First time touching a TIG torch!

[Agtronic]

Hi guys!

A few years ago, I started getting really interested in performance cars. The more I got into it, the more I started getting obsessed with the fabrication processes. I thought "how can anyone create an intake manifold from scratch" etc ...

Then my obsession turned to welding. Seeing guys make their own aluminum intercoolers and roll cages etc ... I thought these guys were GODS.

When I discovered this site, I looked at the projects some of you were working on. I must say, it is even MORE impressive the things you guys think up. The ingenuity is astounding.

In January 2004, I started a 1800-hour full-time welding course. I just started TIG welding this Monday. So far, I'm feeling pretty good. First day was really frustrating, but the second went better. Third day was a lot better and tomorrow we'll see. :) The TIG weld in the posted pics was done on my first day touching a TIG torch. I was pretty happy, even though it is pathetic by professional standards. I just want to show my beginnings, and eventually my improvements. =)

Here's my post from the VWVortex : ( http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1460526 )


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As some may remember, I'm attending a 1800-hour welding course. We started the 12th module yesterday (GTAW / MILD STEEL).

This was my first time touching a TIG torch in my life. At first it was really strange, and I got very discouraged, but after a few hours I got the hang of it. I have 90 hours of TIG / MILD STEEL, then 90 hours TIG / STAINLESS, then I think 105 hours TIG / ALUMINUM. We do a lot of welding.

So, at the end of the day I took two plates of 1/16" stainless, and fusion-welded them together. I was not supposed to be doing any stainless, but I was really tired of doing the excersises. Stainless seems to weld a lot smoother than mild ...

Anyways, don't laugh at these pics, 'cause I know it's BUTT UGLY, but I was pretty proud to have been able to do this with only 5 hours of TIG experience under my belt. =) I took pics so that I can see the progress over time. I'll post some pics in here from time to time.

Machine is a Miller Syncrowave 250 DX ...

http://www.agtronic.com/project/welding/gtaw_2004_06_23_4.jpg

http://www.agtronic.com/project/welding/gtaw_2004_06_23_1.jpg

http://www.agtronic.com/project/welding/gtaw_2004_06_23_2.jpg

http://www.agtronic.com/project/welding/gtaw_2004_06_23_3.jpg

And as a bonus, two pics of my SMAW welds, (stick welding). I can now do a lot better / smoother than this, but this is the only piece I had at home.

http://www.agtronic.com/project/welding/smaw_2004_05_27_2.jpg

http://www.agtronic.com/project/welding/smaw_2004_05_27_1.jpg

[TheDjost]

Not bad.... I hope to be able to match up to what you can do.

What school are you going to? I just signed up for the same 1800 hour welding/fabrication course and I suspect that we will be going to the same school as there are not many schools that have this program around Montreal. I'll be attending the evening class, and will be starting this September.

-Justin

[SND]

Could you tell me a little more about that 1800 hour course? what does it include? Is it full time welding and welding theory?

[TheDjost]

I hope you can read french. This is the link to the school site. They have 3 programs: welding, high pressure welding, and sheet metal work (tinman).

Yes the program is all welding. There is a lot of theory and a s#i+load of actual welding on actual projects that are sold to clients to help finance the school.

http://www.cslaval.qc.ca/Metallurgie/prog-soud-mont.html

-Justin

[Agtronic]

That's the exact course I'm taking. Soudage-Montage. There is more to it than just welding, plan-reading is also a very large part of it. We learn to interpret complex technical drawings. I like the theory, it gives you a much better understanding of what goes on. The metallurgy module was amazing! So much more to metals than I ever imagined.

I'm not doing it in Laval though, I'm doing it at "L'école des métiers de la construction de Montréal".

I was really impressed with the facilities here. Everything is in order, everything is functional, maintained and clean. I've seen so many places that were complete horror shows. This place has tons of equipment and great machines to work with.

I plan on taking some pics of the shop soon. I'll be sure to post them here.

http://www.csdm.qc.ca/EMCM/soudage.htm

[SND]

Merci bien pour les sites. J'étais a montreal il-y-a 3 semaines, ca faisais vraiment longtemps que j'avais été la.

That looks like a very good course. It's great that they offer it as avening classes also.
I just started a 600 hour certified welding course myself. Welding has to be once of the most fun things to learn, although slightly frustrating at times.

Il y a beaucoup d'emplois présentement dans la soudure.

Bonne chance.

[jtenright]

beads look good
I'm taking a class at a CC near me and plan on taking the adveanced MIG and TIG class next summer

I'm on VWvortex also,
what do U drive??? I have a 84 4000s Quattro

[Agtronic]

Originally posted by jtenright
beads look good
I'm taking a class at a CC near me and plan on taking the adveanced MIG and TIG class next summer

I'm on VWvortex also,
what do U drive??? I have a 84 4000s Quattro

Thanks for the compliments. I'm doing a lot better now that I have a week under my belt. Can't wait to see what next week will bring. :)

I drive a 1996 Jetta, it's my daily driver, and all-out project car. Here's a link to specs and pics. I did absolutely everything on this car, I'm very proud of that. It will now light up the tires in 3rd gear without popping the clutch. :D

My turbo system was the real reason I started to try and weld. :)

http://www.honda-tech.com/garage?cmd=viewcar&id=1711

[asad]

Originally posted by Agtronic
[B]
My turbo system was the real reason I started to try and weld. :)


Heh...me too...on a Nissan 240sx.

Asad

[Agtronic]

New pics. All these were done today. I know it's still not pro, but I'm feeling A LOT better about it than I was when I started! It's been a long time since I've felt this kind of motivation / drive ...

http://www.agtronic.com/project/welding/gtaw_2004_06_30_1.jpg

http://www.agtronic.com/project/welding/gtaw_2004_06_30_2.jpg

http://www.agtronic.com/project/welding/gtaw_2004_06_30_3.jpg

http://www.agtronic.com/project/welding/gtaw_2004_06_30_4.jpg

http://www.agtronic.com/project/welding/gtaw_2004_06_30_5.jpg

[Agtronic]

I brought some stainless pipes to school to experiment. I fusion-welded a few sections to see how it would go. It's really satisfying for some reason. I had imagined in my head for a long time what it would be like to weld pipes by fusion, and I don't know how, but it's EXACTLY what I imagined it to be. It's almost like I practiced in my head before ever even trying TIG. I think I may be obsessed.


Anyways, the welds are nothing crazy I admit, but I'm still proud. This was my first time welding pipes together, and I have 50 hours of TIG experience.

I am really itching to buy a machine now.

http://www.agtronic.com/project/welding/gtaw_2004_07_03_1.jpg

http://www.agtronic.com/project/welding/gtaw_2004_07_03_2.jpg

http://www.agtronic.com/project/welding/gtaw_2004_07_03_3.jpg

http://www.agtronic.com/project/welding/gtaw_2004_07_03_4.jpg

Here's me butt-welding two pieces of 1/16" 304. The box is a ghetto rig to purge the bottom side of the plates. In the pic I forgot to connect the argon line ... :banghead: =)

http://www.agtronic.com/soudage/ag_me_tig_01.jpg

http://www.agtronic.com/soudage/ag_me_tig_03.jpg

[fatfrank]

Nice flames on your helmet. Did you cut those out of duct tape?

[Junk]

The enthusiasm you show is awesome. It's great to see folks get so excited by this. Don't have any real tips for you as it seems as though you are doing quite well. Keep it up and enjoy it.:cool:

[Agtronic]

Little update for you guys!

I finished the TIG / Steel module on Friday. My welding has gotten much better, but still nowhere near professional. I think it'll take a few years to get really good at it.

These pics are all done on 1/8" mild steel, using a 3/32" 2% thoriated tungsten, and I THINK it was 1/8" rod. Not entirely sure.

http://www.agtronic.com/project/welding/gtaw_2004_09_09_1.jpg

http://www.agtronic.com/project/welding/gtaw_2004_09_09_2.jpg

http://www.agtronic.com/project/welding/gtaw_2004_09_09_3.jpg

http://www.agtronic.com/project/welding/gtaw_2004_09_09_4.jpg

http://www.agtronic.com/project/welding/gtaw_2004_09_09_5.jpg

http://www.agtronic.com/project/welding/gtaw_2004_09_09_6.jpg


I started Aluminum on Monday. Oh my god. I thought I'd love it, but I absolutely ****ing hate it. I can't believe how sloppy that ish is. I hate the fact that the weld puddle is huge. It feels like welding slices of butter to each other. I can't stand it. I'm really really bad at it. I got very discouraged and even lost my temper a few times, broke a ceramic cup when I slammed the torch down in a fit of rage. And when I get into this rage mode, I just can't learn, so I left after 2 hours. Today, same thing happened, and I had to leave before I hurt someone. Sucks big time. I hope tomorrow will be a better day and that I can stay calm to finally take my time and try to fix what I'm doing wrong. What I have the most trouble with is feeding the **** filler rod. I have to stop welding every 5 drops 'cause my hand gets too close, and I can't back the rod out like we're supposed to. And if I hold the rod further up, I am too wobbly and the filler hits next to the puddle or somewhere else, and the rhythm is interrupted.

I really hate being like this, having such a short fuse is really a big problem when trying to learn something like this. I would like to be able to just keep trying and trying until I get it, instead of completely losing it after a few bad passes. :banghead:

Anyways. I'll post an update when I have more news.

oh, and yes, those flames are duct tape. :D I have a temper problem, and I threw my helmet down once when I got angry, and the swinging window on the front broke off. I taped it back on and decided to do a little flame job while I was at it. :)

[Cleaver]

Wow...those are nice beads! (I think)...I hope that I will be able to do something like that...as I will be starting tigging by myself...cuz I cant afford a class right now! hehe..

keep it up...

[Mike W]

Nice work, thanks for the pics. :D

[cassidy]

Agtronic, you are definitely the man. :cool:

Now. if only I could weld like that.