Anyone ever tig weld copper? its easy!

[red1993gsallmt]

I always thought it would be difficult but tried it today and found its much easier then aluminum. I just started laying some nice beads down with aluminum and started thinking about how Jesse James made a gas tank out of copper years ago. Being a plumber I have alot of copper laying around, and i noticed on a tig heat and gas flow chart my local weld supply gave me there is a chart for copper. So all I needed was some filler wire, and what do ya know I look on my electrical shelf and I had so romex wire there. Pulled the ground wire out of it witch is copper and tried it. Even easier then aluminum!

 

[tron2119]

Post up some pics of the bead. I'd love to see it.

 

[99gst_racer]

I'd like to see how it turned out as well. I assume you use alternating current to weld copper?

 

[Gamble97]

AC is for welding aluminum and magnesium. DC for everything else from what I have learned.
I want to do copper, but it requires a LOT of amps compared to other metals.
Also you can grind those welds down and make it all flush and look like it's not welded at all. Ron Covell did this in his first tig welding video.

 

[red1993gsallmt]

Gamble is correct you use DC. As far as the amps I had the machine set to 140 for L copper pipe and fittings. This was my first try, but im sure someone who has more time on the tig can make it look just like a steal bead.

 

[spoonman]

I want to add that your technique should be like welding aluminum, pausing adding filler and then stepping, a nice looking copper bead should look like a stack of dimes like aluminum

 

[red1993gsallmt]

Thank you for the input

 

[FastJetta]

thats awesome. i was had been curious about welding copper as well.

there are deff tons of reasons with these cars where welding copper could be helpful.