School me in......TIG?

[LIMEY]

With all the welding posts at the moment thought this may
help bring to light some TIG Q&A.
I was taught with gas & only in the last few yrs got into mig, which is ok but there's nothing like welding with gas on light work for me.
So i thought i'd try the next best thing TIG because as the saying goes "if you can gas weld you can TIG" well after about 2hrs in the shop with some 16gauge i can see why,
apart from all the other factors you have to think about!
My welder is a Lincoln invertec V140-S DC lift tig & stick.
I know the best schooling is to get in there & practice but would greatful for any advice or do's & dont's.

[LIMEY]

BTTT

[UKAde]

Hi 32
I have had a baby Clarke 120 amp inverter for a few years now, it's great but I still have a gas porta pac for heating jobs and getting into places where the tig torch has trouble getting in

the main problem I have is that using a scratch start welder can contaminate the tip so it needs regrinding more often ,

I try to keep the very edge of my linisher belt just for sharpening the tungstens to stop any contamination from wood plastic aluminium etc, and sharpen them in the direction of the tip

I quite often use mig wire as filler rod to get nice little welds in sheet or bodywork

basicly never regreted buying it just would like a ac/dc one with a pedal to vary the current

UKAde

[LIMEY]

I see what you mean about the tungsten tip the first few minute was chaos back & forth to the damn grinder, bearing in mind this thing came with very poor to little instruction at all, so i just went with what i know & some good old trial & error http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif
I consider myself fairly good with oxy acetylene as thats all we had when i served my time.
Think i'll try some more tomorrow on some heavier steel see how that feels.
Are there any better quality filler rods available or??
thanks for the tips Aid.