Red hot tungsten

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My 250 Idealarc  is turned down all the way down but 1/16 thoriated still gets red . Do I just need bigger tungensten?
Reply:Obviously the tungsten is going to get extremely hot but what is your gas flow rate?  Are you sure the gas is getting to the tip?MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:What polarity are you running?  Run it with the torch on the negative terminal.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:what color is the tung after it has cooled?tungsten color or black/ blue?G
Reply:Originally Posted by WelderskelterMy 250 Idealarc  is turned down all the way down but 1/16 thoriated still gets red . Do I just need bigger tungensten?
Reply:You can look this up for yourself, the maximum current that a 1/16" tungsten can handle, I'm guessing around 100 amps at least on DCEN and Argon gas (I don't have a photographic memory and don't feel like looking it up now).  As others noted above, sounds like you are connected electrode positive instead of negative as you should be for GTAW.Additionally do you have adequate inert gas shielding (argon) flow to protect the electrode while it is hot, during the weld and some postflow after extinquishing the arc, and is the shield gas contaminated by leaks in the system or a breeze blowing the gas from the arc.  Again, as noted above, your tungsten should be shiny silver color after welding, if blue or black, you do not have adequate shielding while the tunsten is still hot.