First Time TIG

admin

Well, since I've been unable to find a used argon bottle within a 2 hour drive that my gas supplier would fill or that still had a good hydro cert; I finally bit the bullet and bought a new bottle so I could get some seat time (even if it was only a little bit). I got the scratch-start rig up and running last Saturday and started melting some steel for the first time ever with a TIG. Only problem I had was that I could only run a couple beads before the breaker (220v 30a) would trip and I'd have to wait 10 mins or so to start running again. Am I overrunning the duty cycle or are my leads just that bad? I've attached a few photos so you guys can tell me how I'm doing. Specs are below:Miller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DC Weldcraft 26V torch100% Argon at ~20cfh1/16" 2% Red (Thoriated) tungsten#6 NozzleDCEN at ~85-90amps1/8" mild steel work piece (pitted like crazy, cleaned the rust of as best I could with the blast cabinet, grinder, and acetone)1/16" ER70-S2 filler Attached ImagesLast edited by mopar440_6; 10-09-2014 at 10:38 PM."You cannot inspect quality into a product, it must be manufactured into the product."Millermatic 210Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC Blue-Point (Smith) O/A
Reply:you need a 50 amp breaker at leastAHP alphatig 200xclarke 130en MIG (first welder i ever bought)NT Plasma 375craftsman 240/180 ac/dc ARCcustom 60x30x30 powder coating ovenhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Rossi...18853401526643
Reply:Originally Posted by limegreentjyou need a 50 amp breaker at least
Reply:Running at 85-90 amps on that machine and a 30 amp breaker is right on the edge. I'll be if you ran 80 amps you would never trip the 30 amp breaker.I also suggest getting you a good 50 amp circuit (with 6 gauge wire) run for this machine. That way you can run wide open and never trip the breaker. That has got to be frustrating.GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.
Reply:That's kinda what I was afraid of. My current shop is a rented building and the 220V wiring is run to the main panel in another unit so I would have to get the landlord involved to change anything. I'm in the middle of buying a new house which will include a new shop so I might just have to get some thinner material to practice on and crank the amps down until then. I'll have to try the 2% lanthanated tungstens. The thoriated ones came with the torch so I've just been practicing with those for now. I think I've got a collet to step up to the 3/32 tungstens. Will have to give that a try next time I can sit down with it for a while. How bad do the beads that I've run so far look? I'm certainly not happy with them but perfect practice makes perfect so more seat time for me..."You cannot inspect quality into a product, it must be manufactured into the product."Millermatic 210Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC Blue-Point (Smith) O/A
Reply:Looks like you have a lot of arc wander.  Try tightening up your arc length and make sure your tungsten is sharp ( sharpened length wise), and keep practicing.