Help me find my tig problem

[dfkrug]

The second picture is a weld I made with my Dynasty on DCEN with 100 % Helium,
but I had a foot pedal.

Helium and DCEN? Hasn't He gotten pretty expensive? I am going to have my 30cf Ar tank refilled this week
and I will ask them what the same amt of He would cost. (Not that I am going to buy any He.)

I will try some 1/8" Al plate at about 105A AC. I hear you about the heat control.

 

[Shield Arc]

My understanding from the welding forums is Helium has really gotten expensive. When I bought my bottle it was about .05-cents a cubic foot more than Argon.

It will be very interesting to see what luck you have welding aluminum on AC without high frequency! You need the high frequency spark to maintain the start of each positive and negative cycle.

You shouldn't have too much trouble controlling the heat with a Tig rig when welding mild, and stainless steel. X-ray welds are made everyday with Tig rigs. With stainless, most of the time you need to purge the backside. Most definitively on stainless steel pipe!

 

[deereman75]

Glad to see this has got someone else to give it a shot!

School has been unimaginably busy, and I havent had much of any shop time.
Between work, school, and the museum, I have almost no forum time.
I will try and stop in when I can though!


Anyways, once I get my shop back in service, I will keep going at this tig, and see what I can do.

I just got a job with a local tree service, so now I have even less time than before....... LOL
Atleast I should be able to afford some stuff now...

 

[weldermike]

My understanding from the welding forums is Helium has really gotten expensive. When I bought my bottle it was about .05-cents a cubic foot more than Argon.

It will be very interesting to see what luck you have welding aluminum on AC without high frequency! You need the high frequency spark to maintain the start of each positive and negative cycle.

You shouldn't have too much trouble controlling the heat with a Tig rig when welding mild, and stainless steel. X-ray welds are made everyday with Tig rigs. With stainless, most of the time you need to purge the backside. Most definitively on stainless steel pipe!

My welding supply can't even get helium anymore. And when I asked them about a mix he told me he'll look around for me, but trust me you ain't gonna like the price. I really wanted to start playing with some blends too, stinko! Then I've started paying attention, and I don't even see helium balloons anymore. Anybody know what happened to cause this shortage?

 

[deereman75]

My welding supply can't even get helium anymore. And when I asked them about a mix he told me he'll look around for me, but trust me you ain't gonna like the price. I really wanted to start playing with some blends too, stinko! Then I've started paying attention, and I don't even see helium balloons anymore. Anybody know what happened to cause this shortage?

I cant remember exactly, but I believe it had something to do with a US govt decision/announcement.
It was something about their large helium reserves. If I recall correctly, they were selling off their helium reserves to pay off a debt for something. It was recently payed off, and they decided to stop selling.
Seeing as most of the supply came from there, that really raised prices. They have started selling again, but it will take a long time for the supply to recover.

 

[CNC Dan]

My welding supply can't even get helium anymore. And when I asked them about a mix he told me he'll look around for me, but trust me you ain't gonna like the price. Anybody know what happened to cause this shortage?

Google for it. It's complicated. Not a shortage realy, just BS with supply+demand.

 

[Shield Arc]

just BS with supply+demand.

That's the jest I get as well from the guys on welding forums. Some guys say they have no problem getting any gas they want from their supplier.

 

[adirondackmtnman]

Kind of out of the line of shielding gases, but I picked up an acetylene refill yesterday. 75 Cu. Ft. bottle= $77.82+tax...I'm still picking up teeth from when my jaw hit the floor...

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[Shield Arc]

I picked up an acetylene refill yesterday. 75 Cu. Ft. bottle= $77.82+tax...I'm still picking up teeth from when my jaw hit the floor...

That's why a lot of guys are switching to propane.

 

[adirondackmtnman]

I would too, but I still like to fart around with torch welding on occasion...definitely cheaper for cutting/heating though

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