72 rustoration / subaru 6cyl project in Kansas, Mild resto-mod build, my idea of a “true” sportscar Options

[Alain V.]

I recently bought a very “budget friendly “ DC only tig welder from Vevor, for welding sheet metal.

Now, I have never used a tig before,,,,so,,,,before I massacre my car,,,,,I plan to try and “teach” myself how to do this on a bunch of scrap 18&20 gauge pieces.

How had can it be…………..right? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

I figure I should be up and running in like, ten minutes,,,,right?

[Alain V.]

Ok, so I may have UNDERESTIMATED the learning curve. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I’m using a #6 cup with the thinnest tungsten, argon set at 15cfh, and am using mig .023 wire as fill rod.

After blowing holes constantly, I did figure out that if I turn the amperage way up to like 80 amps, and just tap the trigger for a fraction of a second, I can make fusion tacs.

Other than that, I have learned that this is going to be touchier than I thought. I think I should probably move to at least the thicker mig wire, .030,,,,as the this stuff just eats up so quick it’s hard to hang on to.

Butt welding the sheet metal is proving to be quite a challenge. Set the amps lower than about 32 and it takes too long to get a pool going,,,,,set it higher than like 35 and I’m moving too slow I guess and I blow holes. If I try and “fill” the hole like you can with a mig….then the holes just get larger.

Ugh….ok,,,,so I wrote out all of this to warn you all, that I’m gonna post a pic of my very first 45 minutes of trying to use this machine.

Yes, it is a “festival of suck”,,,,,,,,,but with practice, I’m pretty sure it’ll suck a little less.
So here goes,,,,don’t laugh too hard…. I’d hate to be responsible for some of you spitting out coffee onto your keyboards.

[Alain V.]

well DUH! I wish I would have watched this great video BEFORE I fired up the welder.
Oh well, now I have some tips and info that hopefully will help next weekend.
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