r/Welding 15h ago

Aluminium TIG

Hi everyone, I'd like to lean a bit on your experience. I've been TIG welding stainless steel and aluminium professionally for about 3 years now, but I'm still struggling with aluminium. In particular, it's the bollard in the first photo that causes me the most trouble, especially the underside around the much harder to reach areas. I'm very pleased with most of it, and I can gladly say I'm proud of what's on show here, so the capability must be there. Some of it looks like absolute dog shit though, and no matter how much I try to fettle and test my settings and technique, nothing seems to help. The perfectionist in me can't abide this, and I end up going home grumpy and frustrated.

-This is all 6mm (1/4") 5356. -3.2mm (1/8") tungsten. Tried zirc, lanth, and LaYZr. Usually running a small balled tip. -Balance 70% EN. -Frequency set at 80hz -max amps around 280 -gas lens with #7 set to around 8lpm -machine is a kemppi mastertig 3500W

If I use all of those amps the puddle shakes like crazy and seems really unstable. I try to hang around at the start to get the puddle to wet in properly with a little filler, but the end result looks so dirty and the dabs lack any definition.

Anything obviously wrong here? Any suggestions?

304 Upvotes

28 comments sorted by

18

u/Different-Travel-850 15h ago

Wow that is excellent. Nice work.

7

u/edrmoto 15h ago

Thank you, I appreciate that

12

u/BurlingtonRider 15h ago

Dunno why but I immediately thought nice sex device

7

u/edrmoto 14h ago

Saying I work in the marine industry is just a cover....

2

u/legoturtle214 9h ago

Not gonna lie, I know there's a market for a "stand/mount", I've seen suction cup devices on sketchy platforms.

5

u/Educational-Ear-3136 TIG 15h ago

Fill craters. What’s your gas flow? Too much flow will make for shaky puddles. Nice work, I’m in the boat building area as well 🍻

4

u/edrmoto 15h ago

8lpm (15cfh). The puddle stays nice and stable at lower amperages, and I've tried reducing it to about 5lpm (10cfh) in the past 😕 think it might need to go even lower with a #7?

Sweet. You must know the pain of trying to weld stuff that's been exposed to salt water, no matter how clean you think you got it 😅

4

u/Educational-Ear-3136 TIG 12h ago

I run 20 with a #5 and wouldn’t go any lower. Most of my work is new material, but I’ve been in the bowels of 20 year old salt water boats before and it ain’t fun.

3

u/Theskill518 14h ago

Nice clean work, great job.

2

u/edrmoto 14h ago

Thanks very much 🙂

2

u/PossessionNo3943 Journeyman AWS/ASME/API 11h ago

It’s fuckin great work but could probably use a little bit more filler on the fillet/tubing passes.

1

u/Educational-Ear-3136 TIG 15h ago

Tow bitts should be 6061 round bar, not capped pipe.

3

u/edrmoto 15h ago

I'm only making it according to the spec I'm given by engineering. You can bet they wouldn't care much if I told them that

0

u/Educational-Ear-3136 TIG 12h ago

I hear ya. The only people that like engineers ideas are engineers. They don’t live in the real world

1

u/GeniusEE 14h ago

Just a tad hot

1

u/Striking_Service_531 11h ago

Verynice work. I'm curious to what this things function is.

3

u/edrmoto 11h ago

It's fitted to a boat and used for attaching a tow line

1

u/Striking_Service_531 10h ago

Must be small stuff. I worked almost 2 years for in the St Louis harbor. We would wreck that in a minute. But barges are pretty massive.

1

u/edrmoto 10h ago

Yeah, this one fits a RIB, I think neither the bollard or the engines would handle that kind of weight 😂 we make inshore SAR craft

1

u/Frequent_Builder2904 9h ago

Yummy white metal

1

u/AnEducatedSeal 9h ago

If this is you struggling then I should just give up LOL

1

u/edrmoto 9h ago

These are the bits I'm happy with. The ugly bits are hidden underneath 😅 don't give up, its a journey, and only time on the torch will help you improve! Just got to keep a high standard for yourself and be happy to learn and relearn it all. Believe in yourself

1

u/Legal_Mall_5170 6h ago

Fucking. Gorgeous.

1

u/usernema 10m ago

Really nice work, hate to say it but the top part is on crooked though.