Thread: TIG Welding settings

http://www.millerwelds.com/education...calculator.php

Grahame

Look up CK Worldwide on Google. They are a US torch manufacturer, but have good tech data.

Steve

Thanks Grahame and Steve, will have a look at them now.

And another

http://www.oerlikon-welding.com/en/o...welding-1.html

go to page 2

Grahame

Thanks grahame, tried millerweld and that looks great but dosent have a comprehensive list. CK Worldwide is absolutely fantastic for a beginner like me. will save a lot of headaches and stress. Will now look at your second choice grahame. mike

Grahame, while your online i need to ask you something. these sites that i am looking at say that you can reverse the earth for shallow welds. I have a Machtig CT416 and the manual says to put the earth on positive. If i reverse it will i blow the living crap out of myself. mike

Originally Posted by Watts2759

I have a Machtig CT416 and the manual says to put the earth on positive. If i reverse it will i blow the living crap out of myself.

I think TIG is normally DCEN (DC electrode negative) because most of the arc heat is at the positive end. Running DCEN means that the workpiece gets more heat than the electrode which is what you want. Maybe running DCEP (electrode positive) will scorch or wreck your electrode.

For some strange reason (stuffed if I can work it out) the heat balance in stick welding is the reverse. DCEP heats the job more than DCEN. I found a thread that 'explained' it but it was all beyond me.

It's a tricky one steve because i want to weld 1mm plate, (similar to car bodies) and from all reports if you reverse the electrode on DC Inverter TIG welders, minimal heat goes to the thin plate and doesn't heat too quickly. as opposed to electrode negative for max heat to a thicker workpiece. I just need to know if i change the earth on mine , your not going to read about me on monday.

Originally Posted by Watts2759

I just need to know if i change the earth on mine , your not going to read about me on monday.

While you're waiting for an answer I'd suggest searching for some info. I googled ("tig welding dc polarity") and found Tig-welding-tips.html among others.

HTH

Sorry guys,
I got busy this week end doing the "honey do " jobs.
The reply I wrote out obviously went off into the ether. Pressed the wrong button,I must have.

Basically if its a DC unit you can change the leads maybe ?. Are you sure it does not switch over polarity by a button press? What do the instructions say?

As for 1mm sheet one devious way is to weld with a bit of 1mm copper plate beneath as a heat sink. If theres a burn through,it is a great backer piece. REMEMBER! heat sink! Not reaching for it and burning fingers post weld -We won't talk about who it was.

While I think of it -sharpening the tungstens- can be done by a chemical sharpening paste- it works great by heating the end of the tungsten with a LP torch and dipping.You only heat once and on each dip it reacts and burns away material.You are left with a needle sharp uncontaminated tungsten. About $12 18 months ago.

Grahame

Thanks Steve, i will look into it. Mike

No, there are no buttons Grahame, just two outlets for the earth lead one + and one -. what a great tip on that chemical sharpener and copper plate. Much appreciated mate. thank you. mike

Hi watts

If there are outlets marked + & - you have no problems.You should be able to swap leads without making blue smoke.

Grahame

Before i make the big step of reversing the polarity i just want to read up a bit more. Only one mistake will do it. By the way Grahame, i have found several suppliers for Chem Sharp but they all appear overseas, similarly with the hand held grinder for Tungsten tips. do you know a local that sells these grinders and paste for reasonable prices, i'm all but exhausted trying to find them. Sorry to bug the crap out of ya. Mike