TIG learning curve

[Bob Warner]

What would be a decent estimate of time for a person who is a pretty quick study to learn to TIG weld well enough to be confident in the weld quality and have a decent appearance?

This is assuming a couple of hours per day practicing.

I would start on steel and after the quality is decent, try other metals.

Thanks

[zapster]

i'd start on stainless and then move on to C.R.S.
stainless is e-z...

...zap!

[Weldtek]

Welod it, then try to beat it apart. If the weld holds, good enough to move on.

Hey Zap, you mentioned CRS stainless before. Wtf?

[zapster]

excuse me?

...zap!

[Weldtek]

Did we both wake up in the barn today?

The Nazy called all stainless "cres", because s/s means sub-safe. cres means corrosion resistent steel

[Weldtek]

Oops. I meant navy.

[zapster]

oh i get it now..C.R.S.=Cold Rolled Steel in the machine shop world...

isnt it funny how we are "ping-ponging" between forums now?

...zap!

[Weldtek]

I'll stop if you will!

[zapster]

i'm just board..wife is watching some blood and guts movie..
i got the red sox game on..

and beddy by time may be early tonite..

maybe not..

...zap!

[fun4now.]

it realy depends on your skill at picking it up but a guess would be you could produce a good weld within a week maybe 2 that would be a solid hold and look nice as well. like said above SS is simple and will help you get the hang of how to move the puddle around. aluminum is a bit more tricky. getting a good weld is easyer than getting a pretty one that is also strong. and once you have that its just about getting a bit faster and more consistant. you will get a rythem all your own. if you can get some one that can TIG weld to show you or even give you some lessens you should have it in 1 day, well the basics any way.the hardest part is getting the stack of dimes look, but it will be solid befor its dimes every time. keep in mind TIG will suck up some gas and fast its nothing like MIG but it is a great deal of fun to do. a good welder that will have a good controled arc will make a big diference, i would not want to lern on a HF POS if you get my meaning.
good luck , its a lot of fun TIGing. 8^))

[sstorkel]

Can you pat your head, rub your stomach, and tap your foot all at the same time? If so, learning TIG should be a breeze!

I recently completed a TIG welding class. Got to practice for about 3 hours/day once a week for 5-6 weeks. While I understand the theory, my welds still aren't very good. They seem plenty strong and have decent penetration, but often look like crap. The biggest factor, for me, was the lack of practice time. At the end of a particular class, I'd feel like I was just about to get the hang of some technique or another... and then by the next class I'd feel like I was almost back to square one. If you have your own machine, learning should go much quicker.

As others have mentioned, if you can have someone give you some pointers you'll probably get the hang of it much quicker. I wish I'd had a bit more one-on-one time with the instructor watching over my shoulder.

[Bob Warner]

I don't have a machine but would like to get one to expand my capabilities.

I learn quickly even if self taught. You would not belive how surprised people are sometimes when they found out I built something with no background of any kind to help me along. I am just pretty "handy" and look at things differently than most people. This kinds gives me the edge in fabrication sometimes.

Bob

[Weldtek]

Hey Bob, didn't mean to short your question. I usually give these LW answers.
I'd stick with the suitable for fitness approach to quality; and you can somewhat rely on appearance for progress analysis. Maybe try different positions, i.e. vertical, overhead, laps, fillets grooves. In my opinion, an inside fillet T is one of the toughest welds to make and minimize distortion and warpage. Outside corners and laps have an inherent rigidity by design. Inside fillets tend to get overwelded and overheated.

[Joe H]

Hey Bob, I don't think you would have any trouble with it. You have previous welding experience and that helps ALOT. There were some people that tried to discourage me from buying a TIG, (not on here) saying that it was terribly difficult, blah blah blah.... I had a much easier time learning to TIG than when I first learned to stick weld. My welds still aren't as pretty as Zap's or Elder's, but they look pretty good, and are plenty strong. I was making good fusion welds the very first day I got my welder. Adding filler took a little more time, but it was justa matter of making my hands do what my brain told them.


TIG welding is alot more fun than stick or MIG if you ask me. It's nice how you don't throw sparks and spatter everywhere, and it's just alot more peaceful in general. One thing though, be prepared to get shocked a few times!

[zapster]

thank you joe h..
bob the main thing is you need is to clean the crap out of everything..opposed to stick/mig welding..

and you need to RELAX!!!
and get comfortable..

thats hard to do all wrapped around a roll cage...
i see so many people that had way too much expresso try to do it and just "shake themselves to contamination" touch the tungestion ..stop and grind..
you'll get tired of that fast..

but you should "catch on" fast enough..

...zap!

[MicroZone]

Ah, so true. I get tired late at night and can't TIG worth a ding-dong-dang.

[fun4now]

i have fond its best to run your hand threw the motion a few times befor hitting the foot control just to make shore you have a good start and stop spot for a nice smooth hand motion.
pick up a Dyn200DX and give it a shot, these TIG units have a great resale value right now so you can unload it if you decide your not into it but i realy think you will just fall in love with it. and odds are pick it up pretty quick. if you dont have the $$ for the Dyn200 my next pick would be the TA-185, also a good unit ata great $$$ . not shore but would think a good resale value as well. i say inverter as i am guessing you have most of the space in your shop devoted to your knife making stuff and the inverters are great space savers. 8^))

[ByrdWelder]

ok....start with low heat. In other words, start with just enough heat to get the base metal hot, then add a dab of rod, move just a little....add a little rod. Make it to where u can heat the metal , add a little rod them move a hair, then add a little rod, then move a hair...and so on. This will allow u to create dimes at a slow pace with little heat. Be patient and go as slowly as possible to lay dimes. Once u get the hang of it u can increase heat and speed accordingly. If u have the heat low enough to where u have to WAIT for the base metal to get hot enough to look like glass then just dip the rod and move ever so slightly till the base metal looks like glass again then u add a little more rod.....then u will know the procedure, thus increasing heat and speed u will have to move faster....

[fun4now.]

yep just gota get a rythem going. its all about practice. 8^))