Newbie practicing with Everlast 225lx

[revkev6]

Hey guys, I'm a tig Newb and only fair with a mig. I have been setting up my newly built garage with the tools I need for hobby automotive work. I purchased a 225lx on sale after thanksgiving. Unfortunately my welder arrived before my electrician could so I've had to wait to try it out until this past weekend. Only welding I've done with it is running some beads on 1/8th steel.

I was using 1/16th thoriated tungsten and 1/16 er80s d2 rod with 15cfm of argon. Played around a little with amperage and was doing "okay" at about 90amps. I felt like a real idiot as I dipped the filler into the tungsten a few times. I did much better after I went and stole the wife's old computer chair and used a trick that a guy at work told me of wrapping the torch lead around my forearm. I'm going to try to get him over sometime to mess with settings on it so i can see what it should be doing and what I'm doing wrong!

Next thing I will try is some 1/8th aluminum. I've got some 1/8th 4043 rod and 3/32 tungsten to try that. miller's calculator says about 125 amps, that sound right?

I'll try to get some pictures tonight of what I've done so far, it's really humbling compared to what some of you guys can do!

[lugweld]

Rev,

Being comfortable is the key when you are practicing. I've seen torches wrapped over the shoulder, down the arm, and around the wrist. I have seen them suspended over head. Soon, you'll be better and then muscle memory will take over.

If you are using 80S2 filler, why not use 70S2 or 70S6? At 90 amps, I'd change over to 3/32 tungsten and jump up to the same size3/32 filler rod. It will work well for a wider range of amperages.

As far as the amps, that is a good starting point. But when you adjust the frequency and balance on the AC, that can fluctuate up or down. Increasing Hertz and moving the balance on AC more toward negative will decrease the amp demand and increase penetration.

[revkev6]

I've read enough to know that I should have taken the time to get comfortable first, but after having had to wait I got a little antsy, ran a few beads then got down to being a little more serious.

I got a little bit of rod and tungsten from work to start with over the weekend. I am going to place an order at some point for my rod and tungsten but wanted to try some welding before I just went out and bought a bunch.

from what I've read 70s2 is pretty much the standard mild steel rod used, figured I would get 1/16, 3/32,1/8 rod for now along with the same sizes of 1.5% lanth tungston? most of my welding will be in the 1/8-3/16 mild steel range with some random 18 gauge sheetmetal or heavy duty 1/4"+ jobs thrown in every once in a great while.

as far as the frequency and AC balance, what do you think I should be setting for a starting point for a clean piece of home depot 1/8th flat stock?? somewhere a little over 100hz and about 35% positive??

[cdlale]

Dont use AC for mild steel. You need to use DC for that. AC is for aluminum.
Check on Millerwelds.com, Theres some good setup guides for setting up for tig.
Thanks

[revkev6]

Dont use AC for mild steel. You need to use DC for that. AC is for aluminum.
Check on Millerwelds.com, Theres some good setup guides for setting up for tig.
Thanks

thanks for the advice, but I do know that much. I was asking lugweld for his thoughts for when I tried some aluminum I have.

I had a couple minutes tonight and ran another bead, I don't know if it was better lighting (my electrician finally hooked up my last bank of lights) or just being more comfortable with the process but it seemed easier to control the puddle and feed the wire tonight. I'm definitely seeing how that "practice practice practice" mantra works. I did take some pictures of my first attempts that I will post tomorrow.

[lugweld]

I've read enough to know that I should have taken the time to get comfortable first, but after having had to wait I got a little antsy, ran a few beads then got down to being a little more serious.

I got a little bit of rod and tungsten from work to start with over the weekend. I am going to place an order at some point for my rod and tungsten but wanted to try some welding before I just went out and bought a bunch.

from what I've read 70s2 is pretty much the standard mild steel rod used, figured I would get 1/16, 3/32,1/8 rod for now along with the same sizes of 1.5% lanth tungston? most of my welding will be in the 1/8-3/16 mild steel range with some random 18 gauge sheetmetal or heavy duty 1/4"+ jobs thrown in every once in a great while.

as far as the frequency and AC balance, what do you think I should be setting for a starting point for a clean piece of home depot 1/8th flat stock?? somewhere a little over 100hz and about 35% positive??

That's a good starting point. I like about 150 hz depending upon the application.

[soutthpaw]

master steel before you even think about messing with aluminum. get all your movement and feeding technique down first. watch all the miller educational vids over on their website... you should not need to have someone tell you the AC balance if you understand what it does. just look at the weld then decide if you need more cleaning or more penetration. for the HF just turn it up to where the arc starts easily . thats a good baseline