? halo around TIG electrode

admin

Hi, I'm a getting a little ring of "crust" about 3/32" set back from the tip of my electrode.   I'm welding A500 (which is a kind of mild steel),  1/4" throat fillet welds at 200A in one pass with an air cooled torch.   I use a 1/8 lanthanated electrode in a gas lens setup and my stickout is about 1/4".   My argon is at about 20 CFM with a postflow of 5 seconds.   The ring develops after about 5 or 6 welds.   Sometimes the ring is mostly black in color but it's actually yellow once in a while.   Rather than continually taking out the trode and regrinding I just scrape the ring off in place with an box knife.  I'm a hobbiest welder of a dozen years.   I've never run into this problem before probably because I've never done so many big TIG welds like this.Is this just normal TIG behavior or should I be doing something different?    Certainly your trode is not shiny after several welds.   Assuming you never dip, when do you regrind?Last edited by kajonga; 09-06-2014 at 07:04 AM.
Reply:Ever since I put a desiccant filter in line with my gas hose (same filter as the plasma cutters) I haven't had this issue since.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Sounds like you are describing the "beard" from this video:Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Thanks Gamble & MinnesotaDave.   That's exactly it.
Reply:A500? Did you mean AR500 ballistic steel? Making a cool gun target?