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Materials Needed 1/16″ (1.6mm) ER70S2 filler rod, Carbon Steel 1/4″ (6mm) thick
Metal Preparation Grind or sand to clean bright metal
Machine Settings DCEN, Amp range 120-150 amps, Torch gas 15 cfh
Cup size #7
Notes Try to add rod every 1 second
Move the torch ahead about 1/8″ (3mm)/second
Keep arc length at about 1/8″ (3mm)
Torch angle at 20 degrees or less

Once you’re comfortable welding beads without filler metal, it’s time to put a filler rod in your hand.

Now this adds a whole new thing to think about….Not only do you need to pay attention to all the things involved in welding beads without filler like torch angle, arc length, and travel speed, and puddle shape and size, but now you will need to also pay attention to how you add and feed filler rod with your other hand. This is the reason TIG welding is said to be more difficult than MIG or Stick welding.

Its not really harder, it just seems that way at first. Just like riding a bike, there are all sorts of things that require concentration when you are learning, but once you learn, it becomes second nature.

Right now , its not second nature and adding filler rod in the right amount, from the right angle, and at the right intervals will require concentration.

You will hear me say the word “intention” and “intentionally” quite a bit throughout this course.

What I mean when I say “do it with intention” is simply to concentrate, think about what you are doing, then examine the outcome, then make corrections to improve.

This skill drill can be done using any thickness carbon steel but 1/4″ (6mm) thick is a good thickness if you have it..

I recommend using 1/16″ (1.6mm) er70s2 filler rod because it is less expensive than larger sizes, and small enough to require feeding with your hand.

At first, you can just grip the rod far enough back to weld for a few inches with doing the finger motions that are needed to feed the rod for longer welds, but once you are comfortable with that, you will need to learn how to feed the rod with your hand. There are several methods, you can try different methods until you find one that works.

Feeding the rod, is fundamental and something you can do while watching TV. Just hold a rod and practice feeding it thru your fingers while you watch tv…until it becomes totally second nature.
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Not many people with do this. You could really give yourself a leg up on other welders if you are one of the few that actually sit on the couch and feed tig rod with your fingers.

It might sound silly, but it works and can really help you to progress in your tig welding.