TIG welding in the home workshop - Boiler welding - Part 2

TIG uses a non-consumable electrode to create an arc between the base metal and the electrode surrounded by a shielding gas. As the base metal melts a weld pool is generated and a filler rod adds additional material to the pool while the welder moves along the weld.
TIG is a clean welding process, but it is slow when compared to all the other processes. It can do fusion welding and is capable of welding a wide range of materials.
The amperage is limited by the polarity of the weld and the electrode size. Preparation of the tungsten electrode is important. The end needs to be ground to a point (see images in video). Brand new electrodes will always need to be prepared in this way. When welding on aluminium the tungsten will begin to form a ball; this is perfectly normal. When welding steel the electrode will stay pointed.
The point should be around 3X electrode diameter, with the flat on the end ¼ to ½ of the electrode diameter. Electrodes below 1.6mm don’t need a flat on the end, and for very fine welding the tip should be sharp and polished with fine sandpaper.
Some of the more complex welders have a number of settings. These are discussed in the video.

[@ebrahiemmurphy6506]

Thanks for the video, I'm new to tig welding, I got it last year March and am getting a bit better with it, came across your channel recently, man I wish we had teachers like you when I was at school. because you keep it simple. Great video thanks for sharing.👌

[@Lukers_tinkering]

Lovely comment, thanks really appreciate it!

[@djfn98]

Great series mate! I'm standing, as a beginner to boilermaking, exactly at the point on how to do it and what I should keep in mind. Keep up the great work! Thank you very much!

[@Lukers_tinkering]

Thanks, the feedback is much appreciated! Check with the club boiler inspector before doing your boiler and discuss with him how you want to do it, these videos should help with that...

[@user-bi4wl2pn5n]

Hello I have some questions about qualifications needed to make model locomotive boilers, but I do not want to reveal too much in public chat, is there any way I could contact you?

[@Lukers_tinkering]

The qualifications are always specified in the regional hobby boiler code. To the best of my knowledge no codes require specific qualifications for a hobby other than the Australian code, but even this code allows the hobbyist to weld his own boiler under supervision. Welder qualification in industry expires relatively quickly and welders need job specific pre-qualification with any critical welds anyway so its a moot point really. I wrote a full article on this topic in Model Engineer which has all the information you would need (Model Engineering;228:4686 & 4688).