Tig Beginner : setting up Powertig 200dx-d for aluminum Tig

[Blaster]

enough post that the tungsten is no longer red before it stops. About 10 seconds per hundred amps is a good starting point.

Argon costs were Killing me at high amperage and here's what I started to do (not sure if this is a good idea, tell me what you think, I respect your opinion...)

I cut flow back to about 8secs and once finishing a weld I would wait about 1/2 that and touch the tungsten (it was still "reddish" but not bright) to the parent metal, a couple of inches way from the weld site. It never felt doughy or stuck in and way but it did make a dramatic difference in cooling, you can just watch the electrode go immediately "dark". I started doing this when using a long Pyrex cup, in corners, with so much more stick-out at 250A on 6061.

It works, I'm sure it saved me a Ton of Argon, and I don't think I see the effects of contamination, but I'm not sure I should be doing it!

[Rambozo]

Argon costs were Killing me at high amperage and here's what I started to do (not sure if this is a good idea, tell me what you think, I respect your opinion...)

I cut flow back to about 8secs and once finishing a weld I would wait about 1/2 that and touch the tungsten (it was still "reddish" but not bright) to the parent metal, a couple of inches way from the weld site. It never felt doughy or stuck in and way but it did make a dramatic difference in cooling, you can just watch the electrode go immediately "dark". I started doing this when using a long Pyrex cup, in corners, with so much more stick-out at 250A on 6061.

It works, I'm sure it saved me a Ton of Argon, and I don't think I see the effects of contamination, but I'm not sure I should be doing it!

It's probably not ideal, but it's not like you are doing X-ray welding in a nuclear plant, either. As long as your next start doesn't show any characteristics of contamination, such as a colored tint to the light, you should be OK. Unless you are doing nothing but tacks, I can't see how the extra seconds will save you that much gas. Plan your welds and get your setups better and you will see major reductions in both time and argon use. Also get the largest bottle you can handle for the lowest gas cost. I saw your homemade gas saver setup. That is much like a few commercial products. If you want, read up on "choked flow" to understand why most systems use a restriction with a single stage regulator. There are a few slightly different requirements between MIG and TIG, so some things only apply to one or the other. Most MIGs don't have preflow so they benefit from a small extra blast at the start to purge.

[Blaster]

My welds are only about an inch long ea. If I waited to see a cool tungsten I would have to triple the post when I have the 1/8" electrode 2" long at 250A. My recent project, building Aluminum Fireworks Pods, I've gone through 6 - 300ltr tanks! In retrospect, I should have Migged them, the Argon savings would have almost paid for the spool gun...

I don't think it was Me with the "homemade gas saver", but I Do use a Gas Lens system.

[Rambozo]

I don't think it was Me with the "homemade gas saver", but I Do use a Gas Lens system.

Sorry, that was Richard. Are you using a water cooled torch? They really pull the heat out of the tungsten, fast. For 1" long welds, if you can't group a bunch of them together to weld in one go, it will be hard on the gas. You just need to factor that in when you bid the job. MIG will almost always beat TIG for speed and cost. If you can use it, you should.

[Blaster]

Oh this is Water Cooled, and as I said, only became an issue since I was using the Long Cup with its Long Electrode exposed.

The welds are spaced pretty far apart, I can "rush" from one site to another but, it's not all that a comfortable thing to do. I also like giving the Duty Cycle (30% on my PP256) a chance...

So, I'm not so much a Weldor doing a Fireworks Job, as a Fireworks Guy who's Welding Since my State has recently approved these Finale Pods (2.5-6") to be constructed of Alum instead of Wood, this has been my Winter Project. It's all for Me - just didn't anticipate almost $500 in Gas

I don't own a Spool Gun but, maybe would have had I known. At least I'm sure of all my welds by Tigging (I've seen too many Mig welds that can casually "look" better than they actually Are)