Tig Welding Thin Aluminum

[@Edward135i]

I work for a automotive shop that welds 3/16 and 1/8 skid plates. I just want to thank you for teaching me how to weld descent enough to become an integral part of the shop, your videos have helped me in becoming a real man, that is independent of his parents, you have made a huge difference in my life and I thank you for it.

[@bobk2966]

awesome dude, congrats

[@spicelife6338]

5 years since your comment, I hope you are still doing well if not better!

[@oz31140]

The last weld on the Lincoln machine without all the bells and whistles was the best by far.... nice penetration and hardly any weld stack. My Lincoln has all those settings, and in the last 10 years that i've owned it, it's been off auto maybe twice. Correct filler, CLEAN aluminum, get an amp that's close (with a pedal), and rock on!!! Real welders make chicken salad outta chicken sh*t all the time, and you prove it again here. Been welding 30 years and still learn something or get a new idea every time I watch one of your videos... Thanks again for your time.

[@jefflastofka9289]

This is great information for me as a new TIG welder hoping to weld some thin aluminum. I have a Square Wave TIG 175 almost exactly like yours, bought new back around 1995-2000, but I never got around to TIG until just finishing a community college class today. I like that you keep showing this machine in use so I can relate to mine. I've placed two orders from your store already. Glad to support someone so helpful. I might update to a newer machine some time later, but it sure seems like this one will handle home projects pretty well.

[@lucasholt3482]

man I hate to see a good dude get burnt, but I'm not gonna lie I laughed pretty hard when you were licking your hand!

[@mitchellsnider4198]

Really appreciate seeing the work with the modern machine and the older more basic one that matches my home shop/budget. Job can still be done with the right skills.

[@BrucesShop]

How many times have your hands healed from a burn? Too many to count. Me too.

[@j0hn7r0n]

Thank you for editing your videos and keeping them concise. I love all the guys on KZbin with fabrication videos (I live in an apartment, so I live vicariously through you), but most of them like to blabber. Your videos are great.

[@bobw222]

Wish I had seen this years ago when I was restoring an old Crestiliner boat. the hull had a ton of tiny perforations in it because it had sat full of water for a while. I had a crappy old Westinghouse stick welder with a tig conversion on it and really had no clue what I was doing. I bent a piece of stainless sheetmetal let it spring against the backside of the aluminum. I managed to get most of the holes touched up that way. I'm sure I would have done much better with modern equipment and a few of your lessons. I did however weld up one aluminum casting on the boat good enough that I got the only compliment in 52 years out of my dad. He looked at the piece for several minutes, handed it back, and said "Damn fine welding job son." Even my four brothers who were there also said they couldn't remember getting a compliment out of him. Kind of wish I had of kept that casting when I sold the boat. How would you weld a hole in thin (16-18gauge) aluminum when you couldn't get a good backer behind it?

[@DCweldingAndArt]

Slowly and gently sir lol I repair welded 18ga aluminum tubing that broke in half few months ago, turned amps wayyy down, maybe 50-58amps/120hz/66%EN, used 1/16 4043, and made 3/4" to 1" long runs(3 or 4 dabs then stop)let cool for 10 or 15 sec in between passes, it turned out just fine, stronger than before, not an instagram weld but, no blowthrough/holes, and no mess. You have probably already figured all this out by now lol good luck!

[@livingfreelyinspired7400]

Your reaction to being burned was very well controlled and admirable.

[@jerrytube13]

Hey Jody, I have a Eastwood fixed 60Hz inverter machine that I use for hobby AC welding. I have a hard time welding thin aluminum with 1/16 electrode and filler. It just seems like the edges melt away and I end up chasing the puddle and dumping filler. Would I benefit from upgrading my machine to one with adjustable frequency and run 120Hz+ or should I just practice more. Not sure if 60Hz is holding me back or I have welding machine envy.

[@ColinPittendrigh]

I'm a woodworker who wants to make aluminum drift boat hulls. I think this means 0.1" inch or so thick sheeting, welded only at the chine where the side meets the bottom panel. Do I need to learn how about mig or tig welding? I had a buzz box stick welder once, and got fairly good at it. I sold my torches and buzz box because they didn't mix well with sawdust. But now I have two separate spaces.

[@jesseperkins1349]

Hey Jodey great videos I'm a young structural welder trying to get to combo welder status and you'r videos help me alot just wanted to say thanks

[@freedom8gemini2]

I'm preparing myself for aerospace TIG welding. Ive been in shop and out in the field for 3+ years. From my understanding it will be on Inconel, Titanium, SS and Aluminum.. Ive previously worked with SS and Aluminum but its been a while any suggestions as far as amperage goes for these metals?

[@pawncze]

Gotta thank You for sharing all this stuff. .080/2mm 2%La became quickly my favourite. I was trying 1.3mm sheets of 3003 with 1.6mm 4043 filler (we don't have thinner at the shop). 250Hz and triangular wave felt nice. It was challenge for me with 200Hz and square wave (I tried to practice this because I'm not sure if I will be able to afford machine that can do several waveforms). Had to babysit it with pedal a lot, specially when I was trying to do a pass without chill plate but got away with it really nice. But thanks to You tips I finally had and idea of what is going on. So thank You a lot!

[@teriatric]

Fabulous set of videos, extremely instructive for a novice like me, great laid back presentation style and HUGE skill set!

[@jasonduncan4043]

Hi jodie I am from Aberdeen Scotland love your posts only thing that's a pain is I work in mm so am always having to conversions to imperial on the fly .but like I said informative to guys that have been at it for twenty years+ must help beginners no end. Keep it up. Goodbye from bonnie Scotland.

[@jcnpresser]

Thanks so much for the information, I’ll be watching these videos over and over again when I get a machine, just playing around with an old Miller mig machine we have at work, does a really good job in my option but I’m not a pro. I did teach the young guys how to weld with it hoping they’d quit bothering me to weld things for them, nuts onto broken bolts and studs etc., although I do enjoy it, just cuts into my pay.

[@charlescamilleri8562]

Thanks Jody, love your videos. I like to stick weld. But I am wanting to learn to tig or mig. What would you recomend ? Thx

[@C0Opd0g]

You're not a welder unless you touch something hot too often haha. it's like a rite of passage.

[@BigWill3855]

Glade to see you compare with the old Lincoln. I learned on a miller dynasty but own a miller econotig. Definitely a different animal. Any suggestions on setting amperage on that machine?

[@joshk6820]

I was wondering if you could do a video about welding thin aluminum on D.C. Positive for those of us with only D.C. Machines

[@Love2FlyKAP]

Jody, could you please do a TIG video on using 4943 filler wire and the difference between it and 4043 & 5356. Thank you. KAP

[@t-bone1890]

the cleaning action on the outside of the weld, if you wanted a pretty finished product. Is there anyway to take that off?

[@drewschlosser26]

I build radiators and Weld down the rubes to fix leaks and damage daily and on my dynasty 700 I run .040 and a #4 cup tri wave, freq400 but balance at 99. it makes super tight and tiny beads but more importantly keeps the arc stable as to not burn the fins.

[@Kevin_747]

Thanks for the video. I'm "stuck" with my old school syncrowave 351 that I bought in 1993. I want a new welder but can't justify the money when mine works fine. Guess I should get rid of welder envy. I'm starting on a set of fuel tanks for my Piper Cub replica. 5052 in .050.

[@DCweldingAndArt]

Nah, I would say, u got the tried and true welder there bud. And the amps to boot. I would use it until it dies! I only have power for inverters, I have three(miller, lincoln, everlast) and use miller syncrowave at work...if I have learned anything, it's that YOU/ME are the BIGGEST BELL AND WHISTLE OF ALL lol good prep, technique, and skill are what makes a machine lay down consistent beautiful dimes, not the machine itself. It helps with VERY specific applications(super thin/thick) but that's amperage range, not bells or whistles. Lol anyway I'm sure u know all this, just figured ide help drive it home. Inverter is good for throwing in back of truck, and using less amps from electrical circuit, but that's about it in my opinion

[@roymcbrayer8155]

Jody, First, I would like to thank you for posting such informative videos. I have watched them for a couple years and find them very interesting. I would like to ask you about the Everlast welders. I am considering whether I should sell the machine I currently have and get one of these. After watching this video I looked them up online and was surprised that they were so competitively priced. About 6 years ago, my wonderful wife bought me a Lincoln Precision TIG 185. I am still learning how to use it well, but I continue to wonder whether I actually got the best machine for my purposes. I am a heavy duty DIY type and want something that I can use in a wide variety of situations. I don't have a plasma torch yet so the Everlast combination machine looks pretty attractive for having this feature. I know you probably don't want to give specific product endorsements but any thoughts you could share about the selection of a good all around machine would be helpful. Thanks and thanks again for your fantastic videos. Roy

[@mrudis719]

Would you consider welding a small tab on a bracket if I shipped to you ? It’s cast aluminum.

[@Jeepmeat1974]

I'd really like to see the back of your welds on this video too !! I have some thin wall Tubing to weld up in T sections but I cant have any bubbling action going on at the inside of the tubes as I need them to slide ! so will these techniques work for lowering that penetration on the back side ? Cheers Brad

[@CorretorAlyssonGomes]

I love your scientific, experimental approach to welding. Can't wait to buy my own AC/DC TIG welder and get lost in the process of learning.

[@flobeeonekinobee2353]

I've been using an old cebora Tig star 200 square wave set with an air cooled torch, it has no frequency adjustment only amps and balance. My boss (not a welder) thinks I can do nice little beads on aluminum with this machine on 10mm thickness but l can't find a way the puddle is always wide.

[@terrablader]

thank you for your instruction. I am trying to weld .020 5052 aluminum. into panels for a cart body, i have Miller Syncrowave 200, TIG, with argon, my Tungston is .080. What AMP setting should be around? Can i get away with the electrode i have? thanks

[@Daravigos]

I felt you rpain when you burned your hand but I laughed for like 10 minutes! love your videos! learned everything I know from you

[@REVJHD]

Jody do you ever do anything with brazing or silver-solder? I find those two skills in the same wheelhouse as welding, and I could use some tips on getting my bronze to control right.

[@weldingtipsandtricks]

I lost my oxy setup in a shop move but am shopping for another. Maybe one day o will do some braze work

[@sky4eyes]

hello i am starting work as an aluminum welder i am doing mostly corner weld .i have a problem that i cant keep my welding straight and i can't from the nice round welding pool like yours it always like a c shape how can improve myself

[@crazydrummerman242]

At 4.04 I actually tried to flip down my lid 😂😂 I'm sat on the sofa watching videos lol

[@binksmas]

crazydrummerman242 same xD

[@MrStropparo]

That was some crazy licking technique.

[@ProfessorTuukar]

Ordered one of your stubby gas lens kits, can't wait to try that out on some thin metals! Thanks for being awesome!

[@m93sek]

are the material properties critical after you put so much heat in there?

[@classifiedracing]

Hi Thanks for all your tips on welding. I have been watching them for sometime now. I have a question about Tig Welding thin Aluminum .030 " Thick. Im building a Aluminum box and i cant put no backer behind it and it keeps blowing through. Is it me or in cant be done. My settings are. 30AMP . 250. HZ 30% Clean. Using 1 1/6" electrode. 1/6" filler wire 4043.Had the tig welder on Triangle wave. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks .

[@karllam2087]

Hei jody, forgive me if this is a silly question, was it a scratch start u used for the last piece? The one u used with the Lincoln machine. So scratch start works for aluminum as well? Apparently the teachers in my school arent as good and ur videos have been a lot of help. U r the best teacher ever

[@weldingtipsandtricks]

The last weld was not scratch start. I used a Lincoln Tig 175 with high freq start. Scratch would not work well at all on aluminum

[@karllam2087]

Thanks for ur info jody. Very informative. The teachers in my school dont even know how to do a scratch start properly. I tried a couple times myself. Sometimes it starts up the arc so easily but sometimes it just wont start at all even though i keep scratching the steel. Does it matter if i were using a foot pedal by any chance? I saw one of ur video before, flipping the rod to the tungsten. How do u form a circuit by that technique? Im kinda stuck now and no one can give or show me a proper way in school. Its a shame that after paying that much for the school here in australia, i still get the most info and skill by watching ur videos here haha

[@aussiewelder6130]

Your settings and Advice is spot on thanks again.

[@ArtistDavidU7ub3]

I like your presentation! Very clear, well spoken, fantastic video images, coming back for more!!! Thanks.

[@1puglife]

its harder to do on the palm of your hand but if you burn your fingers just grab your ear lobe and you can feel the heat leave your finger. no one ever believes me ffs!

[@cobnutts]

Beg my pard buts its pretty tits seeing pug here! Ffs

[@axialviper]

could you explain the difference between volts / amps & hertz? I mig & stick, trying to learn tig now.

[@HavokTheorem]

Voltage is defined as 'electric potential'. Imagine two vertical cylinders with a valve connecting them. One is full of water, and the other is empty. When the valve is opened, the water rushes to fill the empty cylinder. In this case the 'water' is an analogue for electrons, and the valve is an electrical switch. A value in volts will tell you how much of a difference there is between how charged two objects are, but it doesnt necessarily correspond to current. Think about getting a static shock - there is a very large voltage, hence when you touch something grounded, the electrons jumping onto or off of you create a 'pop' noise and a small arc. But once you are at the same voltage as ground, there are no more electrons moving therefore no current. In welding, the voltage is what creates a 'desire' for the current to arc and connect to ground, and therefore a higher voltage should correspond with easier arc start. Amps are a measure of electrical current. Amps tell you how many electrons are passing through a certain point in a second. On a constant current (stick or TIG) welder, this essentially corresponds with how much power your arc consumes and therefore how hot the weld area becomes. Hertz are simply a measure of frequency. 1Hz = 1 cycle per second. A higher AC frequency when welding aluminium means the weld is switching between + and - faster, therefore the characteristics of each polarity are reduced (less electrode balling, less 'pulsed' cleaning action). Whenever you see Hz, you know you are dealing with something like pulse, oscillation, etc, that happens periodically.

[@rosenkancev6892]

Frank Reading thx for that you share with us

[@brapppforum]

I would love to see a video on SS exhaust tubing. Love your videos!

[@stevefriedlander7053]

If you're working with scrap aluminum or stainless how can you determine what type it is?

[@danielbeaird6264]

Any tips for mig welding 16 ga aluminized sheet metal, I have no problem with it but bead appearance is like 6010 stick rod, we use 75/25 gas and I'm not too sure about wire but I think it's .035, pulse or short circuit is not available due to production rates, wondering if there was a gas or wire we could use to improve weld quality for better bead appearance

[@turbotrana]

These comparison setting/welder videos are great.

[@bjPops]

Nice video! Bonus for mentioning the 1 mm; not all KZbin tig welding stars are able to work out the metrics!

[@MoSkAu626]

How did you keep the repaired pieces from warping? You put alot of heat on it

[@mattywho8485]

You sir piss me off! those welds are beautiful! hopefully some day I'll be able to weld aluminum that well. Great tutorial.

[@arsosaytov3629]

Great video again ! :) I just have one question what kind of electrode do you use? Do you use the green pure ones or something different?

[@weldingtipsandtricks]

2% lanthanated for everything

[@jfpinkston1]

Good video as always. Why did you choose triangle wave form?

[@weldingtipsandtricks]

jfpinkston just for kicks mainly. Also The owners manuals state triangle wave works good for thin aluminum.

[@jfpinkston1]

I never knew what the different wave forms were used for. The end result turned out nice!

[@R.KaandorpProductions]

Hello all, and first of all, great video thanks fo the share, And Second, Nice to see that it works with 60hz on thin aluminum also, because all the 'Tig Thin Aluminum video's' i've watched, were all on very high Hertz. I've just bought my Tig inverter 220p (60Hz) and when welding 1mm steel and stainless there is no problem, both weld great on very low amperage and that's exactly why i needed this AC inverter but than to weld thin aluminum.. HOWEVER... i'm unable to get a pudle,, eather i dont get it or turn Amperage up and i blow thru the material. (Using 2% ceriated Tungsten, they were the only one's availible where i ordered the TIG inverter. I've ordered blue red and purple thungsten now also. When i get an 10mm piece of aluminum and turn the amperage up, no problem, great pudle, great welds, but thats not why i bought the Tig to begin with.. im looking forward to, and appreciate everyone's input here. Thanks in advange!.

[@ethanschulz2067]

Can someone explain to me when you would use each ac wave form you I understand what the difference is in the ac but how does that effect the weld.

[@williamvaughn9870]

Hello, I'm looking to buy a everlast tig welder and would like your opinion on the 200DV and 250EX. I'v been welding for a few years with the miller syncrowave 180 SD sold it and looking for a smaller in size welder..Thank You

[@bigblue1402]

In the UK nothing is still hot. It's heavy because if you try and pick it up ...you soon put it down 🤣 Well done on holding your words

[@enraied12]

please sir , I have a question , I wish to buy Tig machine to Aluminum Welding , I wish to who the minimum specifications ( how many Amp. ac or dc ,.....etc) please help of course I want it minimum to be cheep cost , thanks for your responding .

[@mightiflier5813]

TIG Alley? What a great name! Any relatives fly fighters in the Korean War, specifically F-86 Sabres that put POW on Mig15s in North Korea's Mig Alley? Thumbs up on the content of this video, too!!

[@artthurman3446]

Mightiflier..I had two Uncles who both flew sabres there! Never thought I would see that question...sheesh, I am 61!

[@pedrotorres8901]

+Welding tips and tricks. my my mig and tig and stick,on carbon,stainless and galvanized are beautiful.yet I have problems getting it started on aluminum .can you guy please let me know what I'm doing wrong!!!

[@kx85isweet]

could you weld thinner material like an aluminum boat?

[@maxipaul918]

Amigo gracias por los videos son excelentes ! mandate uno en español !!!!

[@MudMotorsMax]

Can I weld thin aluminum with the mig method.

[@turbopiloto]

Hello! What Gas do you use? Argomix?

[@RC-Heli835]

Wow the more basic Lincoln Machine did really well also!😃

[@carlosandino7144]

Tanks for this videos they will help me allot on my tig welding tecnics,u are a good instructor tank you very mouch..

[@WALLACE7084]

Hi im new to tig welding and alloy welding is my reason for it. can you tell me what i may be doing wrong, im trying to weld some 1mm thick alloy but instead of forming a puddle it just seems to melt the alloy away before it even forms a puddle, im on a frequenceof about 60 but tried up to 200 and still the same and amps up and down from about 40 up to about 120 and still just dose the same thing, also when i try to add a bit of rod it seems to ball up and don't seem to want to add to any bit of a puddle when i do get it to puddle a bit.the tips im using are red tip, my welder is a new Sherman DIGITIG 200GD 200A AC/DC MMA IGBT Inverter Pulse Welder. please help im stressing out.

[@R.KaandorpProductions]

WAUW, i have the same problem, just changed the option 'best response to newest response and now i see yours.

[@WALLACE7084]

Unfortunately he don't give any feedback.

[@R.KaandorpProductions]

@@WALLACE7084 No thats to bad, but i made up my mind en send this one back today, it is good value for the money but not what I'm looking for. I need to weld thin aluminum.

[@pLoWerification]

Hey jody can u make a 2g test video for plate with 6010 root.

[@chadderalleh8107]

is that a dynasty 400?

[@adco]

Ouch, I’m the same way🤙🏻. Feels better when it quits hurting

[@toddj7694]

how would you keep the frosting on the sides of the weld down to a minimum just to get a cleaner looking weld ?

[@toddj7694]

i have a everlast 250 ex and it has the ac balance control on it.just wanted to know how i could get that frosting effect narrowed down as much as possible.

[@sickvic3909]

Should show last weld results my man.

[@weldingtipsandtricks]

Vic Prk yep, somehow it got late and I left that out.

[@maxipaul918]

tendrias que salir en el discovery chanel una especie de chip foose de la soldadura !

[@terapode]

This videos are so entertaining.

[@ColossalCrib]

I got some 10mm cast aluminium to weld to 1mm 4" tube...should be fun.

[@justynalenc6055]

What camera do you use to film welding?

[@thedondy]

I use 0.8 alloy mig wire for when I'm weldin light stuff Seems to work well 👍

[@blackout7615]

I watched this video the day after I burned myself. Had just finished welding a cracked aluminum grain scoop shovel. Went to lift my welding hood and still had filler rod in my hand which I jabbed into my neck right at the shirt collar line. I'd rather burn myself there than my hand.

[@chfar072281]

Best instruction I have seen.

[@AdrianHiggins83]

Just the type of videos I wanted to see, thanks .

[@moskovskoe_vremya]

I want will share an effective folk remedy from burns from Russia: the sinks of river mollusks collected on the bank of a reservoir need to be calcinated at high temperature. After cooling to crush in powder. To use this powder as powder right after receiving a burn.

[@diecaster1018]

Hello, I have a miller mig welder, could I weld aluminum to steel?

[@CharleyWard28]

DIECASTER Need a red machine for that...

[@statingthe_obvious6309]

DIECASTER use superglue, sellotape and string.

[@GirthedOut]

Melt a bunch of aluminum in a pot until it's liquid, insert steel, remove the steel (now with an aluminum coating), weld to another piece of aluminum. Works every time! 100% xray. Trust me Lol

[@CharleyWard28]

No really, look at Fronius CMT... Caveat though is it has to be galvanized steel

[@freekvonk7536]

Good to know a Professional welder burns himself too, haha.

[@geraldbuys9853]

Thanks very much for the informative video.

[@1320wolf]

Late to the party. Love the videos. White vinegar for burn relief, believe it or not.

[@dusanmarkelic2812]

Jody,its real pleasure to watch every your video,gj and thx..

[@yellowrice1453]

When you got burned i felt the pain but Im sorry but what you did after made me lmao. I understood the reason of why you did it. Just wasn’t expecting it.

[@michaelmcclure8673]

Great video as usual Jody.

[@botoepfer8588]

in the hands of the Master !

[@billdlv]

Did you have a backer on that last weld @ 60 hz ?

[@weldingtipsandtricks]

No backer on the last one

[@billdlv]

That's impressive on such thin material. I learned on an old Linde machine that had no AC adjustments at all (like the Lincoln). I think you're right you just learn to adjust.

[@adam1107x]

Thank you for sharing videos! Teaching is very good!

[@s.n.8128]

Hertz and waveform, what is this.. music?

[@MikeLeady]

OUTCH!!!1:11 Been there bud.

[@JustforFun-cb7bo]

Great tips thank you a lot!

[@Axeltreman]

What? no comparison shot?

[@Rat454]

Thx, really like the ally tig vids. Cheers

[@kaine136]

That was pretty close to a Rick Flair WOO!

[@paulkurilecz4209]

tyvm, very helpful

[@rileyhodge7657]

should show down hill tig welding thin medal

[@sherrythomas2070]

Good info.