Anything welding

I just got the Prime Wled 225X setup. First time running a TIG machine. First time welding aluminum. Welds aren’t great yet, but it’s pretty fun. Need more practice so I’ll be ready for my project.

1” AL sq. tubing x 0.065” Wall

Settings:
120Hz
40% balance
90A
3/32” tungsten
3/32” 4043 filler

 

Started building a table to cover the washer/dryer. Got the uprights done, still need to cut some flat stock, weld it in and attach the butcher block.

Scrap to dial in the settings...


One of the finished joints...

 

Nice!

I use one at school and have considered the one to buy for when I TIG weld at home

 

Awesome. Any advice? I think I need smaller filler rod for this thin gauge tubing. Outside miter joints are pretty hard ☹️

 

Run hotter than you think you have to; worst you can do is run cold only to stay on the metal longer hoping for it to puddle.

I haven't done aluminum yet on TIG, but can say the balance is supposed to help out a ton since the surface layer has a higher melting point than below it.

 

Breaking through the oxide layer takes a lot more heat than the base material.

 

I noticed that. If I tried to slowly wait for a puddle, once it started I would immediately blow through the material even though I was only at 1/2 pedal. It seemed better to start hot and fast then throttle back once the puddle was started.

 

You'll find stainless steel is very temperamental.

It's fun doing some uphill, and looks really clean even without filler rod.

 

Take your classes if your lucky you will have the chance to try several brands see what you like the best .

Not sure where your seeing universal parts but maybe consumables Each manufacture you need to order parts from with the serial and model number that is how fast things can change.Esab is by far the worst for parts.

Unless your planning to start a full time Fab shop with many hours of Arc time a day the Hobart wire feed plastic parts would hold up just fine. The plastic parts are only in the wire feed area the only major difference between the Miller Machines .

Unless your getting into the Higher end($10,000.00 plus) Multi process machines the Multi process low end price machines for the most a so much of a comprise . things just seem off in all the processes

 

All makes sense, thanks (and thanks to others as well) for the feedback. My main itch to get going is that I’ve lost my marbles and ordered Archive shock relocation towers and want to get that done 100% right. At the same time looking ahead to which machine will serve me best. Sounds like smart way is to buy the Hobart to start and finish my education & projects and if I get more serious I can upgrade later.

Thanks again for the info, I’ll try to remember and post back later once I’m not a total noob and maybe can share some cool results. Time to go register for summer school!

 

Your quite welcome !
Know going in that welding on these vehicles is some of the hardest welding you will ever do.

Out of position the prep work to get the dirt and rust off. Risk of Fire

Feel Free to ask your questions !! PM if you need to.

Perhaps you don`t know That Hobart is owned by the same parent company as Miller built on different lines in Appleton WISC

 

Yep it’s going to be some fun prep. Already resolved that I’ll take off the entire bed which should give much better working ergonomics. I don’t have to but want to for the final painting coverage which is critical for us rust belt folks so it lasts longer.

I also have an old Jeep XJ that will be my primary cadaver to practice on so that should keep me busy. Figure I’ll polish the Dana 30 turd and worst case I get another at the junkyard. Mines already the low pinion so basically already worthless. Hours and hours of fun!

Yep definitely know the Miller/Hobart relation, I’m in Wisconsin. Can drive and get either at local stores so will depend what kind of deals I find while buying mask/jacket/gas/etc.

 

Welding the most important things are Be Comfortable if your not your welding suffers.

Be able to see what your welding If you can`t move yourself or the weldment .

 

Second try at vertical up on TIG

 

I’ll second this. I’ll also add a trick that I learned a while back: when welding out of position, do a dry run on the line that you’ll be welding. Without turning on the welder or flipping down your hood, move the mig gun/nozzle in the same path that you plan to move. That way you’ll find out if you run into issues with blocking your vision in tight corners or bumping into obstacles with your body or welding equipment that will prevent a smooth motion. It only takes a second and this has saved me from finding out that I’ll bump my elbow on something on that last inch of my weld and cause me to mess up my rhythm.

 

Anyone have an experience with an affordable bender?

It's time to build a tube bumper, and I'm hoping to avoid dropping $1k on something like a JD2 for a tool I won't be using much.

 

I found it easy and cheap to just mock up what I wanted bent then taking my pattern to the local muffler shop.

I had the hoops on my ARB clone for $20 and a 12 pack of beer.

 

taking the bed off is way overkill for the archive kit. I just squirted some paint on the backside of my towers in the spots I wouldn’t be able to reach before burning them on. Then painted the rest once I was done.

 

Turns out my entire plan changed today and now I'm not doing the archive shock towers or taking off the bed. I blame Accutune for being reasonable and smart and making sure people get the right stuff for their application. How dare they be the voice of reason!! I also blame Fox for finally releasing new shocks and making me spend money that I was already going to spend anyways.

Agree about the bed comments, but also we have road salt here in Wisconsin and I go overkill to stop it because protecting my currently rust-free frame is priority #1 at all times. Taking off the bed was also to have more room to do Archive hammer hangers and seal up all parts of the bed for my camper shell. Just easier to do all that with bed off. Might still do it but less crucial now.

Still going to pursue welding, going to need it for more than just the Tacoma!

 

Spot on the same for burning with a torch or plasma .

This is so much muscle memory I tend to forget I been doing it so long .

i still find myself nodding my head and reaching for the striker with the plasma