Tig problem, mild steel

admin

Well, I got the torch set up for 1/8 tungsten, 100% argon but the machine, I don't know what it is, something at workThe last 30min or work I wanted to test my equipment just to see if it worked but I could get a nice puddle, I'd have a tiny puddle but when I tried to make it bigger it just wouldn't work to me it looked as if it wasn't hot enough or gas was to muchI was using 30 for the gas but I had a small leak where the torch hose connects to the flowmeter ( I was kinda in a rush) I was using a #5 cup, I'm not sure if 30cf of gas is to much for this cup sizeHad it at 115amps, not sure if this is near hot enoughAnd I I never got the millscale off the plate or anythingI'm pretty sure I was on the wrong polarity at first because the tungsten crackled and balled up almost instantly, I switched it and could maintain an arc but couldn't get a nice hot puddle goingI have more research to do but I figured I'd ask here, Any information, opinions or suggestions would be greatly appreciatedTy in advance
Reply:No need to have the gas that high up, reduce it down to 15-20 cfm. One critical thing you forgot to tell us is how think it the piece of steel you're trying to weld? To say anything about amperage. I personally always have mine set at 200amps (my machine's max) regardless of what I'm doing and just properly control it with the foot pedal. The balling and crackling sounds, sound like you had it on AC for sure. Originally Posted by then3wguyWell, I got the torch set up for 1/8 tungsten, 100% argon but the machine, I don't know what it is, something at workThe last 30min or work I wanted to test my equipment just to see if it worked but I could get a nice puddle, I'd have a tiny puddle but when I tried to make it bigger it just wouldn't work to me it looked as if it wasn't hot enough or gas was to muchI was using 30 for the gas but I had a small leak where the torch hose connects to the flowmeter ( I was kinda in a rush) I was using a #5 cup, I'm not sure if 30cf of gas is to much for this cup sizeHad it at 115amps, not sure if this is near hot enoughAnd I I never got the millscale off the plate or anythingI'm pretty sure I was on the wrong polarity at first because the tungsten crackled and balled up almost instantly, I switched it and could maintain an arc but couldn't get a nice hot puddle goingI have more research to do but I figured I'd ask here, Any information, opinions or suggestions would be greatly appreciatedTy in advance
Reply:Pictures????It will take some time to unravel this tangle.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:yup, pictures pictures, pictures.As was said before, lower the argon CFH IF that indeed is the right cup size for the application, and for crying out loud, get rid of all the millscale until you get a darn near mirror finish!  Even I know you're supposed to do that, LOL.
Reply:Originally Posted by then3wguyWell, I got the torch set up for 1/8 tungsten,....I was using 30 for the gas but I had a small leak where the torch hose connects to the flowmeter ( I was kinda in a rush) I was using a #5 cup, I'm not sure if 30cf of gas is to much for this cup sizeHad it at 115amps, not sure if this is near hot enoughAnd I I never got the millscale off the plate or anythingI'm pretty sure I was on the wrong polarity at first because the tungsten crackled and balled up almost instantly, I switched it and could maintain an arc but couldn't get a nice hot puddle going
Reply:Try a 3/32" Tungsten..200 ampsMillscale has to GO!Make sure the machine is set on DCEN!!!!!!!Now try it....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Thanks for the replys, I can't take pictures of the puddle while the arc is struck and that's what I'm talking aboutThe way the puddle was acting was as if it wasn't enough heat and to much gas along with millscaleMonday I'll take more time during a break and lower the gas, try different heat on clean materialAnd I don't have a foot peddleBut thanks for the comments, much appreciatedAnd I was curious to know the proper way to scratch start a tig arc... Same as stick? Right off the parent material or I've read a way to arc it off the filler rod? Thanks in advance
Reply:1/8th tungsten, what amps would you suggest on say, 1/8 steel, for exampleMy objective is to master pipe roots but I was in a rush just to see if the equipment I bought and gas I bought would work, which it did and now I'm trying to educate myself furtherSeems 1/8 tungsten might be a little large but that's ok, I'll purchase smaller consumables Once I figure out this 1/8th setupAgain, thanks for the comments
Reply:Originally Posted by then3wguy1/8th tungsten, what amps would you suggest on say, 1/8 steel, for exampleMy objective is to master pipe roots but I was in a rush just to see if the equipment I bought and gas I bought would work, which it did and now I'm trying to educate myself furtherSeems 1/8 tungsten might be a little large but that's ok, I'll purchase smaller consumables Once I figure out this 1/8th setupAgain, thanks for the comments
Reply:I got a new 17v weldcraft tig torch rated for 150amps for half price, bought collets, collet bodies and thoriated tungsten for 1/8th setup.. Also using a size 5 cup but i have various sizes.... Bought a small bottle of argon and the machine is just some machine at workI'm pricing an Sa200 which is what I'll use practicing tig, but until then I'll use the little one in the shop and get accustom to troubleshooting tig and using 1/8th setup And that's where I am at the moment
Reply:Originally Posted by then3wguyI got a new 17v weldcraft tig torch rated for 150amps for half price, bought collets, collet bodies and thoriated tungsten for 1/8th setup.. Also using a size 5 cup but i have various sizes.... Bought a small bottle of argon and the machine is just some machine at workI'm pricing an Sa200 which is what I'll use practicing tig, but until then I'll use the little one in the shop and get accustom to troubleshooting tig and using 1/8th setup And that's where I am at the moment
Reply:Awesome, thank you for that chartI was running way to low of amps with the 1/8 tungsten, gas to high and millscaleThinking about how the puddle looked while I was trying to build the puddle, it all makes senceHopefully problem solved, thanks you much, much appreciated
Reply:Pretty much what I could say is posted above.You can put a copper block near where you intend on welding and scratch start on that for less contamination of the tungsten.  It seems to me mild steel just has stuff that comes out and limits how far you can go before regrinding under the best conditions.  I am sure it isn't highly regarded on here but striking and kind of waving an arc back and forth over a section of the weld to be, then wire brushing and grinding the tungsten is the lazy way.Some machines holding a closer arc will make more heat and some won't or not so much.  Some have a switch for tig and stick in which the stick is the first one mentioned and tig the latter.
Reply:Hmm, I never really took notice of the machine I was usingIt's a small box, it's not a miller or Lincoln with the name obviously written on it... It's some sort of red-d-arc rental about the size of a large Xmas gift, I'm guessing it might be a Lincoln under their nameBut people do flux with it at 27v, I've never used it for flux so I don't know if it struggles or notIt does have an inverter tho, scratch tig, lift arc tig, mig, stick and a few others that I can remember at the momentIt might be a 300 something, I'm not sure, I'm just running off memory right now