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( As always, feel free to visit us at our sister site, WeldingTipsAndTricks.com. )
Click here to subscribe to my Video of the Week!
© 2024 Weldmonger™
Back to Top ↑
December 25, 2014 at 11:26 PM
Great welding video’s. Could you give some hints on advancing the filler rod with your left hand? I just purchased the Alpha tig and need all the help I can get.
Puddle
December 26, 2014 at 12:17 AM
Hey PuddlE
Merrry xmas
Jody was suggesting to use your “Left” hand to assist in scratching the stick.
You are making an electrical circuit when you touch the stick to the work piece.
The stick wants to melt to the workpiece and become a heating element !!
The technique is to “Scratch” or Tap” the Stick to “Light Up” the electric Arc.
You are pulling it off the metal so it will not weld itself. The left hand can assist as a control to allow you to make the contact and the then pull away just slightly. Not too much or the electrical connection is broken.
Your right hand is way back a foot or so on the electrode holder. Harder to get the “Fine Control” os that scratch. As you practice many hours you will train the right hand to have the “Feel” of that arc start “scratch / “Tap” technique
If you can find a good welder to tutor you it is well worth it. I struggeles for a long time. I was licky to find a great instructor. Made a world of difference to have a guy watch me and I watch him. It is really a “Delicate” art. Women make great welders as they aregood with the dexterity and the delicate touch. Women welded most of the ships in WWII !!
If you are scratching a used stick to finish it “Re-start” the left hand can assist in getting more control of the stick.
The stick will get too friggen hot to keep your fingers on the stick after you lite up the arc.
You can use both hands one on the “Electrode Holder” and the other to help steady or guide the rod holder hand.
AS THE STICK WARMS UP YOU WILL BE FORCD TO LET GO OF THE ROD. YOU WILL HAVE A NICE SCORTCH LINE IN YOUR NEW GLOVES WHER THE STICK COOKED THE LEATHER BEFORE YOU COULD FEEL ALL THEHEAT.
Practice with 7018 and 6010 those are the 2 rods that will do 90% of your welds
6010 is great for gaps & rusty metal. penetrates like mad flux freezes quickly.
7018 is easy to run. let the flux covering ride on the plate. drag the rod and you will feel the flux coating riding on the weld. The rod is actually up inside the flux covering as you burn. That allows a very short arc and a simple way to run the rod.
hope this helps
December 26, 2014 at 12:43 AM
Puddle
For advanceing TIG rods –
Tread the rod between the middle finger and ring finger & thumb & Index finger. Like you hold a pencil except one finger more down the hand.
Pinch the rod with the thumb and index finger. Pinching the rod.
You push the rod with the thumb and fore finber(index finger). It slides thru the grip of the middle and ring fingers.
then you tightn up on the middle and ring finger as you release the grip of the thumb and index so that you can move those fingers back to re-grip the rod.
Rinse – repeat.
New Muscles that need hors of practice to become second nature.
THE LEFT HAND IS THE KEY TO A ROW OF DIMES…
ALL THE GREAT TIG WELDERS I KNOW ARE NATURALS WITH THAT LEFT HAND TECHNIQUE.
Practice while you are not welding with a 1/2 length of rod around the house.
Get a glove that allows maximum “Feel” Tillman or Black Stallion brands make great tig gloves.
Tillman 24C (Kidskin smooth leather)
Tillman 25B (Deerskin rough side out)
Black Stallion 29K (smooth side out) More costly black glove with a ‘drag patch’
December 9, 2014 at 2:27 AM
I bought a miller dynasty 200 DX after my Longivity Weldall 200pi welder broke down for the fourth time in one year with light use. Never got around to using the sequencer on my Dynasty but after this video I can’t wait to try it. You have greatly improved my tig welding and have been a source of inspiration. Bless people like you and continue the good work.
December 6, 2014 at 12:32 PM
Hey Jody. Always appreciate your videos, informative and presented very well.
When are you going to finish the PlasmaCam downdraft you did a partial video on? I have a PlasmaCam and have always considered building the downdraft set up and wanted to duplicate your design.
December 6, 2014 at 4:40 AM
Thanks Jody another great video. I Remember the videos ‘what do all those fricken knobs do’.
Those videos started me off on my tig welding journey!, thanks again Jody
December 3, 2014 at 6:10 PM
Jody,
Thanks for another informative video, my TIG keeps getting better and better thanks to you and the TIG fingers don’t hurt either! (no pun intended!)
Rob
December 3, 2014 at 4:47 PM
Do you have a series on the variable amp Tig torch control knobs and tracks ?
Who makes the Tig switch in this video ?
Always have my tig finger
john
December 3, 2014 at 2:07 PM
Hi, another interesting video. Can anyone help me out with a question? There is a chin operated welding shield. Jody has mentioned it on his video.
It opens the tinted lens with your chin, rather than an automatic lens. Does anyone know the brand & who sells it?
Thanks mate.
December 3, 2014 at 4:48 PM
The one I have seen is the Accu- Strike
http://www.accustrike.com/accu091206.htm
hope this helps
john
December 3, 2014 at 4:50 PM
Accu-Strike chin operated helmets
email: helmets@accustrike.com
Cherokee Industries
1105 G St.Ord, NE USA 68862
December 4, 2014 at 3:38 AM
How are Ya John?
You always have the answer. Better than goggle.
Have You ever thought about your own site?
Thanks Mate, Dan
December 3, 2014 at 2:04 PM
Jody your videos have been great. Earlier this year I was going to buy a tig welder since it was something I have wanted to learn. Even though you make it look so easy in your videos I decided to take a class at my local community college. Boy am I Glad I did that before buying a machine. It was much harder than I anticipated. I am proficient at gnaw and smaw, but learning the basics of tig welding kicked my butt. I just bought a thermal arc 186 ac/dc and hope to be making everyone some conglomeration of paper weights or door stops for Christmas. So again thanks for the videos and keep them coming your work is appreciated greatly.
Tony