TIG welding - any experts?

I'm looking at getting myself a basic TIG welder and making a load of scrap metal (Which I'm sure will please the scrappies around here).

Do we have any experts that can give me some general advice or pointers in the right direction?

[mister c]

Why TIG? Do you intend to be welding Aluminium or Stainless? If not, look at a MIG welder if you are using mild steel they are a lot easier to use. Even a dog eared Monkey sh*t welder like me can make quite a nice job with a MIG, but I couldn't get to grips with TIG.

+1 Why tig and not mig.

Aluminium.

But you can use a mig to weld ally with argon gas and the correct wire, admittedly not as good as tig, but more versatile generally.

Originally Posted by specialone

But you can use a mig to weld ally with argon gas and the correct wire, admittedly not as good as tig, but more versatile generally.

From what I've heard, despite being difficult to weld anyway, it is easier with a TIG welder than trying to use a MIG.

Originally Posted by EssexDave

From what I've heard, despite being difficult to weld anyway, it is easier with a TIG welder than trying to use a MIG.

I've done a small amount of ally welding, I'm not gonna lie, it is more difficult, I've never tried tig, but ally doesn't behave like mild steel but once youve hot the power and feed set up, it's only your experience that will improve the look of the final weld.

[Bibio]

get 2 ball point pens or 2 pencils and practise with them, suing a pencil/pen in each hand draw a line with one and dot the line with the other. once you have mastered that then draw tiny curly circles and dot at each intersection. if you cant manage that then get a mig as you can weld stainless alloy and steel with it using different wires and gasses.

[mister c]

Originally Posted by Bibio

get 2 ball point pens or 2 pencils and practise with them, suing a pencil/pen in each hand draw a line with one and dot the line with the other. once you have mastered that then draw tiny curly circles and dot at each intersection. if you cant manage that then get a mig as you can weld stainless alloy and steel with it using different wires and gasses.

You also need to regulate the power with your foot if its a good Tig. I've tried both MIG & TIG, my TIG welding was awful, it is a lot harder

[Bibio]

tig is good for thin gauge just like gas. mig is good for medium gauge and ark is good for heavy stuff like thick plate/pipe.

drawing a slow line and doting it every cppl mm is just for practise, obviously there is a lot more involved like creating the pool and being able to move it along without blowing threw then you learn how to dip the rod. if you can master the technique before using material then all the better.