Question About Aluminum TIG Welding !!!

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On Monday I start TIG in my MIG/FLUX CORE/ TIG class. Tonight I was doing a little practicing on aluminum. Of the TIG welders I have I use the HTP 221 and the Thermal Arc 185 for aluminum.Tonight I was using the Thermal Arc 185.......set as follows.1 1/2 3/32 Lanthanated tungsten25 CFH on the Argon100 and 120 Hz on the frequency15 on the AC balance.Everything worked good. My question is this....as I we as welding I noticed black specks in the weld pool. Is this typical for aluminum???I did wire brush one of the small .125 plates I was welding on but that didn't seem to make a difference.Last edited by rahtreelimbs; 04-19-2013 at 10:06 PM.
Reply:I'd say clean it better using acetone..........Change the balance to get more cleaning action.........That should help........Precision TIG 185 and MP 210Bobcat 225NTCutmaster 42O/A tanks.... 2 Argon tanks...... 2 C25 TanksFacebook...... F2 Metal WorksETSY....... https://www.etsy.com/shop/F2MetalWorksF2MetalWorks.com....... http://www.f2metalworks.com/
Reply:You might turn the Argon down to 15-18 cfh, it's possible your drawing in outside air into the weld puddle. Are you using a gas lens or a standard cup? Just a thought
Reply:Hmmmmm 15 Balance?  that seems way low I would think at least 70 balance....don't know the thickness of your material but I normally start with 90 htrz. for anything thicker than 1/4 "   higher hrtz. for  tight conditions where you need to narrow the arc..25 CFH is kinda high unless your dealing with a cross wind...I like 15 with a gas lensand that size tungsten....The black specs could be your not running a high enough Balance and your tungsten is over heating.......does the tungsten ball up a lot?  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Originally Posted by B_CHmmmmm 15 Balance?  that seems way low I would think at least 70 balance....don't know the thickness of your material but I normally start with 90 htrz. for anything thicker than 1/4 "   higher hrtz. for  tight conditions where you need to narrow the arc..25 CFH is kinda high unless your dealing with a cross wind...I like 15 with a gas lensand that size tungsten....The black specs could be your not running a high enough Balance and your tungsten is over heating.......does the tungsten ball up a lot?
Reply:Balance no good.  Try 25-35.The black specs are some form of contamination.   Either dirty metal or a gas coverage issue.  I get it with bad gas, on my second bottle of that now.  I get away with 10 cfh with a lens.  You'll save alot on gas.Hz is up to you.  100 is a great starting point, but I still like the traditional 60, maybe cause I learned on a tranny machine.  You can obviously tailor the Hz to the type of bead and joint.Last edited by Drf255; 04-20-2013 at 05:08 AM.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:30% -35% cleaning is a good starting point.I use 20cfh and gas lens at school.Is the brush a stainless brush? You should see a difference from just brushing it.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:Pictures are wonderful things! Welds can normally speak for themselves if we can see a pic.Everyone has it covered well! especially the gas, aluminum doesn't need huge amounts of argon flow.
Reply:Yes............I am using a stainless steel brush. I am going to try a few things today. One thing I did was get my argon bottle refilled. It wasn't even registering on the flow meter.
Reply:Well.....here is where I am at!I got my bottle filled today and tried using a brand new flap disc to clean my aluminum and I wiped off my filler rod with acetone. My results are better. Should the weld pool be totally without any pepper.....or is a very little amount to be expected???
Reply:Pic? Black pepper sounds like not enough cleaning. Try 35 or 40 for cleaning.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:Originally Posted by GamblePic? Black pepper sounds like not enough cleaning. Try 35 or 40 for cleaning.
Reply:Originally Posted by rahtreelimbsWell.....here is where I am at!I got my bottle filled today and tried using a brand new flap disc to clean my aluminum and I wiped off my filler rod with acetone. My results are better. Should the weld pool be totally without any pepper.....or is a very little amount to be expected???
Reply:Originally Posted by rahtreelimbs35 or 40 is too high on the penetration side.........no good going the opposite way!
Reply:Originally Posted by Gamble35 cleaning is 65 penetration. It's not too high at all.
Reply:wow that was strange..........I wish guys that have questions would post pictures....wasn't aware that balance settings were that different on some machines?  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:^^^yep some machines such as the HTP, the number displayed means the penetration. The thermal arc 186 number displayed shows the cleaning.The longevity 200ex shows the cleaning as well, but those machines are the same.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:Here goes with the pics..............Don't mind the inconsistency in the welds......I am still learning. So of these may have been done on pulse. That really doesn't matter. The thing is I tried again today and I still got several (1 or 2 specks) in the weld pool. I am trying to keep the filler rod in the shielding gas between each dab! I see good etching outside the weld bead which does indicate cleaning !
Reply:Turn off the pulse!   Its a crutch and won't help your learning.Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:if you wanna see how aluminum tig welding is done, click on B_C's profile and look through all his previous posts. 1st on WeldingWeb to have a scrolling sig! HTP Invertig 400HTP Invertig 221HTP ProPulse 300HTP ProPulse 200 x2HTP ProPulse 220MTSHTP Inverarc 200TLP HTP Microcut 875SC
Reply:southpaw,I disagree. The pulse is awesome to me for timing my dips. I use it for that reason alone. That makes it a crutch, yes. But it helps to obtain and sustain a rhythm, in my opinion. Not arguing the crutch, just arguing with you saying that it doesn't helpLincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:Turn down the gas, you are just paying the gas man.www.tjsperformance.comDynasty 300 DXHTP 240HTP Microcut 380Hyperthem 85JD2 Hyd Bender and HF Hyd Ring Roller all in one =(Frankenbender)Bpt. Mill/DRO4' x 8' CNC Plasma TableInstagram: tjsperformanceYT: TJS Welding and Fabrication
Reply:Originally Posted by Joker11southpaw,I disagree. The pulse is awesome to me for timing my dips. I use it for that reason alone. That makes it a crutch, yes. But it helps to obtain and sustain a rhythm, in my opinion. Not arguing the crutch, just arguing with you saying that it doesn't help
Reply:I would agree with what others have said. Having that much gas (especially if you are using a gas lens) is not only pointless but detrimental. With AL, I have found that 10 cfh with a gas lens is more than enough to prevent contamination. BEZInsanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.