TIG welding an Aluminum 3f lap joint with a TIG Finger® XL

Real life situations for a
TIG Finger® XL

more videos on tig welding aluminum

Details for TIG Welding 3f Aluminum Lap Joint

Base Material Type/Thickness - 6061 t6 Aluminum flat bar .125" (3.2mm)

Prep Method - Acetone wipe followed by stainless wire brush followed by acetone wipe

Filler Metal Type/Size - 4943  3/32" (2.4mm). this is not a typo. 4943 is a hobart filler wire similar to 4043 in the way it flows but properties are better

Tungsten size and prep - 3/32" 2% lanthanated with blunt taper and rounded on tip

Gas Type and Flow Rate - argon 18 cfh

Cup size #8 furick pro clear cup ( normally, I would use a #6 gas lens but the #8 clear cup really helps when filming the arc.

Current/Polarity. AC with AC balance set to 67% EN at 100 hz

Length of Arc - as close as possible without contaminating the electrode

Angle of Travel - torch leaned back 10-20 deg

Manipulation/Technique - move torch ahead to flow puddle down deep into root of joint, pause, lengthen arc, add filler, move ahead with tight arc , repeat

Speed of Travel 5-7 inches per minute

One of the challenges in Tig welding aluminum is to hold a steady arc length so that you avoid duffing the tungsten.

If the arc length is too tight, you will be sputtering the tungsten electrode and having to stop to re sharpen.  And when you get aluminum on the tungsten, it really craps up the weld with soot so you just have to stop welding to change electrodes.

That wastes time and really takes the fun out of welding.

if the arc is too long, then it will be difficult to flow the molten puddle into the root of the joint... making it very easy to have lack of fusion in the root.

There are many situations where there seems to be nothing to prop on to steady your hand.

Back around 2010 I came up with the TIG Finger® and then later I made the TIG Finger® XL version for situations where extra heat protection is needed.

This 2 foot long lap joint is just one of many tig jobs where having a prop in your pocket lets you get the job done quickly without burning your fingers.

Other jobs where a TIG finger helps

• sanitary stainless steel tubing in breweries and food service
• coped tube joints in roll cages and chassis work
• pipe welds where walking the cup is not possible or practical
  
• 4130 chromoly tubing for aircraft fuselages
• injection mold repair where a preheat is required.
• aluminum castings like transmission housings
• stainless steel boat props
• marine tubing for tuna towers
• handrails
• boiler tubing
  
• small bore stainless pipe....
• any tig welding job that poses problems on where and how to prop and steady your hand.
• 6g pipe tests
  

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 "
John

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~Thanks

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had my TIG fingers delivered a couple o’ weeks ago, and really, they are great. Last week I had to weld a tricky steel frame with a couple of really nasty spots, and those fingers saved my behind. Without them and with only my gloves I would have had to pause every 30 seconds or so in the tight spots, with them I just went through the job like a hot knife through butter. Thanks a lot and keep welding.
Greetings from Berlin, Germany
 ...Rudi
 "

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 "Thanks ,
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