Thanks for this video. Not only have you shown that it CAN be done but also WHEN and WHERE and WHY. Just one more reason why you are THE FIRST CHOICE SOURCE for welding videos.

This one of two videos that demonstrate DC welding Aluminum. You go into deeper detail on how/why it works. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Lol is that a gas lens in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me....... 😄

Thanks for the vid....I learned about Helium/DC tig welding some years ago when a guy who used to work for Lockheed showed me how...Like your channel...

It's quite amazing how you are able to hold such a short arc without touching the base material.

From helping me teach myself to tig weld 5 years ago, to helping me current day at work welding some 2" pure nickel to 3 inch sch 40 you've been a huge help Jody. I really appreciate the videos you put out 💪

I've started aluminium TIG welding with AC machine a week ago and found that like I've never welding before. I've watching many videos in YT since week and still nothing useful found except some tips and tricks for beginners. So almost every vid in the YT are made in perfect condition and perfect position. Real life isn't that! :D So, I made a desk from thin wall tube and beginning the welding frustrated me a lot, for a reason. Due I've never welding before. Okay, just kidding. Due I welding thin wall tube it get's good result and I'm satisfied. Now I have a project where I have to weld a thick wall frame, 5 to 10 mm thick, then I'm back in the beginning of this week - nothing came out. I've spent a lot of time in YT and today I found, a KZreadr said that preheat is necessary. Does it have any description too that how many degrees it has to be or is it kind a experiential? Many thanks for advance ;)

Very good and instructional video Jody! And after cleaning, the beads looked just fine!

Amazing Information. I am going to a welding school Next Feb, These videos are a great introduction to some concepts

wow!! this was an incredible video to watch and listen and LEARN. thank you so much. i had tried aluminum tig on DC before and i came out nothing like this, however i was only using straight argon.. i will definitely be giving it another go. the fact that you can get that much penetration without warping and a ton of pre heat is very useful. keep up the good work and tell Roy that i check out his instagram all the time for amazing stuff.

Great information as always and you're not lying about making machinist friends with repairs; saving £1,500/8hours time invested parts with 5 minutes of welding makes them very happy.

@michaelszczys8316

4 жыл бұрын

At my job I am quite often using my ‘ hole remover tool ‘ to make holes in aluminum parts that they drilled wrong go away.

thanks Jody for the awsome vid. i do 90%of my welding infield, i dont own a spool gun, so when it comes to aluminum I have to through my small tig diversion 185 on the truck which does the trick on irrigation pipe and thin al. repairs, but when iam stuck in a bull hauler working on structure, that welder hardly cuts it, even with preheat, but what i have learned from your videos will definently makes my life and welds better, thanx

How have I not seen this video? Roy is the man. Thanks Jody

I've actually welded a mold part still in the CNC....that was fun. Saved the day though.

keep them coming brother I wish I knew half of what you forgot man your a true artist,

I learned something new this morning. I'll have to try it out with the Vantage. Thankyou guys.

Some of the inverter machines will allow you to interrupt DCEN with a pulse of AC every so often. My Everlast 255EXT calls it "Advanced AC pulse". Basically it combines the instant puddle and penetration of DCEN with the cleaning action of AC. The result is weld puddles that more or less look and flow like AC puddles - with the horsepower of DC. Neat feature.

These videos have helped me so much... I went to school for welding but your videos taught me so many "tips and tricks" if you will that i never learned during my time in school. I am going to recommend my old instructor your videos to buy and show to the classes. By the way, just got my tig finger today.

@weldingtipsandtricks

9 жыл бұрын

FlyinRaptorJesus thanks for your support

@SrNickSaw

8 жыл бұрын

+weldingtipsandtricks Your videos are amazing, I´ve learned a lot of useful things, thank you for sharing all of you knowledge, keep on the good work and greetings from Argentina.

@SrNickSaw

8 жыл бұрын

+weldingtipsandtricks And also I get my english better trying to understand you without subtitles jaja

thanks for all the great info. you sure put out some good info that looks very similar to Al-Bronze welding i had to do for on some oil field pumps i was a hero that day lol. keep up the good work thanks for all the time you put in to you videos.

Did a DC weld test for a job interview once. Was shown how to do it and passed the test. What I remember was it was welded fast like aluminum wire feeder mig.

Great job on producing a very helpful video.

This has got me through some thick aluminum at work!

this is a great video! mainly cause nothing is taught in school on it, so it's a mystery to some. I talked in the past about failing a welding test at SpaceX in Florida cause they wanted thick aluminum welded in DC neg. it was for the launch pad structure arms that held the rockets in place. they have had some of the arms break off cause they were welded in A/C current. I saw one that had fell off while I was there testing and as big as that arm was, you don't want that thing falling off during a launch... thanks Jody

Great tip! I love welding AL but have always shied away from DCEN, now I think I'll start using this as a viable option. Nuggets like this that I enjoy, keep'em comin'!

I don't have a welding or even a hobby channel but I can surely say some dies in the forging, stamping or plastic injection molding industry can easily reach into the multiples of six figures... I would love to see welding of exotics i.e Titanium or Beryllium. Thanks for the dopeness, Subbed up.

@jasonjason163

8 жыл бұрын

dumb ass Eugene

Love the video, very informative. At what minimum thickness should I use DC on aluminum ?

I need to get my TIG out. Nice job Jody.

You make that weld look damn good

Thanks for video. I've had a few times where i actually needed this technique and spend lots of time preheating before I was able to get the penetration I needed. It's funny you started this video talking about experiemental aircraft because I was welding the frame of a powered parachute.

Im making a welding table that attaches to my welding cart and the supports are 1/8 inch and table platform is 1/4 inch...my miller 180 SD is maxed out and I need more horsepower. This technique is something i'm going to attempt and what i've been looking for....ty jody and roy.

Nice job guys that looks like it would be useful for tacking heavy aluminium parts,intake manifolds and such,my "Tig Finger" is becoming my new best friend haha Thanks for posting these videos,awesome info once again.

@weldingtipsandtricks

9 жыл бұрын

MRTYREMULISHA thanks for the good word on the Tig Finger. glad you like it and thanks for the support

Hi Jody, thanks for the clarification of this problem. i have a lincoln invertec V130S with a scratch start TIG torch. what would be the minimum amperage of a welder you would recommend for welding aluminium with a DC welder? mine goes to 130 amps, the one you guys were demonstrating on was 210 amps. would my little welder be too weak to do any type of aluminium welding? mike

It would be nice to see you revisit this and investigate ways to improve the appearance. Maybe 80/20 He/Ar mix? Or maybe using a bigger cup like you would on stainless?

I've welded 1/2 aluminum with helium on AC and it eats through. Never tried it on DC but I'm definitely going to give that a shot. I've pre heated with a hydrogen/oxygen torch and that worked well. Thanks for the tip!

Interesting video. I have a classic semi-truck (1970 Autocar) with an aluminum frame (11" 6061T6 channel, 3/8" thick web) that has lots of holes drilled in it from the original suspension brackets and the replacement suspension added in a previous restoration. One day, I'd like to plug all the excess holes and I'm planning to upgrade to air-ride suspension, so there will be even more holes. I was planning to cut 6061T6 slugs to fill the holes and tig weld in. It looks like this process would be perfect for getting good penetration without affecting the temper of the surrounding frame. Great info!

So how hard would this be to do in the field using my tig rig and a miller trailblazer? We've got some aluminum parts to modify and I think this might be the best way to do it, short of sending them to a fab shop somewhere.

very informative! is the arc some what unstable like when welding stainless with pure helium, like if you don't watch your arc length? also would you be introducing that black oxide into the base material if you wire wheeled it at high rpm?

I didn't realize you could do that. I have to try that with my Everlast welder.

@leonardpearlman4017

4 жыл бұрын

Your Everlast manual says not to do this! Mine suggests part Helium, which has worked for me. I have tried to do as we see here and it wouldn't light up! The arc voltage is higher with Helium! I am going to eventually try with other machines, and also maybe heat the electrode first (strike an arc on a copper block for a second or two). Try it!

Could you tell me where you get that set square with the big base from? I'm in Australia so if you have a link to somewhere that ships here would be really appreciated.. Also excellent videos you do really helpful and in depth with explaining things Cheers

Always interesting, Thanks William Orange county, ca.

ive seen some videos of dcep and dcen , im super confused what to use, i want to weld thin sheet aluminium butt weld as cheaply as possible, with a tig machine that had dc only and has a pulse option too

Hey Jody thanks for the video on dc tig aluminum welding with helium gas. Please do more videos on this type of welding because this is a truly a lost art of welding. This procedure isn't taught in schools in Louisiana especially for welding aluminum pipe. I know alot of welders that have dc engine driven machines and when when they need to do aluminum works either its mig or stick. Also what grade of helium gas needed to be used?

@leonardpearlman4017

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah, more CRUMMY! I think there's only one grade of Helium! Different bottles, you can get a cert, but it's all coming out of one tap. Oxygen and CO2 are like that. Medical Oxygen and welding oxygen are filled from the same tank....

this is a great video. thanks very much.

roy's good at that ! I got to fly a mustang 2 experimental

Did this for years in Silicon Valley we used a combination of helium and argon though

Jodi what are your thoughts on 3M Speedglas helmets? I've never really seen you use one and was wondering why that is? I love mine

Does ballon grade helium work for this application?

hey, with this, do you think walking the cup could work with it?

Great video!

If helium is "pushing" more under the arc would a argon helium mix not be recommended for thin aluminum? I'm working with 2.6mm thickness

Could you do an AC cleaning run to get the Yuck off it first then go with the DC for the first WELD then back to AC for the top welds?????? Or would that start the heat too much for warpage. And what about Helium AC does that wok as well with small cleaning current?

Thanks Jody !!

great job guys!!!!

Very interesting video

hej Jody what would you say is the thinnest gauge that you could weld on DC/helium? Dennis

well done very informative

Cool video very interesting I knew helium was an interesting gas for welding Ali but didn't realise it was that important in heat transfer.

@PhillipLandmeier

5 жыл бұрын

Yeah, helium is a better heat conductor so it transfers more heat from the arc into the material. It also heats a wider area of the base material. These two things allow higher travel speed. The downside to helium is it provides less cleaning action so prep is super important.

@michaelszczys8316

4 жыл бұрын

Same here, where I work I use straight argon but we have tanks of argon - 25% helium for some other operation and now I see it might help if I should have to weld some extra heavy aluminum ( maybe a little )

quel type de tungstène utilisez vous pour souder l aluminium en DC

Can you do a tutorial and procedures on welding a split tee

hello jody you are the best welding expert in the world ilike you .but you want vidio about stick welding aluminuim iknow it is not recomonded process .but we want you talking about that..

Maybe I missed it, are you guys using regular Helium or UHP?

That was great, thanks!

What mix do you recommend?

That's how I first started welding aluminum

How does this compare to advanced pulse?

What type of electrode is being used?

Tha I you for this information.

Roy looks such a good guy...

@leonardpearlman4017

4 жыл бұрын

We have to get him to talk more though. Maybe one coffee half hour before filming starts.... It really looks like he's on to something that everyone else didn't just forget, but kept telling each other was impossible!

Its pure helium?? Or mix argon???

Wow very cool

Hey Jody . This video is awesome. I am curious as to what machine you're using to do this. I have the Lincoln square wave 175. Can I do this with that machine?

@weldingtipsandtricks

9 жыл бұрын

Chris Porter everlast 250ex was used for this vid...I havent tried my lincoln 175 with pure helium yet but I plan to give that a go on 1/4" thick aluminum with DC. not sure if it will work but I will find out

@turbopiloto

9 жыл бұрын

weldingtipsandtricks Hey Jody, DC- or DC+ ???

My area Argon big bottle refill is 60 dollars and helium is 700 dollars for refilling the same size bottles.

hi can I welding cast iron or aluminum cylinder head cars by dc tig?

always wonder if someone had figured out a way to do it.. explains what happend with atomic arc to some degree

Brother i need help you..i like this welding machine tig.i need this welding machine.

Sick vid

Does this type of welding meet standards? The depth to width ratio on that weld is wrong, that's the reason there is a solidification void in that one one, which would fail any test right? I can see if you're using it for non critical things but if it had to be tested I would think its a fail. Appreciate the video though, was interesting!

Great vid j

Can the average 3 in 1 Mig Stick, Tig machine DC Tig this way?

OK, very cool, now here is my question... can this gas mix be used to achieve the same effect with a spool gun. I have a millermatic 211 and a 100 series spool gun and have an upcoming project to build my own 17" flat bottom river jet boat for fishing shallow rivers in MI. Yes, I know I should probably try and score a better welder but I am, ... pretty good life time welder with a LOT of experience but a thin wallet. I can step up, spend the $$ when it is time for the project but I really rather just use the 211 if it would work. The boat does not have to be built in a day. If every one says no way on the 211, what would be a good tig machine to try and score off craigslist? ~

@HogsHeadStudios

5 жыл бұрын

Since no one said anything, a couple things: one, the 211 is a very capable machine. Typically a 17' aluminum boat would have something like 18- or 20-gauge sheet aluminum... for reference, a 75 foot/40 ton steel vessel would use 1/4" steel plate for the hull. That being said, it'll be slow going to let things cool (no wet rags), but there's no reason you can't do this with a spool gun and 100% argon. If you feel like spending money, a pulse function would make life a lot easier, but it's by no means necessary.

great cross sections

Hey Jodi would this work on anodized aluminum tube welding in the marine industry?

@leonardpearlman4017

3 жыл бұрын

I don't think you get the cleaning action with Helium. You might get lucky and it just somehow PUSHES the anodized layer away? Take pictures! This is an issue that comes up again and again.

Can you use a scratch start tig with this? I don't do a lot of aluminum welding but this would be handy to use. Thanks

@zoranbilbiloski652

9 жыл бұрын

Steven Jason I use scratch start tig on aluminum DCEN and it works!

@evanlanginais

9 жыл бұрын

Zoran Bilbiloski i had try this many times but could never get it to work. even if i hook my scratch start tig to a ac i still can getit to work. any secret to it?

@zoranbilbiloski652

9 жыл бұрын

No secret at all,just hook up the welder as for stainless steel welding,DCEN ,mixture gas helium and argon,flick the rod on the tungsten to initiate arc and weld the aluminum,the weld its not the best looking but it works fine and the weld is strong also!!!Cheers!

@defaultuser000

9 жыл бұрын

***** You cannot do scratch start TIG with AC current. If you're doing scratch start, I'm assuming your AC current source is outputting a sine-wave. You must have a high-frequency + high-voltage super-imposed over a 50/60Hz sine-wave to be able to TIG with it on AC. The AC voltage does not cross the zero point fast enough to maintain the arc. This is why older TIG machines(Miller 330AB/P) requires a continuous HF setting when TIG welding on AC. This is even more impossible with helium due to helium requiring a higher arc voltage. Scratch starting on DCEN with helium on aluminum is very possible, even with the tiny bit of UHP argon thrown in it shouldn't be a problem(never tried it though). When scratching on steels I'll usually just light up somewhere just in front of where I plan to start welding, then weld over the tiny pit left from striking up. With aluminum though, I've found that it works much better to strike on a piece of thick copper then carry the arc over to where I'm starting the weld, when possible. I've not quite mastered the technique of flicking the filler rod through the gap to light the arc and many times I've caught it on the tungsten and just blew the filler rod clear in two. TIG welding DCEN on aluminum is a very tricky process to get right, I'm far from a master at it, but I can get it done if I absolutely have to. I've never heard about mixing a tiny bit of UHP argon to help with the soot. That stuff is expensive in my area so I might try using my regular argon. I have doubts that will help, I'm sure there is a reason they specify UHP.

Anyone know where I can find that info on why Helium carries a hotter arc? I kind of like that "long haired" stuff as well :), plus I like to know how and why something works not just that it works. Thanks

so i guess this is why it used to be called Heliarc. question: if heliarc/dc negative heli gas TIG welds are deeper, why did the standard get away from it and go to ac and argon? dont you want the strongest deepest weld?

Could you use pure Helium with AC tig welding to get the deep penetration? Or does it have to be Argon with AC.

@leonardpearlman4017

7 жыл бұрын

I've had at least one welder (Everlast) that would not light up in pure helium. I think Everlast suggests a blend of helium and argon. That works pretty well. Got the idea from one of Jody's videos, it was just as he said. I tried hard to use pure helium and just could not make it go. The open circuit voltage has to be higher. What they're talking about here is the real "Heliarc" welding, I really wanted to try it! Maybe one day I'll turn up an actual "Heliarc" (from ESAB now) machine. It seems so obvious!

@Importssuckass

6 жыл бұрын

Good to know!

@leonardpearlman4017

4 жыл бұрын

I don't think there's any benefit. You supposedly don't get the cleaning action with Helium, so you'd just be wasting gas and power. If I had it all set up, I'd sure try it though! How could you not? Again, Argon with a small part of Helium or maybe 1/4 Helium is really something! Hot, and it makes a big clear puddle, it seems to have all advantages. If you do the set up Jody showed with two flow-meters and a "Y" to put them together.... try to do a little bead and have someone open up the Helium a little while you have the arc on, you'll see it right away!

@leonardpearlman4017

4 жыл бұрын

Also, you can get a puddle on solid copper, which doesn't seem to happen with the usual Argon set up. This might be important some day.

Can you use argon to weld aluminium using DC? Cheers from Spain! :)

@josegante6982

4 жыл бұрын

Nope..

Hey there Jody this is Mike again I'm looking into getting certified in stainless steel but not to sure what time of test is it... is it also the same as carbon steel with open root? If you can get back to me I'll appreciate it thanks

@weldingtipsandtricks

9 жыл бұрын

michael perez its probably open butt with purge, and usually you will have to keep most of the gap taped shut and remove tape as you go...but you should try to find out all the details before taking the test. I was thrown a curve once or twice with weird stuff I wasnt expecting and that can mess with your confidence on test day

@michaelperez-xm1vg

9 жыл бұрын

Would you perhaps know where I can get more info about it ... Like you said they might throw stuff at me that haven't seen before, so I want to get as much info and practice on it ... Thanks again Jody

hi Roy it's Mike the welder

Hi . I need some suggestions I'm welding some aluminum 4 3/4inch to 3/8 I'm using Miller syncrowave 350lx and it seems I need more heat it takes a bit to heat up I'm using water torch with 1/8 tungsten a number 8 cup and i have the machine at 350 amps and using 100% argon and the at the end of tip balls up bigger then the tungsten but still feel theres not enough heat

@leonardpearlman4017

4 жыл бұрын

It sounds like you are in preheat territory! Don't feel bad, since the energy you put in there with a big propane torch (for example) is probably a lot cheaper than the same energy (and argon) from TIG welding!

@michaelszczys8316

4 жыл бұрын

Sounds like exactly what I have at my job and I can’t imagine cranking it up that high for much of anything. I also have rotisserie with torches and I would be warming it up if it was that big.

do you need a different flow meter when using Helium? Thanks

@davidmarquardt2445

4 жыл бұрын

Yes since helium has a much lower density than other gas's. The floating ball type flow meters usually have scales for argon, C-25 (25% co2/75% argon) and helium. Usually you just turn the tube so the scale for the gas your using is facing the front to read it. The cheaper pointer gauge type mostly are calibrated for C-25.

Hi perhaps I missed this info... But DCEN. But what electrode? Size and colour?

@leonardpearlman4017

4 жыл бұрын

Traditionally that's a Thoriated (Red) electrode. Once that was invented! The original Heliarc might have been pure tungsten with a balled end, because that was all there WAS.

What if you could TIG weld with 100% sulfur hexaflouride?

Can DC be used with an Argon/He mix or just straight He?

@zoranbilbiloski652

9 жыл бұрын

Eddie the Grouch U can use mix,but u get less penetration.

@weldingtipsandtricks

9 жыл бұрын

Eddie the Grouch I got a comment a while back that said by mixing in just a tiny bit of uhp (ultra high purity) argon, it cleans up the soot quite a bit. So I will have to give that a go. I dont have uhp argon but I plan on experimenting with the regular stuff

@sephangelo4603

9 жыл бұрын

Eddie the Grouch Use flux with DC TIG on aluminum. Straight argon should work as long as you use flux, which will dual shield the aluminum, but will also make slag. Though, not a big problem and will be easily hammered or chipped.

@ptwohig

8 жыл бұрын

+Marek Sumguy Uh...switch the electrodes?

@mareksumguy1887

8 жыл бұрын

+Patrick Twohig What do you mean by that?

I build aluminum boats, and I'm at the end of our production line. I'm responsible for repairing other peoples leaks in the gas tanks, etc. It's a real chore with AC, and I'm curious if this technique may be beneficial to my company. To be more specific, I'm wondering if the DC current would burn out an impurity beneath the surface, or if the same ammount of grinding/cleaning would be necessary? We use marine grade aluminum, I want to say it's 8056. Thanks in advance

@eflanagan1921

9 жыл бұрын

Gabe M Maybe 5086-H32 ? listed as good marine grade,strong,resistance to corrosion.

my buddy Roy

What about AC + DC pulse?

sir I have machine DC inverter please tell me tungsten rod which one colour aluminium welding

@waheedhussain259

5 жыл бұрын

Plz tell me

can you use helium to mig weld 1/2 steel eventho your machine is only capable of 3/16

@xxkiloxx69

7 жыл бұрын

Samuel Mason more time id rather not waste.

@fredwilliam1574

6 жыл бұрын

I'd like to see the benefits of advance pulse welders. I understand they can weld much thicker metal than non advance pulse welders of the same output rating. I work in areas that have low amp electricity service. I really want to know more about some of the everlast welders with advance pulse used with helium.

@texascarchannel7564

6 жыл бұрын

John Kuck would be pushing it but i bet i could be done just not at full penetration

@scottburrous2375

6 жыл бұрын

Are you asking if it can be done in a single pass? If you can get the cup and rod in you can weld 2" just a lot of passes!

@Parents_of_Twins

6 жыл бұрын

@ John Kuck: Could you point me in the direction of where I can find information as to why He carries so much more heat? I like to know the how and why as well. Thanks

Hey Jodie. Would this work with an argon co2 mix given the good penetration properties of co2 as a welding gas?

@davidmarquardt2445

4 жыл бұрын

No with TIG you have to have an inert atmosphere, argon or helium, or argon/helium mix because you have to protect the tungsten from oxidation. That's the reason why you have a post flow setting on the machine, to allow the tungsten to cool down before it's exposed to the air. Carbon dioxide splits apart in the arc and for a fraction of a second becomes carbon monoxide, loses it's energy then recombines to form carbon dioxide again. This works well when using MIG on steel, sense you can add de-oxidizers to the wire.

@leonardpearlman4017

4 жыл бұрын

Your electrode will burn away! Probably won't do the Aluminum any good, either! There's more to life than penetration! "That's what she said".

@michaelszczys8316

4 жыл бұрын

At my job they got an Argon - 10% co2 mix by mistake and asked if I could use it up so they wouldn’t have to deal with returning it. I tried using it and while it welded fairly well ( little sooty ) I found out the welds came out hard as rock. I told them no, I can’t use it. I don’t think I tried it on aluminum.