Hello, new member=me

**Ascinder** · 11-08-2010, 04:40 PM

Hi, I just got a Longevity Weldall 200PI and I am just learning to use it. So far I have only made a few passes and a couple of attempts on 90 degree corner welds. I'm really looking forward to learning this machine and what it can do. I bought it to do weld on bracket work for my offroading projects. My current build HERE I plan on using the plasma cutter to cut the engine and suspension brackets and mounts off of the frame and the tig welder to stick new ones on with. So far I have been able to do OK I think with the welder, but on aluminum inside corner welds, I just couldn't get it dialed in to weld a decent bead. I could use and do appreciate any tips for that. I am using a 50/50 Argon/Helium mix as advised by Jody over on weldingtipsandtricks.com I am using 1.5% 1/16th lanthanated electrodes and 3/32 2% lanthanated electrodes. I have the gas set to approximately 7lpm(~15 CFH). I'm using the pedal for all the welds here. The aluminum is 14 guage while the steel is 12 guage. Here are my initial attempts so far(sorry, all I had was camera phone):

Aluminum:

Aluminum:

Aluminum w/awful corner attempt:

Steel:

**SICFabrications** · 11-08-2010, 07:01 PM

i saw you mention earlier about helium in the mix for shield.... swap it.... your tossing money away..... i can help you with your aluminum, just i need to know what machine settings you are at, the parent metal thickness and alloy, size of tungsten and cup and what alloy and size of the filler...

one thing that i have noticed is that you ARENT running hot enough, and you arent cleaning the metal well enough... aluminum is like this.... cleanliness = godliness.... seriously

**Ascinder** · 11-08-2010, 07:37 PM

i saw you mention earlier about helium in the mix for shield.... swap it.... your tossing money away.....

I based the helium mix on http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/...ding-info.html and a few posts I saw in this forum on using the helium to rise and the argon to fall for additional coverage when doing vertical welds. When I am comfortable enough with this machine, I plan on welding on the 4-link suspension bracketry for my offroad rig. Most of those welds are vertical lap or vertical corner welds.

i can help you with your aluminum, just i need to know what machine settings you are at, the parent metal thickness and alloy, size of tungsten and cup and what alloy and size of the filler.

Machine settings were using the foot pedal-mine isn't marked, but it was dialed over to the 1 or 2 o'clock position. The A/C balance I've been told was too high. I had it around 65% which I think was a lot of my problem. The parent metal was 14 gauge aluminum of unknown alloy. Cup size is a 5 with a 1/16th 1.5% lanthanated electrode. The filler is 1/16th alloy 5356.

one thing that i have noticed is that you ARENT running hot enough

I'm not sure what you basing that on. On the opposite side of the sheet, the weld is passing all the way through on most of those welds. The sheet is also warping out pretty bad.

and you arent cleaning the metal well enough... aluminum is like this.... cleanliness = godliness.... seriously

That's what I've been told time and again, and I take it to heart. I think you are seeing the scrapes I made after it was welded. I cleaned it meticulously beforehand with both a stainless wire brush and acetone. The thing I am not happy with was how the corner weld turned out. What kinds of things can I do to improve those?

**SICFabrications** · 11-08-2010, 08:10 PM

ok.... when i say you arent running hot enough, i mean turn the peddle up and peg the base amperage of that machine.... peg it wide smooth open to start the puddle and maintain a certain width of the puddle..... of course, once you start going, you will have to back off the peddle to maintain once the metal heats up.... when you end the bead, dont abruptly stop the tig.... gently ramp down you amperage a

get rid of the helium, your welds will look better.... and when i say that i dont use helium on tig, i mean that i turn out nuclear spec'd aluminum WITHOUT helium in all positions