TFS: The Secret to Perfect Stainless TIG Welds

"How?" That's always the question: How?
"How do you get that perfect stainless weld?"
Some swear there is a secret to it, others say its impossible. It's not! It just takes a bit of info which Justin has broken down in this episode all about TIG Welding Stainless Steel.
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Lone Harvest by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
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[@MField-mq9oq]

Learned more from a 20 min video than I did in several months of tech school. And for free. Strong work.

[@ArcEyeJames]

Agreed

[@desolatesurfer8651]

you tube is the new free tech school.

[@jarivalkeapaa1225]

Internal research give the real results Inside the metal joining. Do circle when doing a tig weld and keep feeding that add on metal coming steady. Rest you learn during a jobs.

[@50shadesofb6]

and people wonder why employers are so hard set to hire someone fresh out of school instead of real experience.

[@lillnemo1]

@@50shadesofb6 well, you just cant ONLY hire people with experience how long do you think that lasts? and while I virtually had no experience being a mechanic, at home never did use wrenches or work on cars, scooters, etc, ... and the only "experience" about mechanics came from my bachelors study, I already corrected my chef numberous times in the first weeks. The boss liked my way of working and using logic, but he didn't and boy, did he try to make my life miserable cause of that. There's a difference between experience and someone who knows what he's doing. We see it at the motorcycle trackdays all so often. People who have driven on the road for 25years, and have bad habits, but think they are so awesomely good drivers, but once they hit the track (often during a instruction course), their baked-in flaws quickly show up and they crash, loose confidence, or just dont listen to the tips the professionals give them. Me, if I was an employer, work ethos and a smart, willing employee is way more valuable than "just experience"

[@Thaipeople196]

I've been welding for 35 years. This is the best break down of the problem, symptom, and solution with S/S welding. Super awesome video!!!

[@donkiko6708]

How’s your eyesight???

[@roberttyndall7430]

Got 28 years, giving my eyes a break for little while!😎

[@Thaipeople196]

My eyesight is great no issues at all.

[@jamescosta1174]

20 years here, agreed and this guys' video is saved! TY kind sir

[@bflico]

I agree

[@aintright3889]

I started stick welding 45 years ago, then learned MIG that was an easy transition but my TIG welding SUCKS. I don't think everyone learning to TIG is cut out for this. But this video is one of the BEST I've seen. Kudos to you for devoting your time in an effort to teach us dummies to learn TIG.:)

[@BrianKrahmer]

i can stick and mig weld, and plan to start tig soon. imo, they all have their place.

[@mcpoulet13]

My ex girlfriend used big cups to compensate all the time and it seemed to work out for her.

[@kenswitzer4133]

😃😆😆

[@de._hrnec._]

🤣

[@mounteekanjanawijit5542]

Bigger cup= more gas coverage= more stick out

[@bradennoe7815]

Lol

[@justinreich3486]

Saaaammmmeeee

[@narekpapukyan5455]

I'm just getting into TIG welding and trying to understand the basics, and I can't THANK YOU enough for this video! Wonderful examples and camera work showing us how the puddles look (and what we shouldn't do). I learned more in this video than the past 10 or so other channel videos combined!!

[@TCUSB]

Man I really wish I could've seen your videos back around 2015. Took a welding shop class in HS and by year 3-4 I found my niche was TIG, specifically SS. I was good enough that I was trusted with things like repairing some car parts for a few teachers/instructors but your tips definitely would've helped me improve so much. Stuff like this always makes me miss welding.

[@rdb8509]

I have been welding since the 80’s when worked for Norfolk Southern Railways. This guy reminds me of my instructor at the old Southern Railways training facility in McDonough GA. Super talented and super laid back. Keep up the good work!

[@thatracinglife]

Probably the best TIG welding video I have ever seen. Answered quite a few of my questions! Great work man!

[@jeremyhampton7656]

Been welding 20+ years and this is the best break down and tips i have seen on KZbin yet keep up the good work

[@tomseim]

Heat = Amps * Time: 70 amp spot weld = 70 * 9 sec = 630 100 amp spot weld = 100 * 2 sec = 200 therefore 70 amp spot weld has over 3x the heat as the 100 amp spot weld

[@grundell2930]

Coloumbs baby

[@yeetskeetledeet8184]

Not to be a shitter, but Heat = volts*amps*time. Not that voltage is necessarily relative to this case, but yeah ...

[@lucafabbri5626]

Does it still apply to electrode welding?

[@msnyder622]

Man oh man this matches up so well with what I dealt with today. I work with mostly thin gauge cosmetic stainless and I spent all afternoon trying to eliminate discoloration coming from my resistance spot welders. The only thing that worked was high amperage and short duration, any drop in amps needed more cycles and allowed the heat to propagate far enough to cause discoloration.

[@davidoliver2826]

Definitely appreciate this approach Justin. It’s good to see hands-on teaching what looks bad and why. We always get how to do it right but it’s good to see what we’re doing wrong and how to correct it. Thank you for your professionalism and sharing your knowledge.

[@ralph17p]

This has to be one of the best videos on TIG that I've watched so far. Getting my first TIG machine this week, so I'll be putting this to good use, I hope.

[@HiTechDiver]

I really like that Justin backs up what he says by examples. It cements it into one's understanding and learning process. Thanks.

[@waynepowell567]

Nicely done. Thanks for taking the time to share some edification and explain in CLEAR terms the theories behind it all. Very much appreciated.

[@kevinhornbuckle]

Oh my God!. To date, 748,048 views. This is one of the best TIG videos ever. I love your command of logic. Think like a scientist. Don't let the easy but cheap explanation fool you. Very good lessons here.

[@Masso1973]

You just cleared up at least 3 TIG welding mistakes I make, thanks buddy

[@mikes2294]

This was very ,very good. Answered ALL my questions. Thank you and excellent video.

[@06Miller78]

You have become my first stop for any TIG questions I have! Your videos are great and I have learned a ton.

[@bjm1219]

I really appreciate all the graphic overlays you put on the result pictures. This is a great resource! Thank you!

[@ChevySS1968]

Great video. TIG is tricky and requires INCREDIBLE precision. Stainless exhaust pipes present a real challenge (for me) to get consistent, good-looking welds. This vid helped. I think I've been running too few amps and too slow, in general. Thanks!!

[@whatsstefon]

That point about time vs amperage is so true. I’m really good at soldering and am just starting to research welding. In soldering, I run my iron hotter but I can solder in shorter bursts so that I don’t soak the circuit board in heat, lifting tracks and ruining the device. I’m looking forward to learning to weld. I looked for a local college or evening class, there’s nothing near by, so I’m gonna have to teach myself.

[@timconway5753]

Thank you! I work on a stainless steel line making fire extinguishers and we do machine welding (lining up the tungsten and stop gaps) mostly. I came from mig welding and haven't learned how to hand weld tig. This was very insightful for when I get into the repair booth.

[@PM17E5]

Practical and to the point. I usually fall asleep during most welding videos or start clicking related videos, but this one was well done. And I learned a lot!

[@squareonepa]

Hey dude, Just wanted to say thank you for uploading these and giving me a better understanding on how to tig!

[@samjohnson1676]

great video as always, keep them coming, these are so helpful

[@jdubcbr600]

Very nice! I haven't picked a tig torch up yet but trying to learn everything I can beforehand. These vids are very informative, keep'em coming.

[@jameswoodsist]

this has to be one of the best information videos ive seen on tig welding. this helped me understand why i had so many inconsistencies and i cant believe i didnt realize it earlier. thanks man!

[@rachelbenzema7822]

thanks mate for your video. i am beginner but never stop practicing up to now.

[@jacupsladder]

Hey man, I appreciate this video so much. I'm going to share it with every beginner that I come across. There's alot of principles for all TIG welding demonstrated in this. GOOD JOB.

[@guyosenkarski7710]

By far the best instructional video on tig welding I’ve seen on KZbin....I subscribed

[@phoebebouley750]

I had a lot of trouble with stainless before and you showed me why. I stopped listening to everyone else and the repair work I did on a bunch of 16 gauge workstations came out so much better than I thought they would. Thanks a lot for this. I can't wait to apply this new knowledge to other projects. Practice, practice, practice.

[@amacca995]

Absolute gold!!!!! Seriously man your "bad" welds would be my "best" welds!!! Damn impressed with this video. Respect.

[@dre04mach]

My thoughts exactly... i was watching and going "oh I can do waaay worse than that..."

[@Alteisen_]

me too on that: being a newbie I sent some of my first welds to a friend via Whatsapp, thinking they are "showable". OMG...

[@reytiosejo3012]

Your right buddy hes worst is our best, i agree 100%

[@boostedbuiltgarage]

Very interesting video, Justin. Makes perfect sense!

[@JustinGray70]

Justin, I LOVE your explaining and description. Best video I have seen in some time killing myths.

[@sandyt4343]

Justin I don’t know if you’re still out there but these videos are such a huge help for me. I do a good deal of welding stainless on the boat I work on and your videos are a huge help. I wish I had found them years ago but better late than never. Approaching mid70s and still learning

[@leonardpearlman4017]

Whoa! Covered a lot of ground, there! I'm trying to do this right now, yesterday and today, and these helpful dynamic hints couldn't have come at a better time! I knew SOME of that stuff, but not all of it, might not have been seeing the whole picture. I WAS trying to keep the heat down by lowering Amperage! I think I have seen the (Arc) light! Short bits of higher power... strong attention to cleaning and gas coverage... In this case talking about short welds on a little thing, I think each one can be done inside the gas shield entirely. Darn it, I want it to LOOK stainless!

[@NSW]

This was great! Thanks

[@jimfitzgibbon5492]

GREAT info. I have been tig welding for years. Not much stainless but some. This makes so much sense looking back at problems I have had at times. Thank you so much.

[@donpollard9460]

I learnt to effectively TIG weld stainless perforated 316 (I think) stainless steel back in 1994! It didn't take long - I just had to apply my welding knowledge to a different process - the perforations just made it challenging! Love your channel (and, yes, I've subscribed), keep up the good work - it is good to see someone that loves his work - you know the saying: "do something that you love for a job and you will never work again!"

[@jamesmilne3561]

Best video on KZbin for stainless!

[@spelunkerd]

Having watched a few of your videos this week, I find your efforts inspiring. Sure, practice is the biggest factor, but understanding what is happening is the key. I had to laugh when you showed the high torch heights and the dirty tip examples, they look very familiar. Natural instinct when you dip the tip a few times is to pull back to give more room for the filler wire, but that just makes things worse. Your demonstration of how low heat makes things worse is brilliant!

[@cornellkirk8946]

spelunkerd low heat makes it worse? You mean high heat input makes it worse! Higher current allows a faster travel speed which equates to a lower heat input....

[@spelunkerd]

Oops, I've caused a stumble into the nasty rabbit hole of semantics. What I meant was when one turns the amperage down (what I loosely described as 'heat') it takes longer to complete the weld so you end up with more heat distortion of the part. Sorry for the poor choice of words, we both understand what is happening.

[@razorworks9942]

Thanks for putting out the correct information on this. I've been welding for the better part of 43 years, and even though my eyesight isn't near what it used to be, your tip at the end is definitely the best.... KEEP PRACTICING! Got a new Sub.... Razor!

[@mcayer5056]

Very informative man, thank you! Love how you bring the science of it all

[@MonkeyFabGarage]

Great vid.

[@williamday3521]

Im in the middle of my welding apprenticeship. Just finished my first week of TIG. I have been cooking the shit out of my stainless. What did my instructor tel me to do? You guessed it, turn the amps down. When i get back in the booth on Monday i'm gonna turn it back up and get my arc tighter and travel speed up! Great Video thanks so much

[@nitsgar]

How'd that work out for you? You teach the teacher something?

[@kurts9972]

There are lots of good movies but this the best! Showing wrongs practice on practical examples makes it so easy to understand!

[@manasse2288]

this video is probably the best tutoring i have ever seen on youtube. just get my first stainless tig welding job! i m so excited! and this video just came at the right moment! thanks Justin

[@kellyethanhunt6501]

Im a filipino, loving to learn how to tig weld, i buy my own machine anf argon, i dont go to welding school, i will just search here at youtube, and u sir the one that can help me

[@samgorfine6679]

top work mate. I weld aluminium all day and, it's not that i can't weld stainless but i am not confident with it. thanks to your tips i think i will get some drills going and try and improve my skills.. Thanks

[@2fnbad675]

sam sam I weld stainless all day and , it's not that I can't weld aluminum but I am not confident with it. I'm the same as you mate. Just opposite. Lol.

[@that1electrician]

I think stainless is a cakewalk compared to aluminum

[@2fnbad675]

Mark Cuckerberg Likewise. But then again I've never really welded Aluminum.

[@lennyking1340]

I welded both, its just different, wouldnt say harder or easier. Only need to know a bit about each one

[@pandjnixon]

Suitably impressed guidance ! And the video and video graphics are excellent, too ! Its a joy to watch/listen to someone who has mastered the art of good TIG welding !

[@imranemokhtari5433]

this was such a great video Justin. hope your knowledge spreads to the learned ones. thank you!

[@DrGreen-wl2ry]

“Gonna catch me weldin’ dirty” lol

[@reelnature5971]

Awesome video you just got a sub, I weld stainless all day it is really bad to breath fumes a little tip for future videos to wear a respirator👍👍

[@ericdolan2130]

What he's referring to is Hexavalent Chromium, Bad stuff!

[@MisterRisk]

Excellent instruction as always. You have a gift for teaching

[@kennyrmurray]

Dude you answered more questions in this video then the last 8 I watched! Great explanations! I'm new to tig, not mig. Keep it up!

[@jojomama4787]

The real secret is PRACTICE!

[@edgardogiudice5135]

And a little hel of your friends!

[@edgardogiudice5135]

...help

[@edgardogiudice5135]

@@zedmoe I do it for many years. I've built some aeronauticlal frames. But I can see that many of videos all they're welding tubes with 2 or 3 mm thick, and I'm telling that with 0.6 thick is so different

[@MrAirbleed]

@@edgardogiudice5135 @ for me welding 2mm is way easier than welding 0.6mm

[@lucidworx]

I'm learning stainless and right now I'm doing 20g sheet metal that comes out to .0375 of an inch so that means 37 amps? - 10% that's puts me at about 33 amps correct?

[@nathanlarson1851]

This video is so well put together and has sooo much great information. I learned more from this one video than my highschool welding class and my tech school fabrication class.

[@brandenlindsey9341]

Great work man. Very professional and straight to the point. Def recommending to a friend. Thanks

[@cougar7n10]

"It's not the size of the wave, it's the motion of the ocean." -She

[@CallofDoobie585]

You got some 7n10 ammo for me too??? Lol

[@jerryroberts8367]

😂 nope. Only men believe that lie. Size and hardness is EVERYTHING. Oh yea, welding we’re talking welding. My bad😂 welder chick here, gotta have a good sense of humor! Especially if you accidentally fry your piece. Your metal I mean😂

[@michealtrammel3910]

Maybe true. But it takes a long time to go from America to England in a row boat. Just saying.

[@legilnnine]

I've been tig welding for 45 years - everything from dish washing machines to oil pipelines. The thing I tell learner welders is that tig welding is nothing more that fusing two pieces of metal together - if you use filler wire you are only fusing three pieces of metal together. I've never understood why people dab with filler wire. Just push it into the weld puddle. This works with stainless, aluminium and most other metals. Great video BTW.

[@alfredoalonso728]

legilnnine I do that sometimes

[@mrmidnight32]

legilnnine blame the internet and stacked dime pictures making people think a pretty weld is the best weld.

[@TheBones450]

Great video man. Scabbing together my first stainless exhaust and this video helped me improve my welds tremendously. Thanks man!

[@TheTkirk]

JUST started tig welding or welding period for that matter and I REALLY appreciate your video.

[@andrewzavala9633]

High schooler and plan to become a welder is it a good career?

[@charleskozak4102]

Hi, my name is Charles and I'm a tip dipper...

[@jamesmilne3561]

Charles Kozak first step in rehab is admitting. Keep it up

[@charleskozak4102]

He did say never stop practicing, HA!

[@TheFabricatorSeries]

Hi, Charles.

[@romulus1969]

Welcome to the group, Charles, and thanks for sharing. Coffee and cookies are in the back of the room.

[@leonardpearlman4017]

Me too! I think in my case it's too much coffee.

[@ktcgarage8572]

So glad I found you dude New home fabricator working on an off road Isuzu trooper learning a ton from you Thanks man

[@brianbender7438]

Excellent. Been fairly well attached to Jody’s site last few years and learned a lot. However, Justin has a different, and much better way at times, of explaining the methods and reasons for doing or not doing something. Think I’ll hang out here for a while. Thanks, Justin.

[@houseoffire72]

Damn it man you have inspired me to buy a Tig welder...😀 All I need is an entry level Tig till my skills grow to perfection like yours😁 can ya give me some input bud?

[@theuppercut]

I feel like a pro n I don’t own a tig . This makes me wanna get one!!!

[@phillhuddleston9445]

Good luck then, it's much harder than it looks.

[@zvargulis1988]

Hey mate, great video!! I'm just getting started and attempting 304L so really appreciate the video.

[@mrb.5610]

Best video on TIG welding I've seen - explains and shows ! Subscribed !!

[@R.E.HILL_]

Gas amount/flow rate should also be in this, or?

[@lucasmacmillan7699]

yes...

[@Shadow0fd3ath24]

doesnt really matter as long as you dont get corrosion, and dont go through a bottle in 5 minutes, anywhere between that is fine as long as you get good gas coverage and dont mind your consumption rate

[@dr.feelgood2358]

jesus....why such a huge stickout at 8:10?? especially the #12? i see the result but you must be turning the cfh up right?

[@MS-gn4gl]

I've seen this on other videos - I always assumed its because the larger cup makes it harder to properly angle and still see the work you're doing.

[@davidofthemeadow]

he mentioned on other videos that he does it so that he can see what he is doing with the camera in his way.

[@richardfuller2326]

Great video! Easy to understand. You're my favorite instructor!

[@karlalton3170]

This is the best welding channel i have ever come across for a newby like me I have watched hundreds but none are as informative and explained as well as these were it is easy to understand keep them coming dude new subscriber for sure 🤘🤘🤘

[@PrincessTP3]

I’d love to see this with 18 gauge.

[@PrincessTP3]

I should add that I’m not trying to be facetious. I would actually love to see this demo on thin material. 😁

[@tfr6]

"they want to know about penetration" well so do i.

[@marcelloo.anselmorodrigues2925]

Jey Justin, super very good tips !!! Thank you for sharing this knowledge to us all! May God bless we all and specialy you, my friend!

[@tylerrussell3605]

Very thorough with clear explanations and great visuals. Confirmed most of what I know about welding stainless, great reminder of all the different factors, thank you. I would add tungsten tip shape, and a little more emphasis on torch angle, not just height, both of which can also contribute to success/problems.

[@kane5688]

304 dislikes.. on a stainless video.. SUSPICIOUS

[@mrfumetsu]

Seriously...

[@machinesandthings7121]

🤣

[@phitsf5475]

High amps = You better move your ass and have great shielding

[@TheycallmeWallyDude]

Best video I've seen to date on 'how to'. Not an expert by any means in fabrication or youtube watching but very thankful for stuff like this! Keep on keepin' on!

[@rudyjuarez82]

Perfect illustration. Thank you again.

[@iambuloss4605]

I am desire from Africa i am welder too

[@barry7608]

That has to be the best most informative and well presented video I've seen, thanks

[@MYCHANNEL-on1cp]

just found you, thanks for taking the time to make these videos, very helpful! will be watching all i can, great points you make, and the purposeful screw ups you do are invaluable, thanks so much!

[@robertkoontz7865]

Thanks for the lessons, I'm a newb at Tig and Mig, This is going to help big time.

[@douglassmith2055]

One of the best vids for tig stainless. Love your videos. Thanks man! Subscribed.

[@gamesremastered1]

Very informative video, thanks for explaining so well! I never tried Tig, but in the progress of learning.

[@ferrchuyito]

Everything makes sense after watching this video. I was trying to weld with low amperage even thicker material and with thinner gauge material worked really good, thank you.

[@glennlopez6772]

Thanks for your efforts, producing this video! The amps/the speed or the cup? Well it ain't necessarily so. The best I've seen so far!

[@jeremymiller7049]

Very impressive video. Using this information for my apprentice. I picked up some tips also. Keep up the good work.

[@mikebecket7458]

Sir I just found this site, in a word. AWESOME! I'VE BEEN WELDING FOR MANY YEARS AND where were you back then......Ha Ha Great lessons great pace And again awesome class study. And examples. ...as Arnold says ....I'll be back ...to this very instructive classroom demonstration....you are indeed one great instructor! Thanks Mike

[@johnwasson8604]

this is the best video ive seen explaining how to get an actual good stainless weld. i cant even count the amount of times ive tried explaining this concept to the other people that can weld at my company (industrial electricians). they think a stock machine is set up for stainless welding and struggle/ dont know what a good stainless weld looks like. they always try to "borrow" my machine cuz i go and buy the proper gas lenses and cups.

[@cnote9626]

Very grateful for this video right now! Im loving learning stainless in school !

[@altuspienaar7679]

Fantastic video Justin. Just coming from watching a Miller video and I would have been doing the complete opposite of what you just told me. Really great way of illustrating your theories while making tons of sense. I know I will improve just applying what you just taught me.

[@tomb375]

Awesome Video! Thank you for sharing your expertise.

[@darrenknepper2159]

watching this and practicing and adjusting as we speak..great video.