I bought the AC/DC tig 201 from R-Tech Welding on Ebay and am just getting my teeth into what seems a very good machine. A welder friend of mine came around to teach me and he thinks it rivals his lincoln unit costing at least twice as much!! Happy days.

I have been practicing furiously for a number of nights and though I'd have a go at a proper weld. Its a t joint with 1/8" wall x 1 3/4" diameter chromoly CDS.

I had the unit set to 125 AMPs with 3 secs of up and down slope and 5 secs of post flow gas.

I know there is a little undercut, I don't think i was dipping the filler often enough. Any thoughts? I didn't think was tood bad for a first try in earnest.

have you got a foot pedal?

yes, but tiny steps, id never even picked up a tig torch until last Saturday. I can see already how changing the power on the fly could really help.

I think its just going to need to be a little more 'regular' on dipping the filler and it will look great as well as being a good weld. That will all come with practice I bet.

They are a damn sight better than my attempts.

youll be amazed how these things gobble the argon up .i mess about at home with my set and go through a bottle every two months

I'd be happy if even half the welders in my works workshop could do as good as that

Doesnt look too bad. Turn the power down a little to around 100amps . The undercut could either be from not enough filler material being added, or the angle of your torch as you followed round the shape of the tube. whilst you are learning it is easier to have the amps set slightly lower, so you have a little more time with the moulten weld pool before you risk it melting through or undercutting.
Once you get proficient then you will find you put the amps up a bit more so that you can move the weld pool along a little quicker

Looks pretty good, as said smaller faster dabs of filler would make appearance a little better but it all comes with practice.

Foot pedals generally only really required for aluminium afaik.

Mines a cheaper DC unit. Ive not had a lot of practice as I cant aford to use the argon unless I making somthing.

This will be the third real go.

I think my main problem is I dont have a steady hand or good balance. So yours looks better than mine.





[Edited on 12/8/11 by big_wasa]

Its a LOT easier when you're doing thick wall tube though. My efforts on 16 tube are no where near as pretty!!!!

What size rod were you using? Your setting sounds alright for a 2.4 tungsten and rod. 100 amps for uphill or 120 to 130 for flat works with my welder.

really want to learn to TIG. those welds look awesome, better than a prop welder did on my exhaust i'd say! especially with only starting on saturday!

have you found it quite easy then?

thanks for all the feedback guys really helpful

@ Blake

At first i found it dreadfull and i wanted to quit, but it came on really quickly and i find it quite easy now on thicker stuff and thinner stuf is at least as good as my MIG welding skills.

I love the way you can control the weld with out just bunging more filler in like Mig.