Fun with copper

[youngnstudly]

I've tried welding copper scraps in the past, and I tried again several months back when I first got my Everlast tig, but it has always been hit or miss for me. The really clean copper flat bar welded great with romex wire, but I have also had trouble welding (what I thought was clean copper) with romex.

My little 160STH was pretty much maxed out on a few of the beads that didn't weld so good, but I was able to back off on the heat with the clean copper and gain control of the puddle. I prepped my copper like I normally prep aluminum (a quick wipe with acetone, followed up with a clean rag). I thought that was enough, but maybe not?

[breakneckmot]

That's neat and really simple! What setting do you use to weld copper? (DCEN, DECP or AC?)

[youngnstudly]

Straight polarity (DCEN). It will take a good amount of heat (amps) to get your bead started, but once you do, it won't take near as much to keep the puddle liquified. As with welding aluminum, cleanliness is the key. Obviously you'll need smaller diameter filler rod and a thinner piece of copper if your welder is of limited capacity like my 160STH is.