Is TIG welding hard to learn?

[Top Notch]

My GF's dad have a Miller Tig welder and was thinking about trying to learn how to tig weld. Is it really that hard? I'm a Novice Mig welder. Have my little Lincoln Flux core welder. I need to get my intercooler piping plumbed up but the pipe i bought is aluminum.

[Kurt]

Steel and stainless aren't too hard. Aluminum isn't more difficult per se, it's just a lot different then welding steel. It's kind of hard to describe. You've got nothing to loose by trying.

[fordnut71]

take a few lessons at a welding school. you can do by the hour at some of the smaller 1s

[xr4outcast]

Its not that hard. Just learning how to set up the equipment takes time.

[AJ_Fritz]

prep prep prep with aluminum. if your pipe is anodized your going to be SOL. you also have to have some amps to weld aluminum.

thin gauge stainless tubing is also a pain unless its purge welded.

[Top Notch]

prep prep prep with aluminum. if your pipe is anodized your going to be SOL. you also have to have some amps to weld aluminum.

thin gauge stainless tubing is also a pain unless its purge welded.

Do you mean anodized aluminum or steel?

[AJ_Fritz]

ive never seen anodized steel... is there such a thing?

anyways was talking about aluminum. to prep aluminum use a stainless steel wire brush and sandpaper to clean. paint thinner works as a nice degreaser. if it is corroded bad forget it unless you have a spool gun, the aluminum is thick, or you can litterally pound the filler rod at it. to weld cast aluminum use 4043 rod. if you dont have an auto shader tig helmut use a gold lense for aluminum. you weld aluminum with argon gas, A/C current and continuous high frequency.

its very important to start the puddle first before you even get close to dabbing with the rod. with A/C and continuous high frequency the arc will want to go everywhere it can get a ground. so drag the filler rod in as close to if not touching the base metal. remember puddle, dab... puddle dab, rinse and repeat. welding is learned through experiance. position of torch and filler is important. i like to keep the torch at about a 45 degree angle to the peice being welded and push the puddle. aluminum when clean will almost weld its self, but when dirty will do nothing. dirt with float to the top and creep up from nowhere, sometimes seeming from thin air lol. trick is when you see it first getting scummy STOP! sand, wire brush and clean then start again. once aluminum get severly contaminated with dirt maintaining an air tight seal becomes quite hard. do not sand anything with your paper but aluminum. cross contamination will contaminate your weld and make them inpossible to keep clean.

no more talk of anything but aluminum to keep from getting confused.

warning what i said about the arc going everywhere is to be taken seriously. you get hot, you sweat, gloves get damp pants get damp. high frequency will chain through multiple things to find a ground. if the ground happens to be at your ass or elbows look the hell out. the high frequency is just the bridge for the arc and it doesnt hardly even need a ground lol . A/C will literally make you throw things.... uncontrolablely.. thats why i say drag the filler rod over the grounded base metal. if you are grounded better then the base look the f#ck out. you ass is getting electricuted.

[Top Notch]

ive never seen anodized steel... is there such a thing?

anyways was talking about aluminum. to prep aluminum use a stainless steel wire brush and sandpaper to clean. paint thinner works as a nice degreaser. if it is corroded bad forget it unless you have a spool gun, the aluminum is thick, or you can litterally pound the filler rod at it. to weld cast aluminum use 4043 rod. if you dont have an auto shader tig helmut use a gold lense for aluminum. you weld aluminum with argon gas, A/C current and continuous high frequency.

its very important to start the puddle first before you even get close to dabbing with the rod. with A/C and continuous high frequency the arc will want to go everywhere it can get a ground. so drag the filler rod in as close to if not touching the base metal. remember puddle, dab... puddle dab, rinse and repeat. welding is learned through experiance. position of torch and filler is important. i like to keep the torch at about a 45 degree angle to the peice being welded and push the puddle. aluminum when clean will almost weld its self, but when dirty will do nothing. dirt with float to the top and creep up from nowhere, sometimes seeming from thin air lol. trick is when you see it first getting scummy STOP! sand, wire brush and clean then start again. once aluminum get severly contaminated with dirt maintaining an air tight seal becomes quite hard. do not sand anything with your paper but aluminum. cross contamination will contaminate your weld and make them inpossible to keep clean.

no more talk of anything but aluminum to keep from getting confused.

warning what i said about the arc going everywhere is to be taken seriously. you get hot, you sweat, gloves get damp pants get damp. high frequency will chain through multiple things to find a ground. if the ground happens to be at your ass or elbows look the hell out. the high frequency is just the bridge for the arc and it doesnt hardly even need a ground lol . A/C will literally make you throw things.... uncontrolablely.. thats why i say drag the filler rod over the grounded base metal. if you are grounded better then the base look the f#ck out. you ass is getting electricuted.

Damn man now im scared to try it lol. Well looks like im going to have to clean my pipe really good. Came pre painted. Whats the deal with the gold lens. I cant use a regular welding helmet?

[AJ_Fritz]

the gold lense is just easier with aluminum if you dont have an auto shader. the gold gives everything a red tinge. when the puddle forms you can see it easier with the gold. it will look white.

[PrerunningRanger]

ahaha man oh man if i could gather you all around and teach you how to weld tig.. i could have you guys doing it in a day. Im one of the 2 certified people in my shop that welds pretty much everything from mild steel- titanium... lol mig stick and tig... only thing i havent done that i know about is underwater welding.. and that only cuz i dont like big fish and water and eletric mixing.. lol