Picked up a cheap welding machine
11-15-2016, 05:23 AM
#1
Picked up a cheap welding machine
I have a welding machine coming in this week and i know nothing about welding lol! I got a cheap welder off amazon that has a lot of great reviews. It claims to weld 1/4" aluminum and 3/8" steel. Can anyone offer any tips? (what gas? what electrode? settings?) My first project will be putting together a cart for the machine out of steel. Then i plan on moving on to some aluminum welding for the truck and welding on my shock relocation kit.
This is the machine i got
https://www.amazon.com/AHP-AlphaTIG-.../dp/B00REX6USW
This is the machine i got
https://www.amazon.com/AHP-AlphaTIG-.../dp/B00REX6USW
11-15-2016, 07:32 AM
#2
Look up weldingtipsandtricks on youtube and watch a lot of his videos, he is really good.
You will want 100% argon with TIG, maybe some helium mix if you are feeling frisky, but thats usually for really thick stuff.
2% lanthinated electrodes are pretty universal.
You will want 100% argon with TIG, maybe some helium mix if you are feeling frisky, but thats usually for really thick stuff.
2% lanthinated electrodes are pretty universal.
11-15-2016, 08:23 AM
#3
I use ceriated for DC welding and thoriated for AC welding. Generally 3/32 and smaller electrode dia.
I use 308/309L for stainless (2 different wires) 4043/5356 for Aluminum and ER70SB2 for mild steel
Unless I cant fit it, the smallest cup I run is my #8
I use 308/309L for stainless (2 different wires) 4043/5356 for Aluminum and ER70SB2 for mild steel
Unless I cant fit it, the smallest cup I run is my #8
11-15-2016, 10:28 AM
#7
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I have an AHP AlphaTIG. Absolutely love the machine. Have used it to TIG and stick steel and TIG aluminum. Only issues I had out of the box was replacing the flowmeter with a victor unit. After a year the flex head torch broke. One email and they send me a new one gratis. Great company.
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11-15-2016, 10:33 AM
#8
My advice, skip the tig and start with stick welding for practicing. It teaches you proper puddle control and muscle memory for feeding in the rod and maintaining arc length. There is a reason most all welding programs start with stick. And it's cheap! lol. Get a box of 6013 3/32 and 7018 3/32 and a long stick of 1"x 3/16" flat bar. Cut it into 4" coupons and practice welling them together in butt, lap, T and edge joints. Start with the 6013 on AC and get good with it. Then switch to DC with 7018 and get good with it. By the time you get good with those, TIG welding will me MUCH easier! And being about to stik weld will serve you well too!
11-15-2016, 11:51 AM
#9
My advice, skip the tig and start with stick welding for practicing. It teaches you proper puddle control and muscle memory for feeding in the rod and maintaining arc length. There is a reason most all welding programs start with stick. And it's cheap! lol. Get a box of 6013 3/32 and 7018 3/32 and a long stick of 1"x 3/16" flat bar. Cut it into 4" coupons and practice welling them together in butt, lap, T and edge joints. Start with the 6013 on AC and get good with it. Then switch to DC with 7018 and get good with it. By the time you get good with those, TIG welding will me MUCH easier! And being about to stik weld will serve you well too!
And no you do not need different electrodes for different metal, you can get by with ceriated for both AC and DC. Different electrodes perform differently, and there are proprietary electrode alloys out there for (typically) commercial work.
for what you are doing, ceriated for AC/DC will be perfect IMO. 4043 is easier to weld that 5356 as well.