http://youtu.be/UNAAhwieNhU This guy makes really good videos. If you get some time check it out.

DO NOT USE ANYTHING CHLORINATED TO CLEAN WITH!!!!!!
Everyone who welds any thing should read this article. http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm


This tubing you are welding is ceramic powder coated(Jet Hot) mild steel? Correct?
You said you couldn't get the aluminum to puddle. Aluminum is welded on a/c high frequency. Mild steel is welded on electrode negative d/c. That may be part of your problem. What wire, size wire, tungsten type, tungsten size, and amperage are you running?

so far i have tried to tig alum and ss steel. what tungsten do i use for mild steel and what rod. 90% of my welding is mild steel, im building a pro street 48 anglia right now, and will be starting on my pro touring 67 camaro in a couple of months when i import it.... thx, rm

what angle do i want the torch to be in relationship to the work piece?

I use 2% thoriated 3/32" tungsten. Figure 45* angle on the torch. Position and the situation will vary your torch angle sometimes. Stainless is tricky to weld, especially if you are learning. Er70s-2 wire for mild steel.

Using muriatic acid to remove coatings from the surface and within the pores of steel, does not have the same "after" effect as using that wonderful EPA approved brake cleaner that sell at Advance / Pep / etc.to wash parts with. It's good you posted that warning. It's been common knowledge few a few years now .. And I don't care how many cans you spray at a coated header tube or a grade eight bolt .. the coating just ain't comin off .. ;-)

The settings, tungsten and filler rod mentioned are spot on. for buut welded header tubes such as these .049 (18 ga) stainless 304 tubes I will move down to a 1/16 tungsten and use a .035 , 308 rod with either solarflux B or purged with stargon ...




On this swimstep for my cat , I used a 1/8 th tungsten and 3/32 , 5356 filler rod ...

what tungsten should i use for mild steel, and what should i use for stainless? thx

The same, 2% thoriated, like Tubecarz said, you may need to vary your diameter of tungsten for what your are welding. The settings that I gave you will get you headed in the right direction.

Just cause im curious, what kind of machine do you have?

miller econotig, cc/ac/dc power supply