Green glow around TIG arc?

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Usually, when I see a green glow around my arc, I assume that my tungsten is contaminated, so I grind my tungsten.    Today, that did not seem to help.   So I found a fresh piece of tungsten, and ground a point on it.  Same result.   Could this be contamination of the steel?  I also noted significant porosity, which makes me think of gas coverage.Material: 14 ga to 1/8 inch thick mild steel (the 1/8 was 3 inch sq tube).Welder: Syncrowave 200Amps: 125  - Pulse was on, mostly a habit.CK9 torch with a 1/16 tungsten and a gas lens - I have a WP17 torch but don't use it unless I have the power turned up higher.Argon flow: 18 cfhI did some token research on the internet, but nothing jumped out at me.Thoughts, comments?RichardSculptures in copper and other metalshttp://www.fergusonsculpture.comSyncrowave 200 Millermatic 211Readywelder spoolgunHypertherm 600 plasma cutterThermal Arc GMS300 Victor OA torchHomemade Blacksmith propane forge
Reply:What type of tungsten are you using? Also what kind of helmet?
Reply:absolutely contamination somewhere. are you getting enough argon flow? You may want to try a larger tungsten too, 1/16th isn't good much above 100-120 amps if I recall correctlyMiller Multimatic 255
Reply:Check the torch. If you swapped tungsten while the torch was hot, you might have crushed the collet, which is very easy to do when the filler is still warm.  It will twist and collapse easily with the pressure from the back cap. 1st on WeldingWeb to have a scrolling sig! HTP Invertig 400HTP Invertig 221HTP ProPulse 300HTP ProPulse 200 x2HTP ProPulse 220MTSHTP Inverarc 200TLP HTP Microcut 875SC
Reply:if your wheel or whatever your using to grind your tungsten could could contaminate if it was used previously for carbon etc.     I'll see a halo around headlights or an arc for about a day, if my eye had gotten hit w/ something or slightly traumatized
Reply:Originally Posted by That Guy ThereWhat type of tungsten are you using? Also what kind of helmet?
Reply:Not to highjack the thread. I see a bright green on occasion when I mig weld. Is that contamination or alcohol poisoning?Dave ReberWadsworth Ohio
Reply:Originally Posted by rafergusonUsually, when I see a green glow around my arc, I assume that my tungsten is contaminated, so I grind my tungsten.    Today, that did not seem to help.   So I found a fresh piece of tungsten, and ground a point on it.  Same result.   Could this be contamination of the steel?  I also noted significant porosity, which makes me think of gas coverage.Material: 14 ga to 1/8 inch thick mild steel (the 1/8 was 3 inch sq tube).Welder: Syncrowave 200Amps: 125  - Pulse was on, mostly a habit.CK9 torch with a 1/16 tungsten and a gas lens - I have a WP17 torch but don't use it unless I have the power turned up higher.Argon flow: 18 cfhI did some token research on the internet, but nothing jumped out at me.Thoughts, comments?Richard
Reply:I was getting more baffled by the minute.   So I did the following:Took of the covers of the welder and inspected the line between the automatic valve and where the welder plugged in.   It all looked good.  I did not, however, take soapy water and do a leak test, maybe a bit nervous to do that with the welder powered up.  Tried a completely different torch, the WP17 torch that came with the welder, with 3/32 thoriated (red) tungsten. Checked the meter for the cfh for the argon:  Set just below 20 cfh.The problem was still there, so I started doing some serious head scratching.  I put on a new sanding disk and sanded the tungsten.And I sanded the mill scale off the piece and got down to bright metal.   Lo and behold the green glow was gone.   I did find that sanding off the mill scale made a huge difference in the quality of the welds.   With bright metal, the weld looked good.  With mill scale, the weld looked like garbage.   I suppose that I should have known this already, but I am going to be a lot more diligent about removing mill scale in the future.Thanks to all for your thoughts and suggestions.Richard Originally Posted by rafergusonUsually, when I see a green glow around my arc, I assume that my tungsten is contaminated, so I grind my tungsten.    Today, that did not seem to help.   So I found a fresh piece of tungsten, and ground a point on it.  Same result.   Could this be contamination of the steel?  I also noted significant porosity, which makes me think of gas coverage.Material: 14 ga to 1/8 inch thick mild steel (the 1/8 was 3 inch sq tube).Welder: Syncrowave 200Amps: 125  - Pulse was on, mostly a habit.CK9 torch with a 1/16 tungsten and a gas lens - I have a WP17 torch but don't use it unless I have the power turned up higher.Argon flow: 18 cfhI did some token research on the internet, but nothing jumped out at me.Thoughts, comments?Richard
Reply:I got a post started on a similar subject, yet to tig WITH the mill scale still present and prosit.I have to well nasty metal constantly.The green glow with also go away if you tig (hot&heavy) on cleaned work piece for 15sec+, without any tungsten cleaning/grinding, although your arc will wonder like 3yr old rug rat.I don't make money welding, but it sure pays well