Preparing electrod for aluminum

[mbourton]

I am having problems getting the electrod to form a ball, as suggested, for Tig welding, I am using a Hobart Tigmate, with 3/32 pure tungsten, any tips on how to prepare the electrod for aluminum?

[Roger]

Don't worry about forming a ball it just happens as you TIG with AC or electrode +. The higher the AC amps and + balance the faster ball will form because of heat in electrode.

[CPB]

I've been taught to use 2 % thoria while on ac without a balled tip and it seems to make some nice visual welds on aluminum. I've always just pretty much accepted that it was because of the advanced technology of the Dynasty 300DX that have been very fortunate to use for the past few months. Maybe someone can tell me if this is true or not and/or if I would be beter off to just go ahead and switch to pure or zirconiated electrodes and ball my tip.
CPB

[chub380]

tungsten prep

You can just let it go and it will form, or you can hit it with a burst of electrode positive[push pedel down all the way and let up as soon as the ball forms] You will get the hang of it,It happens almost instantly. This is how I did it with my econotig which is the same unit as yours.Answer for the Dynasty user,You should keep using pointed tungstens ceriated or langthinated,no pure,no rounded tips for the Dynasty Chub380

[Guest]

Re: Preparing electrod for aluminum

Originally posted by mbourton
I am having problems getting the electrod to form a ball, as suggested, for Tig welding, I am using a Hobart Tigmate, with 3/32 pure tungsten, any tips on how to prepare the electrod for aluminum?

To make it form a ball....just strike an arc for a few seconds on reverse polarity, and form the size ball you need.

[vwparts]

I have the same machine. To ball the tungsten on my tigmate, I switch to DC+ and make an arc with a clean scrap. Increase the amps untill the ball forms to the size you want. It happens pretty fast on DC+. Afterwards, make sure you switch back to AC for welding Aluminum.