TIG Welding 101

It is like a rising superstar in this day in which we live. The art of TIG welding has been around for some time but is becoming an ever popular application for welding.

It is drawing upon the curious side of someone already interested in the field of welding. TIG welding is a very unique form of welding. When you begin to use the left and right hand simultaneously in any process there is more stress involved to the welder and this technique requires more agility than does the more common practices of welding.

When you embark upon a career in TIG welding there are normally pre-requisites that have already been achieved by the time you arrive in the TIG domain. Stick welding is normally a foundation before a welder steps into the world of TIG.

Rarely does the TIG process stand alone. There are places that you find the MIG and TIG process alone but those areas do not entail the vast majority. Some places you may see just the TIG would be the Aero-Space Industry, lightweight bicycles, hospital equipment, dairy production, etc. For the most part, the TIG process will find you in the Petro-Chemical Industry, Chemical Refining, and the Fossil Fuel Industry. Power plants, refineries, chemical plants and the likes is actually the place that the biggest money is made as well as the pipeline; which used to be downhill stick only and reserved for the welder with the big head and the rig truck he worshipped as a god.

Things have come a long was needless to say. The welder in general used to have an upper-hand in his craft but not so any more. Most people in these industries look at the welder in general as a cry baby and whiner who is always looking for the ideal conditions in which to perform his operation.

But! The TIG welder is someone that is still in high demand and carries some prestige connected to his ability to be ambidextrous. The TIG hand can weld stick, MIG, TIG usually whether it is carbon or alloy metals.

The further the welder can move into the realm of the exotic, the more in demand he becomes. The more certifications he can obtain, the more in need he will find himself (or herself). The bad part about the area of TIG welding that we are talking about at this stage is the different environments that go with this type of welding. The already mentioned places that usually call for this type of welding are not the most pleasant places to work.

These type of environments eventually take a toll upon the body of the individual. It is not easy to sustain good optimal health in fume and particulate saturated environments. Toxins and poisons are present. Elevated structures with scaffolding enclosed by fire retardant blanket. Noise levels that can and most of the time due require hearing protection.

Come to think about it, the bike factory is becoming more appealing all the the time. LOL!

Actually, a good TIG hand that is respected in his trade can call the shots. He sizes up the fit on pipe and if it isn’t correct he shoots it down, because once he starts welding on it he has taken the responsibility in saying I can make it happen. A good TIG welder can make a bad fitter look good. Or take a bad fit and turn the fabricators heartburn into Rolaids to the rescue.

An older man that has become well versed in his trade is widely respected by his peers when he becomes known as the TIG daddy, the man, the khaki daddy, etc. There are up and coming young men that are always following in the footsteps of the well accomplished mentor TIG welder.

TIG comes with a few essential items that must be recognized. Clean clothes every morning with starched shirts and a nice skull cap. A bandanna in the back pocket. A bandanna around the neck like a businessman would wear a tie to the office. Fairly new looking gloves that are not your run of the mill leather.

TIG welding requires sensitivity in the fingertips and hands. Most of the time a good TIG hand has cash in his wallet and is on top of his game. The problem we see with that in our economy is that he has to travel a bit more than he would like to keep that going. The benefit of that is that he will always have a job because of his skills. You see the TIG welder is selling his skill.

He doesn’t produce a product so to speak. His arsenal of tools contain his favorite hood or two, small hand tools that are used to accent his skill. Sharp tungsten stored in his tool bag or bucket. Files, die grinders, small wrenches, flapper wheels, emory cloth, filler rod, a coffee thermos (very important), extra gloves and lenses if needed, and possibly some small fit up wedges or flat head screwdrivers.

In our next article we will look at the actual components of his equipment for a further breakdown in lesson TIG 102. Until then, thanks for your time and take care!

What Machine Would I Choose?

I am often asked the question, which machine should I buy? This is a tough question.

One thing that is narrowing the choice of the buyer is the fact that top brand name machines are extremely expensive today. I was amazed at the recent prices that some of the name brand companies were charging for their equipment.

It seems that the metal trades industry has jumped into the stratosphere lately with the increase in demand for metal products and the people that work in those fields.

I purchased a Lincoln 185 (single phase transformer) multipurpose machine three years ago that still had two years left on the original warranty when I bought it for $1500. Today this machine is still running like it did when I bought it. It is an inverter single phase machine that runs off a 50 amp breaker that uses a three prong 220 volt receptacle and is AC/DC Stick/TIG/Aluminum.

The replacement machine that was out there today is either a 160 amp or a 225/205 amp stick/mig combo. They don’t make the 185 anymore and come to find out you can’t get the 225 by itself, you have to go up to the 275. Why I don’t know. You can buy a 225 combo Stick/MIG in that range for more money. The 160 in my opinion is a bit low if you are a serious welder. The 225/275 is more than enough for the average individual even in most shop or industrial settings.

To my amazement, the 275 amp machine by the same company mentioned above is anywhere from $2500 and up depending when and where you buy. Wow!! That hurts. This is leading me to my point of people having no choice but to get away from the big name brand companies.

There are names popping up in the market place that would not even have been a thought when it came to purchasing a reliable machine in times past but that has changed. For the common man these off brand machines are the risk most will have to take due to the price crunch in our economy.

So let’s just mention some of these off brand machines. Please understand that The Welders Lens does not promote equipment and this is just an article to expose what was already covered with an insight to where you could go for help in these very hard times.

Here are some names you might try when looking for an inverter machine. Please understand again, I am not promoting any of these brands or their products, this is simply researched information that might serve as a starting point for someone looking for help in this area: Arcon, Lincoln, Miller, Thermal Dynamics, Workhorse, Northern Industrial,Fronius,Kemppi, Migatronic,ESAB, EWM, just to name a few.

Now let me just finish this article by giving an unconventional means to an end. If you are not in need of inverter technology and work with single phase transformer (which is fine for even the serious welder) you may consider trying this method that worked from old and will surely work still today.

You can buy a good reliable name brand machine that is dependable that comes with a 3 year warranty like Lincoln or Miller and use it for TIG as well as Stick if you don’t need the aluminum aspect of a TIG combo unit. You don’t have to have a fancy foot pedal if you can weld with scratch TIG on one heat setting too.

You can buy a less expensive stick rod machine and use it for TIG. The thing these days with the push for inverter technology and TIG designed machines is the mentality of using less energy and becoming light weight as well as giving a more stable arc upon start. Stick machines worked just fine when I was welding and passed many an x-ray with those big bulky machines.

When welding TIG all you have to do is buy a gas block with an ear for placing the jaws of a electrode holder on the gas block for your current and run the conventional TIG rig. The argon hose plugs into the gas block and the jaws clamp on the gas block and away you go. Just don’t forget you will need a machine that you can either swap the leads over either by moving the cable connectors or a switch on the machine. Just something to consider.

A good name brand stick machine goes for about $650. Much easier on the pocket. Now if you need square-wave for aluminum, that is a different story. Anyway, I hope this might help someone gain a foothold on this seemingly ever growing economical question.

What machine would I purchase? I personally would stick with the name brand if possible, check all reviews and comments on non name brand, and get the best warranty available if you do buy an off brand product. Warranty work is not something we ever plan on, but what if? Take care for now and thanks for your time.

Why You Would Want to Walk The Cup

Upon my recent video submissions concerning the TIG welding, there have arisen some statements from some in the welding community with both a negative and a positive response to this matter.

I will say that there has been a more positive response than a negative reaction to the teaching on this subject. I wanted to produce this article to clear up some misconceptions about walking the cup with the TIG method I and many others teach as well as use.

You are probably familiar with TIG welding, and maybe you are not. TIG welding is made up of the electrode, current, filler material, and the electrode holder such as any other welding procedure.

The makeup of the holder for TIG is very unique. The electrode consists of some type of Tungsten. Tungsten is the means by which the electric current is carried to the metals that will be fused together.

There is also the gas lens and cup that is really what I want to focus on in this article. We can really look at this with the MIG process as well and may do so in another article in the future. So we have the electricity and the gas that is blended together in this process.

All this action is delivered to the weld area by the Cup.

The cup imparts a very important role in the way it is designed. I know what your thinking, what does this have to do with walking the cup? We are almost to that. First the cup is made of ceramic.

Ceramic construction allows the cup to sustain critical temperatures without failing in such conditions. The cup is also round for one reason and one reason specifically.

Welders that shun walking the cup do so because they either don’t understand this or they do not use this technique. Either way this is a great application that should be taken into consideration by every TIG welder.

Let me convey this truth to you as the reader of this article.

The Cup is round for a reason. It is not square. It is not elliptical. It is not rectangular or triangular. It is circular and this by design is why we can and should walk the cup when possible.

Now there are some times when you will not want to or be able to walk the cup. Certainly this is true. Then there are times when you will want to walk the cup. If you can retain what I am about to tell you and practice it you will benefit greatly in you skill and circles of influence.

Let’s look at some points.

First the pipe can get extremely hot, as I am sure you are aware, and if you as the welder are not careful you can burn your rig hand fingers. This is the hand you use to operate the welding rig.

Secondly there will be occasions when you as the welder can cover more ground by walking the cup than by manipulating the weld puddle by hand alone.

These two factors are probably the most prevalent reasons walking the cup can be a huge advantage. I personally have worked for companies that shy away from the stick welding process and rely solely on TIG.

These companies use TIG from start to finish in their procedure. Yes even on the cap of the weld. When you cap a weld with TIG, the material is usually screaming hot by that point and it almost impossible to touch the metal with your fingers or hand. Sometimes you can use what is known as the hobo or whino finger.

This is using a cup to cover your finger that rests on the pipe but it is not the easiest method but does come in handy. Walking the cup takes care of all the burns and inconvenient problems a TIG welder can face once he or she learns this method.

This is the reason the cup is circular and designed like it is.

Friend if you don’t agree with me on this that is fine but that doesn’t take away from this truth. If you don’t ever use this method that is fine too, but don’t brow beat a welder that can step into this arena and turn out some killer welds produced by this method. Well I hope this helps somebody, and it will if you can embrace this method and add it to your arsenal of welding technique you may already possess.

Thanks and God Bless!

A New Year deserves a New Post with a New Plan

A big thanks to all of you out there who have been very kind and encouraging with your great comments and support.

A business owner is dust in the wind without supporters that believe in his business.

A leader is nothing more than a soldier that has said, “Okay, I will go first!”

Will you follow me if I go?

I have learned a great deal this last year about first of all Jesus my God, myself, and others.

It means so much to be appreciated and loved. It is what humanity is missing.

When you kick God out of your life, you say goodbye to love. Even discipline is a form of love.

This year has some great promises and new horizons I can see already.

I am striving to make The Welder Lens the best it can be and very available to all.

I just launched my first product although I know it was not the best time.

I got it out as soon as I could.

A big thanks to those of you who have caught the vision of this site and its products, you know who you are.

Welding instructions through welding videos is a fantastic idea and method by which to train yourself to become a great welder.

The whole plan of greatness is watch and implement, watch and implement.

Here are some plans I have already in mind for this year:

1. Carbon Plate series: All positions (Stick and Mig)

2. Someone asked me to make a jack stand

3. Exotic metals such as stainless and chrome % carbons

4. Aluminum with Tig on square wave

5. Mig Flux core,etc.

So I hope that you will hang with me in my plight to bring a format that I don’t believe has ever been truly exposed so far in the welding course.

There surely hasn’t been the welding home study course aspect of this industry.

I will be doing some promotion spots of other peoples products as soon as I find some that I can put my stamp on.

One thing you probably will not see from my site is drawings and theory.

You can buy a book and read on that. I am more interested in the actual view behind the lens. I have a few candidates in mind for special interviews and some outside training from other experts in this field.

Along with that I will be doing some giveaways and gratus bonuses.

I am really thinking about doing a monthly membership package as well.

Lots of plans and ideas in my little brain.

So I just thought I would share some of these things with you here at the beginning of this year as a mind map for us all.

The Bible says that without a Vision The People Perish.

Thanks again and take care.

Michael Treadway of The Welders Lens

What is Welding Anyway?

This is the first article of many that will be submitted in an attempt to bring the most comprehensive tutorial guide for welding.

I will be covering everything you will need to know about welding. From stick rod to tig and all that could be squeezed in between.

I hope what I have learned over the past 100 years can be a blessing and help to you in some way. No Iam not really a hundred!!

Welding has made up the greater part of my life. I absolutely know how to weld. If I tell you something in these lessons and articles, it will be to your benefit to pay attention to it.

If you are a novice or beginner welder I have just what you are looking for. If you have been around the block a few times, I have something for you too. I can feed you what you need. Wait till you see the welding videos.Wow!!

The first thing I would like to go over with you is basic terms of welding you will here in our lessons. Please understand that I am giving you a definition of welding that will make sense to you. They might not be the dictionary definition. Dictionary is not always practical for our purposes. You will understand later.

What is welding anyway?  Well simply put, it is the art of fusing metals together. A carptenter uses nails and glue. A banker uses your money and his drawer. A welder uses different rods or filler metals and intense electric current known as heat to melt metal together.

Arc: the actual contact and electricity produced when welding. It is the light that will burn your unprotected eyeballs. Don’t watch the arc unless you are behind the welders lens. Get it? the welders lens.

Many would never know this, but the arc is about 7400 degrees Fahrenheit where the metal is at liquid form.

Stinger: also known as the electrode holder. The handle that holds stick rods or electrodes. Sometimes you may find the stinger in the bee or in your body if it’s too late.

Sleeves: leather coverings like the sleeves off a shirt that protect against the sparks and spatter of welding. I like a full leather jacket. It can be hot but it is the most effective. There are green sleeves that have elastic in both ends that can be bought at the weld supply store. One for each arm from the shoulder to the wrist.

Hand Shoes:  also known as gloves. Don’t be an idiot and weld without protecting every part of your body. You would be suprised at what I have seen over the years. Lots of brain damage out there.  Once I watched an old tanky welder weld without even a long sleve shirt. I mean that guys arms were taking the sparks off that fast freeze rod. I know it had to burn. He has the same flesh I have. Tanky welders are a breed of themselves. That is another story. Anyway, I said man, why don’t you put a shirt on and protect your arms. This was his response: Oh no, the sweat on my arms is keeping me from feeling the sparks. Wow! The sad thing is that he actually believed it.

Amps: the current output used to measure how hot or cold your arc is (not to be confused with volts).

Electrodes: Flux coated rods that are used in the stick rod process.

Leads: The rubber coated wiring(copper) that carries the current from your machine to your puddle.

The Puddle: Where you used to play as a child, but now where you make a living with welding. The puddle is the liquefied medal at the end of your arc.

Enough terms for now. Welding actually has an extensive history dating back to the late 1800s. Of course welding principles today are the same but the methods are much different as well as the various types of procedures. Old time welding was brazing metals under the heat from an oxygen/acetylene torch. I personally like tig welding. It is the cleanest form of welding. No fire coming at you (sparks, that is). It is the elite apex of the welding field.  Our next article will focus on Stick Rod welding, probably the most common type of welding there is. Until next time, keep your safety glasses on and watch your eyes.

Thanks from the author.  Find out more and get free information at http://www.thewelderslens.com

Welcome To The World of Welding

Hello, and welcome to The Welders Lens blog. I hope this blog will be a place were you give or get answers to the questions that many welders face today. This is a supplement to my website that can be found at www.thewelderslens.com. Visit the site and you can recieve my free ebook I wrote personally just for visiting.  I have welding videos I am working on that I think you will find really cool and informative on stick rod welding, mig welding, and tig welding. I am building a welding home study course so people can learn how to weld. I have been a welder for many years and made a good living welding. These tricks I have learned can save you time and frustration.

I have some articles I am working on. One has been submitted to Ezinearticles.com

Really this is just the beginning of something great to come. In this first article you will find out about my site.

Thanks for your interest and may God bless you.  Thanks Michael D. Treadway