I’ve never set my heat based on numbers. I set my heat on what I see. How the puddle is laying down. Other factors include weld position, type of weld joint, welding machine itself, incoming power to the welding machine etc. Depending on all those factors, I’ve used between 100-140 amps for a 1/8” ...

Longer back cap or shorter tungsten. Only options.

Could someone please explain why the scale doesn't begin at edge? What am I missing?

That one on eBay looks like what my father in law is still using. He got it new prior to 1978.

Probably just peaked where you are running a little cold. Crank up the heat and they will flatten out some.

On my wife's S10, in photo mode select more, then live focus. Then you can touch screen to focus on part you want.

You seem like you've approached the problem in an intelligent manner. Sometimes when trouble shooting, the simplest problems are easy to overlook. Can you hear your gas flow start and stop each time? That would mostly tell you the valve is actuating? I missed if you answered about any problem on ste...

Only time I've seen black is when I left the gas off. Happened twice that I remember well. Any chance you have a gas problem? Have you had any trouble welding steel? For my practice welding I barely clean anything and have no problems. Just see more trash floating around and finished weld isn't as p...

I started out with a gas lens set but still kept stick out short. Didn't take long to figure out how limiting it was. More stick out gives better visibility and just seems like there's more room. I was horrible at estimating and when I started measuring stick out things got easier. Good luck. Keep t...

I don't care for tungsten that sharp? I use a steeper angle and have been blunting the tips lately. I seem to dip my tungsten less for some reason. It's likely because I don't have the best of control. I'm on my first bottle of argon so I'm still very new at Tig. Not offering advice, just my observa...

Thank you. I hadn't thought of the oxidation problem. Guess I need to burn 15 plus lbs. I need the hood time anyway.

Tweake, you are likely right. I did try to move a little quicker to prevent it overheating and then I failed to tie into the tubing. I'm sure it can be done, just not by me yet. It's obvious I need to work on my thin material skills. It's something I find I need to be able to do regularly, though no...

That limits the portability though.

He said he was new to Tig welding, so it never hurts to ask the obvious. My first days Tig welding, which was less than a year ago, I found aluminum easier than steel because I could actually see the puddle better. I can't imagine you are missing it. No idea what effect the extreme sharp tungsten gr...

Did you mention metal type? Are you welding aluminum?

Are both parts getting a good ground? That's important until they are together.

Yup, those pesky 6013s do have a lot of slag so running them low is not always a good measure. If you had pulse you would have been able to weld them with about 80A because pulse cuts the average amps down. I would have bought that HTP with pulse but it wasn't dual voltage. Sweet little machine oth...

Today I was welding some thin wall tubing, .075" counting rust inside and paint outside, to a 3/16" base. I tried my new 3/32" 6013 Lincoln rods. I could get a nice looking weld for less than an inch before blowing through at 70A. At 65A I couldn't keep slag out of the way and was ge...

Tubing was 4" x 6" rectangle. I knew I would leave something out. Thanks for the response. I'll find some thin stuff and try different rod angle and arc length. I'm a complete nubbie at 6013. Just tried it because I had read it penetrates less and can used on thinner panels. It would be ni...

Today I was welding some thin wall tubing, .075" counting rust inside and paint outside, to a 3/16" base. I tried my new 3/32" 6013 Lincoln rods. I could get a nice looking weld for less than an inch before blowing through at 70A. At 65A I couldn't keep slag out of the way and was get...

Quick Harbor Fright story. Loosely related. My pop (nearing 70) was going to install a doggy door at my sisters house. I'm out of state at the time, but talking to him about it on the phone. He says he needs a new set of drill bits to do the install and that he was going to get them from HF because...

I'll check mine out with the amp meter. Never even thought about it.

I've got some old water logged Fourney 7018 that always give a little porosity until they heat up. No rod oven so I burn them where it doesn't matter. I know I need a oven, but I'll burn what I have.

I'm guilty of tigging some not quite clean metal. I barely clean mill scale off when it's something I could be stick welding. I don't get shiny welds like that, but I've never seen anything like that first pick. Any chance the metal had some type of coating? Looks like some plated nuts I tried tacki...

What about just long arcing the tig torch? You may have some arc strikes but you can add heat without creating a weld pool.

Arc welding is a fusion process using the heat from the arc to melt & fuse or mix at least 3 pieces of steel (in this case) together in a joint. Base metal 1, base metal 2 & filler rod. Once you get the arc going pay attention to what it is going on under the arc, you will see the metal mel...