Great set up and practice result in good TIG welds.  This is the Stack of Dimes welding look that speaks for itself.  The Stack of Dimes welding look sells very well.   The TIG welds shown were done by hand, not robots.  Students learn to do the Stack of Dimes method in 3 hours, then practice makes perfect. 

       Preparation is all important.  Your fit-up must be excellet.  A gap greater than 10/1000 inch is too much.  You will not be able to fill gaps and get the Stack of Dimes look. 

       Clean, clean, clean metal is a must.  Clean filler rod too.  Remove everything down to bright, shiny metal, then wipe down with acetone.  Do not use brake parts cleaner, when you heat brake parts cleaner residue the vapor can damage you.  Do not use laquer thnner, it's flash point is too low. 

       Use about 1 amp for 1000 inch of thickness.  1/16 inch is .0625, start with 62 amps.  Increase about 50% for aluminum.  Double for copper.   Look at the diameter of your first TIG puddle, if it is too wide reduce amperage, too narrow increase amperage. 

       Gross set up is the panel setting,  fine tune that with the distance from the tungsten to the metal.  As you increase that distance your weld cone becomes more aggressive and wider.  The machine is adding voltage to keep you from loosing the weld cone.  You must see the arc cone at all times.  If you do not see it clearly your tungsten is too close to the work.  You must keep the tungsten the same distance from the work, always. 

      Select the TIG filler rod that melts when you put it into the molten puddle.  If it melts before you get to the puddle, use a fatter rod.  If it does not melt right when you put it into the puddle, use a skinnier rod.   We are talking about putting the rod into the puddle.  Do not slide it in.  Do not just touch it to the edge of the puddle.  The puddle is about as deep as it is wide.  Practice by feeling the rod go right down into the puddle to the bottom.  When welding you do not need to bottom out but it has been a very effect way to teach putting the rod into the puddle.  You have to put the rod into the puddle the same way every time to get the Stack of Dimes look.    We do not recomend tilting the torch to put the rod into the puddle.  Keep the torch as straight up and possible for truly round puddles (dimes).  If you slant the torch it tends to melt the fill rod before you can put the rod into the puddle.   That can trick you into using a rod that is too fat.