Syncrowave 250 Aluminum Issues

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I just picked up a syncro 250 to replace the Dialarc HF. I never did a lot of aluminum due to the fact the dialarc was not very good at aluminum.Material: 6061, cleanedMachine settings:200 ampsAC Balance 7.5HF Continuous2% Red (I know this is not ideal, but it should still work. Right?)Tried 17-22 CFMFirst problem, I can never get the puddle to form. It just burns the material.Second problem, I have the HF up all the way and the gap set at .008, and it is still hard sometimes to get the arc started.I've attached a picture of the material. Any help would be great. Attached ImagesDynamic MetalworksMontrose, CODynMetalworks.com
Reply:BTW: The torch is new and I know the shielding gas is coming out of the torch.Dynamic MetalworksMontrose, CODynMetalworks.com
Reply:You sure you have the right shielding gas? It looks like lack of shielding or wrong polarity (like DCEP)...also are you sure that the piece is 6061? Are you burning up your tungsten?
Reply:As said on the other board....turn the Welder to AC
Reply:Its on AC.It was the shielding gas. I've never checked it before, always got argon when I told the LWS thats what I wanted. Guess the guy for got to check the label this time.Well thanks for the reply's.Dynamic MetalworksMontrose, CODynMetalworks.com
Reply:Once again, check your collet body and see if it is screwed in all the way. If not, your backcap will screw in too far and cut off your gas flow. Happens all too often.
Reply:You should try to avoid running with your HF set wide open. Use as low of a setting that will work. I'm usually at about 3 or so.
Reply:This is going to sound really weird..had a similar problem.  Had been working on an old cybertig and could NOT ball tungsten in DC Reverse and could NOT get a puddle in AC trying to weld aluminum.  Would just get black sagging aluminum.  Drove me crazy..the problem was the switch to go to AC was stuck in DC...it was broken internally and I did not realize it.  Of course the machine would weld steel great...NOT saying this is your problem just pointing out that silly crazy things happen.  Keep in mind that the switch would move physically but internally nothing moved, just stuck in DC.  fixed the switch works great now.  Do not overlook crazy simple stuff.  Well finding the parts and fixing the switch was not simple but I like a challenge.
Reply:OP posted a similar post on Millerwelds.Problem is he didn't have straight argon.  LWS, I suspect, had sold him a bottle of mixed gas.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:That's horrible. What was it? Co2?
Reply:Originally Posted by BryanDowdyIts on AC.It was the shielding gas. I've never checked it before, always got argon when I told the LWS thats what I wanted. Guess the guy for got to check the label this time.Well thanks for the reply's.
Reply:Originally Posted by welds4dYou should try to avoid running with your HF set wide open. Use as low of a setting that will work. I'm usually at about 3 or so.
Reply:Originally Posted by SundownIIIOP posted a similar post on Millerwelds.Problem is he didn't have straight argon.  LWS, I suspect, had sold him a bottle of mixed gas.
Reply:One thing we can all be assured of is that Donald is going to provide an answer.May not have the foggiest thing to do with the question asked, but he's GOING TO PROVIDE AN ANSWER.I don't think I've EVER left my LWS without checking the label on the bottle.  But, then again, I mix my own gases so I tend to pay a little more attention than most it would seem.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by SR20steveYou sure you have the right shielding gas? It looks like lack of shielding or wrong polarity (like DCEP)..
Reply:Over here the bottles are colour coded , Ar ... Peacock blue, He Brown, etc ... bit hard to confuse really . Ar He mix blue with brown top , depth of top reflects % HeA good guess is better than a bad measurement
Reply:Great example of no inert shielding on Aluminum.  Maybe the original post should be edited and saved as a sticky.  Good instructional picture for folks who have not seen lack of shielding on aluminum before.
Reply:Originally Posted by SundownIIIOne thing we can all be assured of is that Donald is going to provide an answer.May not have the foggiest thing to do with the question asked, but he's GOING TO PROVIDE AN ANSWER.I don't think I've EVER left my LWS without checking the label on the bottle.  But, then again, I mix my own gases so I tend to pay a little more attention than most it would seem.