Ranger 250 Tig welding

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I just received my tig accesories for my ranger 250.Air cooled torch, foot control and tungsten kit all from Lincoln.Can you give me some idea's on how to get started with this set-up, I am using Stargon gas that I use with my 255 mig.I tried to weld some beads on some  scrap (mild steel) yesterday I got the rocking start weighed off pretty good but as I move along I seem to succeed in melting the tungsten only, at real low amperage I can can travel right along and not melt it, but as I increase the heat to get some penetration,It's bye bye Tungsten.I would appreciate your advise very much
Reply:Sounds like you are using too much heat for the diameter of the tungsten.  Can you give us some numbers?Owner of Welding Wiki,The free wiki based resource for weldor's around the world.http://www.weldingwiki.comWe have cookies!
Reply:I was using a 1/8" tungsten with #6 cup between 20cc and 50cc, gas flow was around 35cfh, I tried that at different levels also with the valve on the torch. I have only used tig once before and that was a shop set-up with water cooled torch and the settings were done by the guy's in the shop so I never looked,just practiced a few beads on aluminum and did quite well much to their surprise and mine.So I am completely new to this process, I have extensive experience in oxy/acetylene braising and wire feed and stick (steel buildings) so am quite upset at my lack of knowledge in the gtaw process, Totally green.
Reply:Not sure if this is the gas blend you are using or not http://www.praxair.com/praxair.nsf/0...E?OpenDocument? but for tig welding steels and stainless steels you should be using 100% Argon
Reply:Yes this is the blend I am using, will this cause the problem that I am having? or at least contribute to it.
Reply:Possibly.  How many amps are you running?Owner of Welding Wiki,The free wiki based resource for weldor's around the world.http://www.weldingwiki.comWe have cookies!
Reply:Howdy Howdy!  out of curiosity, what is your polarity? You should be in DCEN for steel and 100% Argon for best results.  It sounds like your tungsten is melting from eithier DCEP, or the wrong additives in your tungsten.  Is it the red tip?  You should have 2% Thoriated, the red one.  In the size your using, you shouldn't have any problems with the power your machine can put out, if in the right polarity.  No expert here, but I have melted a bit of tungsten lately myself from the wrong polarity.  Good Luck!  Brian Lee  Sparkeee24
Reply:Sparkee, Looks like you nailed it I was using DCEP (told y'all I was green) should I also change my shielding gas?  and yes they are red tip tungsten's that I have.
Reply:i would change to the 100% argon gas to tig. truthfully I have never used anything except 100% argon for tig, with the exception of a argon/helium mix for tig welding aluminum, and I have been a professional tig welder for over 20 years
Reply:Well then Sir, I will change to 100% Argon then, Thank you for your replies everyone, it sure is nice to have access to this forum. Beats banging my head against the wall over and over.  Wrong polarity wrong gas, maybe I should be flipping burgers for a living!!!Happy holidays to all and Thanks again
Reply:In Order to be good a TIG , you need to see and learn from a seasoned TIG welder human.You must be shown how to do this.
Reply:Originally Posted by MetalSculptorIn Order to be good a TIG , you need to see and learn from a seasoned TIG welder human.You must be shown how to do this.
Reply:There are any number of ways to gain expertise in a field.  It's probably not relevant to enumerate them all in this thread.My first thought was that the setup should be DCEN and that's what it turned out to be.  It looks like Stargon contains CO2 which is reactive and will contaminate the tungsten.  As already stated, one should use 100% argon or possibly a combination of argon and helium, both of which are inert.-Heath
Reply:I appreciate what you are saying there Matalsculptor, however seeing as I do this for a living,(steel work) I thought I could just pick tig up real easy, obviously not the case.Today I changed my gas to 100% Argon hooked her up DCEN and had a hell of a time welding away I cannot believe how stupid I was but sometimes I think I know everything and can do it all.But now see when I come back to reality I can ask you guy's for help. And trust me asking for help is very hard for me to do.So again thanks for all your input.