How To TIG Weld: The Tools Of Our Builds

The Tools Of Our Builds Welding A Jeep Body

We love tools. The amount of tools we use on our projects is mind-boggling. Without a doubt, some tools are way cooler than others, and those are the ones we look forward to using. Our Scratch-Built Scrambler has been a long time in the making; we started documenting it in Nov. ’09. A number of components have been prototyped and installed, only to be removed. We are continually making structural change to the body or frame, so welders and plasma cutters are always in hand. Our Jeep’s Aqualu aluminum tub has had more holes drilled in it than necessary. To fill them, we could have used a spool gun, but some of the guns are messy and make cleanup a chore.

Looking for a better way to finish off the Jeep’s tub, we contacted Lincoln Electric and ordered the company’s new Square Wave TIG 175. TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding is considered a step up from MIG welding. A TIG welder produces a clean and precise weld with no splatter, perfect for intricate and detailed welding. Getting into a good machine is usually quite expensive, but the Square Wave retails for $1,849 and is a great investment for enthusiasts and shops looking to lay better welds on their projects and products.

We took the Lincoln TIG welder to T&J Performance Center in Orange, California, to test it out and let the fabrication technicians use it on some of their projects and high-end desert and Jeep Speed race cars. The T&J techs are expert welders, so we wanted to see what they could do with our new machine.

The Square Wave TIG 175 is recommended for TIG (GTAW) and stick (SMAW) welding within its output capacity of 10 to 175 amps, on both AC and DC polarity. The machine is a constant current single range AC/DC arc welding power source. It features a built-in arc starter and stabilizer. We were thrilled to play around with the TIG and use the Square Wave on the Scrambler. The machine closed the unneeded holes on the side of the tub without a disastrous mess of splatter.

We’re looking forward to using the machine on more detailed metal and aluminum work and were impressed with the Square Waves out-of-the-box ease of use and quality TIG welds.

The Square Wave TIG 175 comes with everything needed to get started except for filler material, a bottle and gas, and safety gear. We also order Lincoln’s Viking auto darkening hood, an assortment of gloves (TIG gloves white), and a split leather welding jacket.
The Square Wave TIG 175 comes with everything needed to get started except for filler mate
The Square Wave 175 isn’t a complicated mess of buttons, dials, and gauges. Settings and operation are easy. TIG welding does take practice, and we assume the guy who is going to jump into TIG welding is already quite proficient at MIG welding.
The Square Wave 175 isn’t a complicated mess of buttons, dials, and gauges. Settings and o
The stick electrode holder and TIG torch easily plug into the front for the machine and have ample cable. The stick electrode holder has 10 feet of cable and the TIG torch 121⁄2 feet, making it easy to reach any part of a 4x4 or work area.
The stick electrode holder and TIG torch easily plug into the front for the machine and ha

A TIG torch is much lighter than a MIG gun. Wearing lightweight TIG gloves is important so you can feel the torch and hold it lightly as it moves smoothly and evenly along the work. Torches vary slightly in design but consist of a torch body, a tungsten non-consumable electrode, a collet to hold the electrode, a collet body, a back cap, and a ceramic nozzle/cup.
A TIG torch is much lighter than a MIG gun. Wearing lightweight TIG gloves is important so
The foot Amptrol (pedal/remote control) controls the current to the torch. Depressing the peddle all the way is full current, and releasing the pedal finishes the weld. It’s important to place the pedal in a comfortable position so your hands can easily reach and freely move the torch and rod along the work while controlling the pedal. Hand controls are available from Lincoln Electric.
The foot Amptrol (pedal/remote control) controls the current to the torch. Depressing the
TIG welding uses argon gas. We spent about $50 filling this size bottle. The gas works as a shield to protect the weld puddle from airborne contaminants. The Square Wave came with a regulator and a hose to transfer the gas to the machine.
TIG welding uses argon gas. We spent about $50 filling this size bottle. The gas works as

A torch uses a number of color-coded, nonconsumable tungsten electrodes for different materials, such as aluminum. Red is 1.8 to 2.2 percent thoriated tungsten (ThO2) and is for greater arc stability, higher current capacity, easy arc starting, and resistance to weld contamination. Green is pure tungsten for good arc stability and AC welding. Orange is 1.8 to 2.2 percent ceriated tungsten (CeO2) for good arc stability and easy arc starting.
A torch uses a number of color-coded, nonconsumable tungsten electrodes for different mate
The tips of the tungsten electrodes should be sharpened to control the arc. Don’t sharpen the tip to a needle point; rather, it should have a slightly flat tip for a stable arc. Also, don’t sharpen the tungsten electrodes with any tools that could contaminate them with other metals, or the quality of the welds will deteriorate.
The tips of the tungsten electrodes should be sharpened to control the arc. Don’t sharpen
There are three setting for welding with the polarity switch on the Square Wave 175, which allow welding in AC, DC-, and DC+. In DC + polarity the electrode is positive and the work clamp is negative (most stick welding applications). In DC- the electrode is negative and the work clamp is positive (TIG welding). AC polarity is recommended for welding aluminum.
There are three setting for welding with the polarity switch on the Square Wave 175, which

TIG welding is awesome for fine welding work and thin metals such as custom race dashes. TIG welding doesn’t produce any splatter either, so it is perfect for welding inside the cabs of vehicles or where other components could be damaged from errant slag or could catch fire.
TIG welding is awesome for fine welding work and thin metals such as custom race dashes. T
We are impressed with the TIG wilder’s performance, and the welds met our expectations of a quality machine. When you’re welding, hold the tungsten electrode just off the material at a 70- to 80-degree angle over the work. If the electrode touches the work material, it may fuse and then it will have to be reground to a point again. Filler material should be held at a 15-degree angle from the work. Create a 1⁄4-inch puddle with the torch and touch the edge of it with the filler material. Then move the torch.
We are impressed with the TIG wilder’s performance, and the welds met our expectations of
A TIG welder is great for welding aluminum, steel, stainless steel, chromoly, magnesium, nickel alloys, copper, brass, bronze, and a few others materials. All metal should be free of contaminants. The quality of the weld depends on how clean the working material is, so all grease, protective coatings, and dirt should be removed.
A TIG welder is great for welding aluminum, steel, stainless steel, chromoly, magnesium, n

SOURCES
T And J Performance n/a 714-633-0991 www.tandjperformance.com	Lincoln Electric 22801 St. Clair Ave Cleveland OH 44117 216-481-8100 www.lincolnelectric.com