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Tig welding an aluminum Tee joint in 3F vertical uphill is a common exercise included in most welding training curriculum in technical colleges and welding training facilities like Hobart, Lincoln, Tulsa, etc.
Along with the normal main 3 things that make most of the difference (arc length, torch angle, and electrode extension), the one other thing that makes a ton of difference is how you prop.
I haven’t seen very many welders who can make a really good looking stack of dimes tig weld without propping on something.
So how do you prop?
Piece of a 4 x 4 block of wood?… C-clamp next to the weld, wadded up stick glove?
How about just keeping your prop in your pocket like me?
Keep a Tig Finger in your pocket and you can whip it out and prop on anything, right next to the weld.
In this video, you see me sliding the tig finger up the side of the aluminum tee joint from start to finish.
If you ever welded an aluminum tee, you know it gets very hot… very quick.
You can’t prop on it with only a tig glove. At least not more than a few seconds.
For this joint , I used 3/32″ (2.4mm) 2% lanthanated tungsten, and same size 4043 filler rod along with a #7 gas lens style cup using 15chf argon flow rate.
I set the machine to 140 amps and needed it to get a puddle, but after about 5 seconds started tapering off with the foot pedal to compensate for heat building up in the aluminum weld joint.
Aluminum is very conductive and takes more amps to get the puddle going than steel. But on such a small piece, it quickly gets saturated with heat and takes much less amperage to weld. A foot pedal is a very necessary part of tig welding aluminum.
As a final thought, here is a funny YouTuber comment…
“Is that a tig finger in your pocket? Or are you glad to see me?”
( As always, feel free to visit us at our sister site, WeldingTipsAndTricks.com. )
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February 19, 2013 at 6:33 AM
Hi just purchased a 3 set of the tig finger enjoy your informative video,
cheers bert
February 2, 2013 at 11:27 AM
In my 39 years as a welder I have used numerous techniques to keep from getting burned while welding. Ordered your Tig Fingers and I have to say they are handier than pockets on a shirt.
Also enjoy your videos.
January 28, 2013 at 8:14 PM
Hey! Just wanted to say I enjoy watching your videos every week. But I haven’t received one in about two weeks now and wondered if you were on vacation or something?
I hope you are still doing the videos?
Thanks, Bryan
January 8, 2013 at 10:10 AM
As said in the video, it´s really handy to be able to pull out your TigFinger and prop anywhere you want -I find it especially useful when welding pipes and aluminium.
Thanks for your time and effort Jody, it´s great to see someone doing so much to help others.
Regards from Sweden / Tim
January 3, 2013 at 10:46 PM
Really enjoy your website . I learn a lot from it. Keep up the great work. I have the tig finger as well and it really helps out a lot.
January 3, 2013 at 9:50 PM
By far the most informative welding website. I do appreciate the hard work and hope you continue the efforts. I personally purchased 2 Tig Fingers. Great investment and the beads are looking more like I want them to.
January 3, 2013 at 8:42 PM
Thanks for all your effort to put out these videos, I always learn and enjoy them…I also purchased 2 Tig Fingers and they do work.
Basil
January 3, 2013 at 6:03 PM
Appreciate you sharing the knowledge Jody, I enjoy your videos and a finger too 🙂
January 3, 2013 at 2:36 PM
Thanks again for the video Jody!
I’ve got two of your TIG fingers.
Rob
January 3, 2013 at 2:03 PM
Hi there Jody!tig finger,,,well what can I say?ive ordered 3 of them from you and what a investment!!!
Here in South Africa we are limited by tec things like this simple but must have tig finger and ever since I’ve Baught these my welds are 150% better!!
I’ve recently joined a welding school just to get a few tippers and when the guys from Lincoln electic checked me whip out my tig finger all of them wanted one!lol,
Just wanted to say “what a great product”!!
Kind regards
Mauritz Coetzee