Tig welding .... single pass & multi pass

[FISHMOUTH FABWORKS]

Somebody mentions "pedal pulsers" and hints that these people are evil scum wana be fab guys

I add a little throttle when I dip my filler rod, does this make me a hack discovery channel wanna be? I have actually only seen this once on tv, but I learned it on my own.

I always felt that the weld puddle could use more heat when you are adding filler, I still control my overall heat, and do not come anywhere near fully off the pedal. It may be looked at similarly as trigger welding with a mig welder, but the modulation of heat is not completly on and off, I dont look at them as anywhere near the same.

I also have never had any problems with cracks in welds in anything that I have built.


The way I see it, whatever method used can acheive a very strong good weld as long as there is the correct amount of penetration, the right width of weld, and enough filler is added.

From my perspective here are some TIG methods used by other very successful builders: Somebody please tell me if I have judged others welding wrong......


JIMCO, Geiser, Porter = mostly "pedal pulse" welding with some weave on the Geiser, and the "pulse weave" on some sections of the Porter. All nice welding!!

Robby's stuff= Multi Pass Weave= Bad ***** and duh....obviously strong

SPD, Mike Smith, Dump's new Herbst machines= standard, plain, nice, strong tig weld. The quality strength and success of these vehicles speak for themselves. The Herbst new trucks will be successful in due time.

Ok,let me refrase. I dont see a reason to pulse the pedal while you weld. Letting off a little to keep from over heating is different. People who pulse weld to make it look "pretty" because they cannot do it the normal way, are the people im refering to.
A weld should be the same width and almost height as the base material. Thus weaveing on .250 and up is needed. Im sure it works for some people, just not the way I would do it. the way of thinking as I see it, is a bling factor of a weave.Its what the general public think is "badass". I know of guys who use stainless to weld chromo. just because they use it dosent make it right.

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[Chase 2]

Pulsed GTAW and trigger MIG are so far apart you can't compare. I've done a far bit of pulsed GTAW on aluminum and I feel it helps my penetration in some applications. The main thing is that when you set the machine up for pulsing you have a choice of the high and low amp settings, the size of the puddle is slightly reduced on the low side of the pulse, but the main thing is that the puddle remains fluid all the time.

Really people, we all know that puddle control is a combination of power, rod feed, torch angle and other very small and variable things. That is where the art part of welding comes in, its your knowing what you need to do to control the puddle to make the type of weld you know the joint is supposed to have.

I see nothing wrong with purging the backside and going for full penetration. It would take a bit more time to set up.

Maybe the welders on this forum have blown the cover for the poor guys who are getting paid chump change by the hour in fab shops. But hey, if the boss wants you to go over each weld three times, who are they to argue? It all pays the same right?? And like said many times before the welding is the easy part.

[motoxscott]

But hey, if the boss wants you to go over each weld three times, who are they to argue?

I think it's quite funny how you keep making these types of statements .... We're not talking about mediocre welders here getting paid slave labor to cover up or give the appearance of a "bling bling" weld.

So what boss at Tubeworks is telling Jason (the owner) to weave weld his chassis's and all the rear ends he builds for a lot of the TT and CORR trucks out there? Should we inform him he is wasting his time, covering up bad welds and what he is doing is incorrect? ... come on be realistic here.

If the end result is a properly welded strong joint that doesnt fail than who's to say one is wrong or one is right? You can get to the same destination via different routes. If Dump prefers single pass, thats ok because he is a skilled welder & fabricator ... if Jason at Camburg prefers to multi-pass weld, thats ok too since he is also a very skilled welder & fabricator. Both welders will get the job done at the highest level.

I think the big problem lies with people and companies that do poor MIG and TIG welding, but since the average customer doesnt know what they are looking at, it's considered acceptable .... well it's not ... and I see those problems all the time.

- Scott

[CRAIG_HALL]

Tubeworks stuff has some spray arc welding in there as well...There's alot of different forms of mig welding as well. Having a couple of Robotic welders (mig & gtaw) it's cool to see differences a small setting can change things. especially with a gtaw and tungsten stick-out & grind angle.

[CMazzulla]

So many variables..... A good weld is a good weld. You would have to argue single pass vs. weave for a specific component and application not just in every situation. I have done both and watched parts live both ways.

[5racer]

i say the bigger the weld the better the weld use all the wall thickness not just the "coopeing" "sp" thickness im not a cert welder but have been in the repair welding buisness for a long time and have built a few race cars and those pretty multi pass welds are bling.i cant see why you would need a multi pass on any race car tube.never seen a ugly weld break.but iv seen bling welds pull apart.theres a 1000 ways to weld and everyone has there opinion but it boils down to what works for you and what has been working .

[Chase 2]

I think it's quite funny how you keep making these types of statements ....
- Scott

Yeah, it's welder humor, maybe that's why your not getting it.

[motoxscott]

Thank god I'm not a welder by your definition ... haha

[BajaFand]

Thanks for the correction Derek and I definately did not mean to discredit you or any of the other guys. Donny Guerrero is an awesome guy and super smart.

[Wild bill]

Many moons ago, I work for Conoco oil company in their material science R&D section. I contacted the senior welding engineer before I started my TT build. He recommended for 4130 .120 wall tubing to use 70s-6 3/32, single pass, 100 amp setting. No pulse, no preheat, no postheat. For .25 4130, 70s-6, double pass, 120 amp. Preheat to 350f, weld, post heat, then slow cool to room temp. As a joke, he recommended welding mig only on body mounts or things that could break and not disable the truck.