practice pieces-Pulsed Tig

Hi, new to the site, well been a member for while but haven't posted till now. Just wanted to show you guys some of my practice peices on pulsed tig AC/DC of aluminum and SS on my powermaster 256. Never really did any pulse welding until I bought this machine because my work felt that it wasn't neccessary. Not bad for only 5 years experience. Will have more pictures later this week on actual jobs I need to do on aluminum.

All aluminum welds were done with a 2% 3/32 ceriated tungsten sharpended to a blunt point and was 1/8" 4000 series AL. The ceriated works best on this machine for all AC/DC welding based on all the tungstens I have tested (2% thoriated, 1.5% lanthanated, pure, and zirconium). Plan to eventually put a water cooler on this machine to use either a wp20 or my wp24w torch.

Welcome to the forum. Nice looking welds. What type of projects are you in to?
Wayne

my biggest hobby is bulding parts for sport ATVs, but looking into the supermoto also. expample: exhausts (TI and SS), control arms, custom gas tanks, modified swingarms, etc. If you want I can post more pictures of parts I have made in the past with my old syncrowave 250

Sure, we love pictures!
Wayne

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Originally Posted by cdale2002

Hi, new to the site, well been a member for while but haven't posted till now. Just wanted to show you guys some of my practice peices on pulsed tig AC/DC of aluminum and SS on my powermaster 256. Never really did any pulse welding until I bought this machine because my work felt that it wasn't neccessary. Not bad for only 5 years experience. Will have more pictures later this week on actual jobs I need to do on aluminum.

All aluminum welds were done with a 2% 3/32 ceriated tungsten sharpended to a blunt point and was 1/8" 4000 series AL. The ceriated works best on this machine for all AC/DC welding based on all the tungstens I have tested (2% thoriated, 1.5% lanthanated, pure, and zirconium). Plan to eventually put a water cooler on this machine to use either a wp20 or my wp24w torch.

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I have used thoriated with good results as well...not to say ceriated isn't a premium solution, but, that thoriated is a more than adequate starting point for aluminum as well, but a lot depends upon your settings. The factory torch looks like it does a pretty good job to me, but I do know what you mean. The trafimet is not everyone's choice. But if some were to buy a miller, many end up changing their torch as well.

cdale2002,

Nice welds. Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting.

Will pick up some ceriated 3/32" next time I do the 200lbs bottle lift.. Normally use 2% thoriated but always open to try something new.

the stock torch does do fine but for the amount of aluminum I may end up doing, a watercooled torch is a must have. Just did a small job on some aluminum as you see in the pic (this wasn't welded on my PM256 but the millers we have at work), but the one I did on my PM256 its 2 inches shorter and looked just as nice. The torch was so hot after doing the big center plate on one side that you almost couldn't touch the torch and had to let it cool down

We have a water cooled torch available and a water cooler. Call Alex and he will give you a deal.

I thought the 256 comes with a water cooled torch ?
Gary

My 256 did come with a water cooled torch.

In January it was a option (when this thread started), now they come with water cooled torches.