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[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-JCs58bNAE[/ame]  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Are those DC welds?  Regardless they look great.  I've always wanted to try welding AL with my maxstar but I just don't want to pay for the helium!
Reply:Nope AC, but with 75/25 helium Argon mix.......Square wave with Balance set at deep penetration....It keeps the tungsten sharper for longer runs in between servicing it...  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Hey Bill, do you ever run into a problem with soot / smut (black powdery stuff) when you are TIG welding with high Helium %?  (Especially pure Helium with no Argon in it)
Reply:Yeah you get that from commercial helium more than ultra pure (not as clean) how much flo are you using when you get the soot? Typically I only use straight Helium with DC- on aluminum.........I find that adding some argon smooths out the arc with AC  and makes it somewhat easier to establish an arc when starting up also.....Last edited by B_C; 02-22-2012 at 05:30 AM.  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:I found this pic of a DC- weld before clean up, and the gas was lab grade 5It's very expensive so be sure your customer is good with your choice before you go in that direction.......Last edited by B_C; 02-22-2012 at 05:44 AM.  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Thanks a lot, Bill - that totally explains it!  The helium I am using is 99.9% pure... three nine's.  That stuff you have I'll bet is five nine's pure... 99.999%.  (Maybe that's why they call it grade 5)I get the soot at any flow rate when I am running the Helium straight (without mixing in any Argon in along with it.)Last edited by jakeru; 02-22-2012 at 11:50 PM.
Reply:A little SRV (Little Wing?) for atmosphere never hurts.JoeMiller Syncrowave 200Mac/Miller MW130 MIGKalamazoo bandsawCincinnati Arrow 500 VMCColchester Dominion 15 x 36 lathe with 2 axis DRO
Reply:because of the price I had some 95/5 mixed up and it works good for DC- on aluminum and it's much cheaper than grade 5......That lab grade is typically used for lab experiments and leak checking not welding so if you contaminate it with argon the price comes wayyyyy down.......They usually start with grade 5 when mixing a special batch so you get clean helium this way and much more affordable  try it out  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Originally Posted by jakeruThanks a lot, Bill - that totally explains it!  The helium I am using is 99.9% pure... three nine's.  That stuff you have I'll bet is five nine's pure... 99.999%.  (Maybe that's why they call it grade 5)I get the soot at any flow rate when I am running the Helium straight (without mixing in any Argon in along with it.)
Reply:Thanks for the tips Bill.  I am going to look into the Helium-Argon mix products available from my local welding supply next time I'm down there.  I do recall that the lab-purity grade Helium cost about 33% more than the industrial-purity grade.
Reply:Originally Posted by scudzukiA little SRV (Little Wing?) for atmosphere never hurts.
Reply:Thanks Kev, I always be a rocker  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock