Bad Argon?

admin

I have been working on a project for three days TIG welding an aluminum rack, with good results.  I just went to swap out an empty argon bottle, now I seem to be having all kinds of contamination problems when trying to introduce the filler rod.   Cleanliness and machine settings are not an issue, since the argon was the only thing that has changed.  Does anyone know how common it is to get bad argon?   The cup looks normal and working the base metal by itself gives a good clean weld (shiny clear puddle).Thanks,Rick
Reply:It's not very common, but I also had a bad bottle a while back.My name's not Jim....
Reply:It does happen."SOUTHPAW" A wise person learns from another persons mistakes;A smart person learns from their own mistakes;But, a stupid person.............never learns.
Reply:Yup, not the first time that has ever happened. While rare, it does and will happen. Bottles get mislabeled all the time. If that really is the only parameter change, swap out the bottle and see what happens. This kind of thing is one of the reasons I try to keep several bottles of each gas on hand in the shop. Less chance of a delay that way.QamuIs Heg qaq law' lorvIs yInqaq puS
Reply:My last bottle was bad too.Bill LambertArgon WeldingABQ NMSic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc
Reply:make shure its argon i got a wrongtank before i think they gave menitrogen what ever it was the colorson the tank where the same as argon
Reply:While rare, it does happen from time to time.More likely than mislabeling is when a bottle previously held a mixed (or other) gas, and wasn't purged properly prior to filling with argon.Say the bottle was previously used for C25 and then was filled with straight argon.  If the bottle had not been purged properly, trace amounts (enough to notice with tig) of CO2 could remain in the bottle and contaminate the argon.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:Did you happen to change the flow adjusting knob when you were handling the regulator when changing out the bottle?
Reply:Thanks for the help.  It was a bad bottle of argon.  I hooked a new one up and off I went.  I assume an accomplished TIG welder would have known this immediately, a total newcomer would have given up the sport as too frustrating, and someone of my level of experience would beat their head against the wall for several days.  Ouch!
Reply:Hello OregonRick, as SundownIII mentioned, it is likely an issue with the fill line from your supplier. Most of the high-pressure shielding gas bottles are identical in construction and depending upon demand and supply of empties they might need to use bottles other than those that were previously used for argon and vice-a-versa. Additionally, with the use of the newer valves on updated bottles there is a siphon tube incorporated in their design that can somewhat complicate the purging and clearing of used bottles. All it takes is a newb on the fill line or someone not paying attention and you will end up receiving an inferior bottle of argon or other type of shielding gas or combination. At our school we have had instances of argon bottles being contaminated with other residual gases and have also had instances of receiving mixed gases with incorrect levels of Argon/CO2/Ox/Helium, whatever the mix was supposed to be, it wasn't. One nice thing about experiencing this is that when or if you have this occur again you'll likely know really quickly what to do to correct the situation. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:Allan, your right about that.  It's when things don't go right that you usually learn the most.  It might be fulfilling in hindsight, but frustrating while trying to figure out what the problem is.  Thanks again,  Rick
Reply:Hello Rick, I see that you're just a stone's throw south of me. Can you share the name of your employer? I might be familar with them as I am a transplant from the Portland area just a tad over 20 years ago. Didn't grow up there, but worked in that area for a number of years. Best regards, Allanaevald