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How quickly to advance the weld on Aluminum
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metaldreams
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    Sun May 24, 2015 7:25 pm

OK so I did some but welds with 1/8" aluminum. They looked so pretty :D . Then I ground down the weld and I noticed that I could see a line where the joint matched up. I was surprised because it seems to me this means I had only the most superficial penetration (yet the joint feels solid). So I tested how much time on my inverter it would take to get complete penetration and it was a long time at a lot of heat. I swear I almost saw the puddle drop as a sign of complete penetration. After complete penetration the metal shape was pretty distorted from the heat. Long story short what do you guys/gals look at as a sign you have adequate penetration to advance the tungsten when looking for complete vs only partial penetration

Hope this makes sense. thanks
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More power allows you to penetrate quickly and get moving - 3 seconds or less approximately.

170 amps starts the puddle quickly, you'll see the puddle drop very slightly - don't miss it as this will be your only signal.
Dave J.

Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~

Syncro 350
Invertec v250-s
Thermal Arc 161 and 300
MM210
Dialarc
Tried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
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metaldreams
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    Sun May 24, 2015 7:25 pm

thanks. I just went out and tried 170 amps and wow what a difference. I was using the miller calculator and was working at max amps 127. I was under the impression that inverters need less amps than the calculator suggested .

thanks
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metaldreams wrote:thanks. I just went out and tried 170 amps and wow what a difference. I was using the miller calculator and was working at max amps 127. I was under the impression that inverters need less amps than the calculator suggested .

thanks
Inverter based welders consume less amperage from the outlet. That doesn't change the amperage output requirement at the tig torch/tungsten.
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metaldreams
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thanks Oscar,

Good to know. That explains it.
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metaldreams wrote:thanks. I just went out and tried 170 amps and wow what a difference. I was using the miller calculator and was working at max amps 127. I was under the impression that inverters need less amps than the calculator suggested .

thanks
Power is your friend :D
Dave J.

Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~

Syncro 350
Invertec v250-s
Thermal Arc 161 and 300
MM210
Dialarc
Tried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
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Rick_H
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Dave is right power is your friend....crank it up and get moving.
I weld stainless, stainless and more stainless...Food Industry, sanitary process piping, vessels, whatever is needed, I like to make stuff.
ASME IX, AWS 17.1, D1.1
Instagram #RNHFAB
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metaldreams
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    Sun May 24, 2015 7:25 pm

thanks everyone. I got into tig for thin aluminum so I was always afraid of burn through. This is the thickest material I have worked with. I will kick up the power. By the way I have struggled with fillet welds on aluminum but cranked up the power and it went like a breeze. Thanks again
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