Welding Aluminum unstable arc

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So i just got a dynasty 200 sd. Here is my set up, ac 50% balance 140 amps, green tungsten Argon is set at 30. and I just keep getting black dots on my aluminum.  I have cleaned the thing to death. I dont know what the problem is, Ive read the sticky on aluminum I feel I have done everything it suggested when you cant get a puddle. The only thing I can think of is my argon gas is super old. Dunno if it breaks down, i wouldnt think so.  I hope I have exlpained myself well. I am new to tig, with steel everything works perfect. Any suggestions would be very appreciated. Thanks in advance
Reply:Turn your balance up to about 85.Loose the pure tungsten.  Not recommended for an inverter.  Get some 2% Lanthanated or Ceriated tungsten.Clean the base metal with a SS brush before attempting to weld.You mention amps but not the thickness of the material you're trying to weld.I'd recommend going to millerwelds.com, click on the Resources tab.  There you will find an offer for their "Student Pack".  It's $25 including shipping.  Includes an excellent Tig Handbook, a GMAW Handbook, a GMAW-P Handbook and a bunch of other useful goodies.  Best $25 you'll ever spend on welding.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:Thanks for the quick response the thickenss is just an 1/8 maybe a little more. I will check out those resources! I wasnt sure if the orange was for aluminum or steel. I forgot. Thanks Ill try that. I had done the ss brush, I also had done sandpaper/acetone then the ss brush.
Reply:try,The balance setting of between 80-85% will put more heat into the bead (less cleaning).  At 50% you're putting too much heat into the tungsten.  If properly prepped, aluminum doesn't need that much cleaning.One other thing that wasn't mentioned, is where do you have your AC freq settings.  On the Dynasty 200 you'll find that a setting of about 100-120 works well.  The higher you go on the frequency, the tighter the arc becomes.Tungsten to work distance should be about equal to the dia. of your tungsten.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:Ah yea I noticed you need to be alot closer. freq was set to 130. I am getting alot better results already. Not quite getting a puddle yet but, I actualy blew through the sheet. Which before I was getting no penetration. I set the AC to 120.
Reply:Update: so its working good now, only 2 problems I see, its a super wide area, and the arc is still dancing around but not crazy anymore, could just be my unsteady hand.
Reply:Try a 2% ceriated tungsten sharpened with a small flat on the end & check your filler rods, have to be clean.
Reply:http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...Book_Chpt6.pdfFigure 6.3bEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:@Old Skool Thank you, I was told to grind them completely flat.@Broccoli1 Thanks alot this is super helpful I went ahead and ordered that student kit. I think this will be great for the mean time!
Reply:I don't see the direction of grind mentioned. You need to grind it so that the grind marks go to the point and not around the tungsten.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:Originally Posted by tryple5soul@Old Skool Thank you, I was told to grind them completely flat.@Broccoli1 Thanks alot this is super helpful I went ahead and ordered that student kit. I think this will be great for the mean time!
Reply:well paint me blue and call me susie. my stupid argon tank is 25% co2! im so sorry everyone thanks for all the help. At least I got loads of resources. Gonna goto air gas tomorrow and get a new tank. Long story short. A guy sold me a welder and I think purposely sabotaged my endeavors. I had to get a different welder but he told me to keep the tank.
Reply:Yepper,Pretty tough to tig weld with C25.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:Doh! Stupid argon tank! I hate it when they do that.At the risk of hijacking this thread:Broccoli1 said - "I'm not sure if Sundown posted here about his Tungsten grinder set-up ( Might be on Miller) but worth searching"I'm getting ready to completely change my bench grinding station and I would be very interested in hearing about Sundown's tungsten grinding setup. I've looked at the Sharpie's and the other tungsten grinders and although they seem ok, I prefer to hand-grind on a dedicated wheel.Could someone hit me with a link to that thread? I can't seem to find it on WW and I don't really spend much time on Miller's forum.Thanks,Eric.
Reply:Originally Posted by tryple5soul Argon is set at 30.
Reply:Originally Posted by Welding_SwedeDoh! Stupid argon tank! I hate it when they do that.At the risk of hijacking this thread:Broccoli1 said - "I'm not sure if Sundown posted here about his Tungsten grinder set-up ( Might be on Miller) but worth searching"I'm getting ready to completely change my bench grinding station and I would be very interested in hearing about Sundown's tungsten grinding setup. I've looked at the Sharpie's and the other tungsten grinders and although they seem ok, I prefer to hand-grind on a dedicated wheel.Could someone hit me with a link to that thread? I can't seem to find it on WW and I don't really spend much time on Miller's forum.Thanks,Eric.
Reply:Thanks Ed, much appreciated!And, thanks also to Sundown for the original post sharing the info and pics. You saved me a bunch of time which is one thing I never have enough of.Eric
Reply:Originally Posted by tryple5soul I dont know what the problem is, Ive read the sticky on aluminum
Reply:HI Here is a tungsten sharpener I made fro a trim router from HF using a 2” disc sander.  Contact the sanding surface only at the 6:00 and 12:00 position to have straight grind marks. I use 120 grit. Have funTom Attached Images
Reply:@snowboarder not to create a argument or anything. I did read your sticky, I tried those settings. I mean I should have looked at my shielding gas to begin with. The settings I mentioned were the ones a friend of mine had suggested. I am at 30 CFH. The settings im using now are from broccoli's link. Still awaiting the student kit tho. Nonetheless with the pure argon things are going alot better. I think its just a matter of practice now. Thank you all once again. Feel free to hi jack lolLast edited by tryple5soul; 05-26-2011 at 11:33 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by sn0border8830 CFH works great on my dynasty 200, and it certainly wouldn't be way to high on any machine with a collet.
Reply:Originally Posted by KelvinToo much argon is just as bad as too little because it will cause turbulence and drag air back into the puddle.
Reply:Originally Posted by tryple5soul@snowboarder not to create a argument or anything. I did read your sticky, I tried those settings. I mean I should have looked at my shielding gas to begin with. The settings I mentioned were the ones a friend of mine had suggested.
Reply:Originally Posted by sn0border88It is indeed, but you wont see that happen at 30cfh.  I've tried to create turbulence before and ran 50+ with no ill effects.  Not saying that its a good idea to go THAT high, but people make a bigger deal over high gas flow rates than what it really is.  Most of the time your just wasting gas, not causing any kind of quality issues.
Reply:With an inverter machine you may wish to try Zirconated tungsten as well....higher upfront cost but if you can keep from dipping your tungsten in the puddle you will like it a whole lot betterLooks like the price on both the VS grinder and the wheels have gone up.  After a couple of years, who'd a thunk it...Almost the price of the Sharpie or HTP I could still use another grinder, VS to boot and remove the wheel.