practice. What tips really helped you, what practice exercises did you do, what war stories do you have? Thanks, John |
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McMark |
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#2
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914 Freak! ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Retired Admin Posts: 20,180 Joined: 13-March 03 From: Grand Rapids, MI Member No.: 419 Region Association: None ![]() |
Since my first exposure to welding was OxyAcetelene, it made sense. IMHO, forget stack of dimes, forget zig-zag, and C shaped sweeps. Forget push ahead and the pull back while feeding rod. I learned by just doing what works. Find some 16g steel to start on because the 18 & 22g steel on a 914 is too thin to learn on. Hold two pieces right butted up against each other with ViceGrips and practice getting those pieces to flow together without filler rod. It won't work if there is any gap, but this will teach you how to move you foot and how to move your torch. Then do the same process with a 1/16" gap and start using filler rod.
You don't need to learn technical processes, you just need to build muscle memory and unconscious recognition of what you're seeing. Everything that happens while welding happens faster than you can consciously think. So time spent under the helmet is the only good first step. It's like learning a musical instrument. It's gonna sound like shit for a few months. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) |
FourBlades |
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#3
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From Wreck to Rockin ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 2,056 Joined: 3-December 07 From: Brevard, FL Member No.: 8,414 Region Association: South East States ![]() ![]() |
Since my first exposure to welding was OxyAcetelene, it made sense. IMHO, forget stack of dimes, forget zig-zag, and C shaped sweeps. Forget push ahead and the pull back while feeding rod. I learned by just doing what works. Find some 16g steel to start on because the 18 & 22g steel on a 914 is too thin to learn on. Hold two pieces right butted up against each other with ViceGrips and practice getting those pieces to flow together without filler rod. It won't work if there is any gap, but this will teach you how to move you foot and how to move your torch. Then do the same process with a 1/16" gap and start using filler rod. You don't need to learn technical processes, you just need to build muscle memory and unconscious recognition of what you're seeing. Everything that happens while welding happens faster than you can consciously think. So time spent under the helmet is the only good first step. It's like learning a musical instrument. It's gonna sound like shit for a few months. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Thanks Mark, the whole stack dimes is really intimidating, my beads look more like piles of bird guano. Should I use a copper backing plate for the butt welds? So far all the joints I have made in anything less than 14 guage turn into holes that just keep getting bigger.. John |
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