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Step 10Draw a Bead
After tacking, remove any clamps.
Start a weld pool by jamming down the pedal fast to form a weld pool.
Then lighten up on the pedal, to regulate the current.
If the metal starts to burn/melt away, too much current is being dumped in, back off the foot pedal.
If the metal gets a flaky, but not liquid look to it, put more power in (step on the pedal harder).
To weld aluminum, move the electrode towards the rod, while feeding rod into the pool. The rod should be to the side of the electrode that the weld will form or grow towards. This is known as "leading" the electrode.
To weld steel, the electrode travels first down the weld line, and the rod chases after, "following" the heat.
Start a weld pool by jamming down the pedal fast to form a weld pool.
Then lighten up on the pedal, to regulate the current.
If the metal starts to burn/melt away, too much current is being dumped in, back off the foot pedal.
If the metal gets a flaky, but not liquid look to it, put more power in (step on the pedal harder).
To weld aluminum, move the electrode towards the rod, while feeding rod into the pool. The rod should be to the side of the electrode that the weld will form or grow towards. This is known as "leading" the electrode.
To weld steel, the electrode travels first down the weld line, and the rod chases after, "following" the heat.
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Apr 23, 2011. 11:14 PMbrandon_a_boyer
says:
You always feed the filler into the leading edge of the pool, otherwise you risk getting porosity or cold lap.
Reply
Feb 7, 2010. 7:43 PMjack8559
says:
I was taught to "push the puddle" towards the rod when welding steel OR aluminum. I'm not saying your way is wrong, it's just how I was taught.
Reply
Aug 14, 2009. 8:48 AMJohnathon Duchesne
says:
it's much easier to follow your rod then going the opposite way around.
Reply
Sep 1, 2009. 8:32 AMJon Wilks
says:
if you can see your rod than you are going to go blind
Reply
Jun 3, 2009. 6:58 AMmagickaldan
says:
You weld steel the same way by leading the electrode. And you need some better technique if all your doing is holding the gun steady and going in a straight line. I was taught to move your wrist in sorta in a figure eight style while chasing the rod. It's hard to get a hang of but will give strong beautiful welds. I was showed by a friend who's been doing it forever, and has to have almost all his welds x-rayed, and has never failed.
Reply
Jun 3, 2009. 6:18 AMjohnhutchison
says:
I haven't ever heard follow your tungsten with rod when welding steel either. That wasn't how I was taught to weld. This instructable seems to have some interesting approaches...
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May 10, 2009. 8:21 PMshawnfont
says:
I noticed it said to follow your tungsten with the rod when welding steel. I have been tig welding a very long time and never heard of this practice. I have never seen anyone do that. Can anyone comment on this practice?
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