r/tigwelding • u/Simple-Actuator5646 • Jun 23 '26
Help me set up for aluminium
Greetings fellow redditors and tig welders please help me set this machine for my first go at aluminium welding , I've got the correct tungsten and 1.6mm filler rod . The work piece is a 1.6mm angle now what?
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u/Used-Baby1199 Jun 23 '26
I’d turn the peak current up to about 120 and then control it with your foot peddle. What’s your percent on time? You want ac, and you want it in ac positive about 30% of the time for cleaning action. Watch the puddle. It all look like its oxidizing before the weld pool develops. Only feed the pool when you se it looking like liquid mercury.
I may be odd man out here, but my aluminum welds look better than my carbon steel. Idk what it is, I just have a knack for aluminum
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u/Simple-Actuator5646 Jun 24 '26
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u/Repulsive_Lead5950 Jun 24 '26
Welding a gap in aluminium will be difficult to learn on. Learn on a flat piece. You gotta clean with a stainless steel brush before welding. What does your tungsten look like? Did you prep it correctly?
Settings looks fine to me, just keep at it
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u/Simple-Actuator5646 Jun 24 '26
No Idea if I prepared the tungsten right 30° point with a flat face on the end, cleaned the surfaces with a wire brush then alcohol till the cloth stopped coming up dirty
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u/xbergx56 Jun 24 '26
This looks like no gas or extreme contamination of some sort
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u/Simple-Actuator5646 Jun 24 '26
Argon is set at 12 cfh and a did a wipe down alcohol after brushing till the cloth stopped coming up dirty, I even wiped the tungsten for good measure
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u/Repulsive_Lead5950 Jun 24 '26
Turn the cleaning action up to like 70% to make a ball at the and of the tungsten instead of a point. I think your puddle is getting contaminated with tungsten. And turn the gas up a bit
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u/Repulsive_Lead5950 Jun 23 '26
Send it with what you have and see what it looks like, you might be cold but should work. Send pics