Bad shielding gas?

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Alright I just got a brand new Lincoln Ranger 250 GXT. Been in welding classes for a year and wanted to get my own machine and do some mobile work. I tried TIG with the machine for the first time tonight. Ive been doing TIG for a year or so now. Well I conected the TIG torch to the electrode lead on the machine and ground cable to the work lead. Polarity DC-. Sharpened my 2% thoriated tungsten, turned on the shielding gas to 20cfh and started the arc by touching the metal. Didnt have a foot pedal hooked up but I had the amps at the 50-80 section and turned it to the middle on the 1-10 fine control. Well when I struck the arc I instantley noticed something wasnt right. It looked like a sparkler. Around the weld pool their was a thin glowing orange line. Sparks blowing with the shielding gas, and orange rust oxidation around the weld. I stopped, thinking it was maybe dirty metal so I went and took it to the wire wheel and cleaned it again. Metal was shinning with no milscale or rust. Tungsten was also black with contamination. Sharpened and cleaned it all off the tungsten and tried again with the same results. I tried turned the shielding up down to 10cfh then back up to 30cfh then back to 20cfh. Brand new bottle just purchased it from Airgas, 100% argon. Is it possible that Airgas put the wrong gas in the cylinder? Maybe 75/25? Would this cause my issues? Thanks for any inputLone Star Mobile Welding, LLC2006 Ram 3500Lincoln Ranger 250GXTHypertherm 30 AirK2000 CAG ESAB Rebel 215ic Milwaukee mag drillDewalt dry cut sawMilwaukee metal cutting circular sawMilwaukee M18 Fuel Chisholm Lead Reels
Reply:Leak check all connection and every hose, even the connection in the torch body. Check to make sure the torch parts are all in like they should be. When I have seen 75/25 used for tig it didn't erode the tungsten that bad, but it could still be bad gas. Are you getting enough flow out of the torch or does it feel like theres not much flowing?Also, a wire wheel usually won't clean steel enough for tig welding, you need to grind it down to clean steel with a stone or flap disk.Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:The entire time ive been in school ive only used a wire wheel and never had this happen before. But dirty metal wouldnt cause that issue with the tungsten. I wrapped the threads on the connections with teflon tape for the gas line and snugged them down. It should have been fixed if I turned up the shielding gas but it wasnt and wasnt acting any better. It also seemed like the shielding gas was blowing the sparks and oxidation to one side of the weld. I also did accidentally forget to turn on the shielding gas a couple of times (first time using a gas valve) and new instantly when I did it. Also there is a white coating on the medal after I did that and wasnt present when I used shielding gasSent from my GT-N5110 using TapatalkLone Star Mobile Welding, LLC2006 Ram 3500Lincoln Ranger 250GXTHypertherm 30 AirK2000 CAG ESAB Rebel 215ic Milwaukee mag drillDewalt dry cut sawMilwaukee metal cutting circular sawMilwaukee M18 Fuel Chisholm Lead Reels
Reply:What exactly does it say on the gas cylinder label?FYI a wire wheel doesn't remove rust or scale. All it does is polish it up. You need a grinding wheel or sanding disk to remove rust and scale. I doubt this is your issue though. I'm betting it's gas related. Until we know what gas you are supposed to have in your cylinder, we can only guess. It wouldn't be the 1st time the gas in the cylinder wasn't what was marked though..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:When you have a leak (pinhole) sometimes turning the flow up will cause more trouble with the shielding. I don't think you need Teflon tape on the connections either.Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWWhat exactly does it say on the gas cylinder label?FYI a wire wheel doesn't remove rust or scale. All it does is polish it up. You need a grinding wheel or sanding disk to remove rust and scale. I doubt this is your issue though. I'm betting it's gas related. Until we know what gas you are supposed to have in your cylinder, we can only guess. It wouldn't be the 1st time the gas in the cylinder wasn't what was marked though.
Reply:Originally Posted by achirdoI wrapped the threads on the connections with teflon tape for the gas line and snugged them down.
Reply:Originally Posted by TensaitekiWhat? Exactly which connections did you teflon? Most standard shielding gas fittings do not seal better with teflon tape, and can often seal even worse when it is added.No, not really. As SquirmyPug said, if you have a leak, turning the pressure/flow up will not make it better, and stands a good chance of just sucking more air into your gas lines thanks to the Venturi effect.Chances are that you either had/have a leak or bad shielding gas connection somewhere, or there is a draft blowing away the shielding gas. Assuming, of course, that you are holding a proper stick-out and arc length.Sent from an actual computer using a real keyboard, like a grown-up.
Reply:Alright I took all the Teflon tape off, snugged down all the connections nice and tight and it is still having the same problem. Any suggestions/ideas?Lone Star Mobile Welding, LLC2006 Ram 3500Lincoln Ranger 250GXTHypertherm 30 AirK2000 CAG ESAB Rebel 215ic Milwaukee mag drillDewalt dry cut sawMilwaukee metal cutting circular sawMilwaukee M18 Fuel Chisholm Lead Reels
Reply:Originally Posted by achirdoAlright I took all the Teflon tape off, snugged down all the connections nice and tight and it is still having the same problem. Any suggestions/ideas?
Reply:Yeah its getting good flow out of the torch. I even took it apart to make sure there was nothing clogged in there. Headed up to airgas in the morning and not leaving until it gets resolved. Bringing everything up there. Sent from my GT-N5110 using TapatalkLone Star Mobile Welding, LLC2006 Ram 3500Lincoln Ranger 250GXTHypertherm 30 AirK2000 CAG ESAB Rebel 215ic Milwaukee mag drillDewalt dry cut sawMilwaukee metal cutting circular sawMilwaukee M18 Fuel Chisholm Lead Reels