Filler attraction!

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Why is it that when I am Tig welding in DC on regular steel, sometimes when I have the arc going the filler rod tends to "stick" to the material... It makes adding filler where I want quite difficult, though I dont always have this issues... I tried searching but couldn't find anything, maybe I was using the wrong search terms...HTP Invertig 201Lincoln Idealarc SP250Miller 180 AC StickBy farmall:They should have held the seagull closer to the work, squeezing evenly for best deposition.
Reply:Here is a cool article I found on magnetism. http://www.engineerlive.com/Oil-and-...rogress/22345/I am looking for maybe a de magnetizer, or I was thinking maybe I had some magnets close by and the effects of the arc somehow made them more noticeable? I didnt have any on the part but they were on my little cart...HTP Invertig 201Lincoln Idealarc SP250Miller 180 AC StickBy farmall:They should have held the seagull closer to the work, squeezing evenly for best deposition.
Reply:Try running a bit hotter.
Reply:I have tried that, I know in the past it has solved my issue but it didnt seem to work.. I was running around 105 amps.. Ill mess with it some more tommorow and see.HTP Invertig 201Lincoln Idealarc SP250Miller 180 AC StickBy farmall:They should have held the seagull closer to the work, squeezing evenly for best deposition.
Reply:Hello fordman, sometimes it can be as simple as using a smaller diameter filler rod. When you are trying to run a particular size bead too large of a filler has such a "heatsink" effect that it will draw enough heat from the puddle or chill it that the rod will stick. Also, where you add the rod can have an effect, too far out on the leading edge will increase the chances of sticking. Don't know if that is the case here, but worth some consideration. Good luck and best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:I'm using .062 filler. I may step down to .045. And maybe change the way I introduce filler. Ive been running a lot of alum lately and maybe I am trying to feed wrong. I want to try tapping the filler instead of pushing it like I tend to do... Working on my tubing welds lately.HTP Invertig 201Lincoln Idealarc SP250Miller 180 AC StickBy farmall:They should have held the seagull closer to the work, squeezing evenly for best deposition.
Reply:man i use 3/32 rod for almost all the steel i do. .045 stuff is like sheet metal stuff low amps.
Reply:Well it depends on the joint too. I think .062 should be fine it may be my dipping technique. I'll mess with it later.HTP Invertig 201Lincoln Idealarc SP250Miller 180 AC StickBy farmall:They should have held the seagull closer to the work, squeezing evenly for best deposition.
Reply:When current passes through a conductor, a magnetic field is induced around it.  Magnetic flux will also induce current.  If your filler material happens to be magnetic, it will tend to stick.
Reply:If it's magnetic or magnetized? Is it normal? Or maybe having my filler near a magnet?HTP Invertig 201Lincoln Idealarc SP250Miller 180 AC StickBy farmall:They should have held the seagull closer to the work, squeezing evenly for best deposition.
Reply:Yes it is normal, electricity and magnetism.  The higher the current you run through the base material, the stronger the magnetic field.  Mild steel filler metal is magnetic, in general, due it's iron content.Try welding mild steel at low current vs. high current, and compare the magnetic attraction.  Or, swap the mild steel filler for an austenitic stainless steel filler, and see if it attracts.
Reply:Ok I see. It seems the hotter puddle I have the easier it becomes to introduce filler into the puddle. It just gets tricky when I am doing a really tight angle, say a tube coming in at 30+ degrees.HTP Invertig 201Lincoln Idealarc SP250Miller 180 AC StickBy farmall:They should have held the seagull closer to the work, squeezing evenly for best deposition.
Reply:I have had stuff get really magnetized before and wrapping the welding lead around the piece you're welding can sometimes solve the problem. I have noticed if I stick a rod real good, the next rod seems to always end up right where the rod stuck. Arc blow is another symptom of magnetization. Arc blow is when you are welding fine then towards the end the weld starts splattering out of the puddle and causing bad welds. I have had the worst case of that with HY80 and HY100 plate.CERTIFICATIONS:7018M- H.V.O10718M- H.V.O11018M- H.V.O9N10- H.V.O71T-1-HYM- H.O.V100S1 PULSE ARC 0,035- H.O.V100S1 PULSE ARC 0.045- H.O.VER70S-3 PULSE ARC 0.035 H.O.VER70S-3 PULSE ARC 0.045 H.O.VER5554- H.O.V
Reply:Un-ground yourself. I was having the same problem a while back, and i decided to stop the weld once the filler got stuck to the material. Upon further investigation i saw arc marks were the filler had stuck. I was resting my bare arms onthe table and feeding the filler without a glove. I started insulating myself from the work and the problem seems to stop. Running a bit hotter also helps a lot. Rember when you dab the rod in the puddle, the very tip of the rod is still going to be molten shortly after, so if uou touch the metal during this period the rod fuses to the metal.