How to TIG Weld
TIG Welding Aluminum
Start with 1/8" (3mm) thick aluminum plate. Just weld some beads and gain experience making and sustaining a puddle as well. Be steady with the hand and keep the tungsten point as close as possible without touching the tip to the puddle. If the tip touches the puddle too much the tungsten will become contaminated- cut or grind off the tip and regrind to a sharp point.
Once you gain steadiness and puddle-mastery, move onto adding filler rod. Filler rod should come from the opposite direction of the welding. Make sure that the filler rod touches the front of the puddle- if it touches anywhere else you will get tungsten contamination (if you touch the tungsten) or get a big ball of aluminum filler (if you touch the hot aluminum near the weld) that is either useless or will cause contamination .
Now try some actual welds, starting off with a simple butt weld. Take 2 aluminum plates and fit them side by side. Try welding the gap with filler rod. If the current is too low you will just amass filler rod without any welding done on the plates. Increase the current and you will find the butt weld with filler much easier.
