tig welding copper

[yomax4]

Sure..Regular copper wire will work it just contains oxides that copper generally doesn't like as far as for high pressure, x-ray, corrosives etc. I have used electrical wire in a pinch as well but if you do any large amounts you will appreciate the de-ox.

 

[tommu56]

Tom, what kind of amp setting did you have to use. Everybody says high, but what is high. Is helium really necessary, Everything I have read suggest 100%argon.

We were set up to do aluminum I didn't even look to see were it was just adjusted it to work It was a miller sincrowave 250XD so it was less than 250 :laughing:but I use scratch start and the foot pedal for control. so it is hard to say.

tom

 

[dstig1]

A couple of keys - you should have an AC welder just like for aluminum. The high conductivity metals weld better with this.

Ummm, no. Read the Miller link. DCEN with 100% Argon. AC is generally only for alum and mag, AFAIK.

I have head electrical wire is fine filler for most work, though I am only repeating what I've read....never tried it, though I would like to.

 

[weldermike]

I recently welded up some copper, it was strictly ornamental and needed to be ground, blended and polished with colors matching. It was 28gauge and the only filler I had on hand was some #6 house wire. I took some real focus but I was able to pull it off. I used dcen straight argon, and dont hold me to it, but I think I had the machine over 100amps, copper can take some heat! Merry Christmas guys!

 

[muddstopper]

Mike, I had seen your post before about welding the copper. Its kind of what has given me the ideal to try it. A question I have for you, I have read that when welding copper that you concentrate the heat on the rod more than the piece to be welded. Did you find this to be true,

 

[weldermike]

Yes, in a way I did find it to be true. The instant that I would start my arc I had that filler right on it in the argon flow and instantly balling up and using the arc to break off that molten ball so to speak, then I would just stay with it like that, just breaking off one molten ball after the next. What took so much focus was trying to keep my giant filler as close to my tungsten as possible while still maintaining the tiniest closest arc as possible and keep repeating the balling and breaking off. If my base metal was thicker and I was a little more prepared with correct tungsten and filler I think it would have been just like using silicon bronze, that was kind of like the feel it had. I would say tho that my method was definately not textbook, and I was just winging it, LOL. Hope that helped a little bud!

 

[muddstopper]

I believe you said you used #6 wire, I am wondering if a smaller gauge such as #12 or #14 would be easier to work with. I have a truck project in my shop right now thats taking up all my room. As soon as the truck is out I plan on playing around with some copper fittings for practice before starting the real thing. My project is a solar water heater. Yea, I know I can use solder for this, but I am wanting to do this with the tig because my next project will require more skill than I currently have, and copper is pretty expensive to be screwing up. Practice, practice, practice. I appreciate all and any advice given.

 

[TxDoc]

Jody at weldingtipsandtricks.com posted some info on tig welding copper with some helpful tips:

TIG Copper Welding



And, Kevin Caron posted a copper tig welding video recently:

How to TIG Weld Copper - Kevin Caron - YouTube

Just to throw in, Jody did a video on tig welding brass, never seen that before.

How to Tig Weld Brass - A Tig Welding Brass Repair Job - YouTube
Hope that helps

 

[Danno1]

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I TIG welded some Monel (Cu-Ni alloy) eyeglass frames once. I cut phosphor bronze sheet into strips to use as a filler rod (since that's what I had). I was pleasantly surprised at how good it came out. Saved money on new frames!


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