a few TIG questions

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now that i have my machine up and running. as soon as i turn it ON the gas starts flowing out the torch. is this supposed to happen? its a Lincoln Square wave TIG 175 PRO. about how far should i keep the tungsten away from the metal? is there a difference between tungsten for aluminum and tungsten for steel?how do i know when to use DC-, DC+, or AC?what does changing the cup size do?what does changing the tungsten size do?should i apply a technique similar to oxy. acet. welding and build a puddle, then move and dip?i did search. but couldnt find direct answers for this. thanks...Lincoln Square Wave 175 TIGLincoln 110v flux core welder (my 1st)Clarke 180EN MIG
Reply:FIRST ..i would like to thank STOODY that has a Banner ad on this page for NOT using a FLASH animation file and slowing down the page and the website. THANKS!!! Whoops.Forget that - now I see it WAS a flash animation. No need for it either.Now about all those TIG welding questions.If you did not get a instruction manual for your welding machine you can download one online.That will help a lot.Gas should not flow out of the torch all of the tme.Check your machine settings and make sure it is on REMOTE. If it is an air cooled torch close the knob.The tip of the tungsten should be held about 1/8 from the surface but keep it as close as possible without touching.The tungsten to use for steel is 2% thoriated. Look on the side of a full box of tungstens and there is a chart explaining the use of each color code of tungsten.Green stripe tungsten is pure tungsten and is used for AC on aluminum.The normal polarity for welding is that the torch is Negative and the ground is positive.Now the knob or lever on the machine is used for changing polarity NOT by switching cables on the machine !AC is for Aluminum. Some polarity changes (DC) could be necessary for certain situations and some types of metals and thicknesses, but you do not need to worry about that right now.Ceramic cups are selected for welding situations like narrow spaces or hard to reach spaces etc.,. A number 6 cup with a gas lens will cover your situation most of the time.Use a 3/32 tungsten because it will operate from about 0 to 150 amps. If you are welding very thin materials like 20 guage etc., then you may want to change tungsten and collets and cup to a smaller size tungsten. BTW the gas lens will help save gas by giving better coverage at lower pressure like (10lbs)  pressure, but if you have an aircooled torch it will need a higher pressure.TIG welding is simular to O/A except you need to keep the filler wire in the puddle and gas covered area and not withdraw it from the area while making the weld like O/A.TIG welding can sometimes be just be used to fuse together parts without filler in some situations like welding around tube let into into a flat plate that had the tube just sticking thru the plate and is flush with the surface of the plate.Last edited by Donald Branscom; 09-04-2008 at 07:49 PM.AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:Yes, when you turn the machine on "IF IT IS SET TO TIG" the gas will flow out for a short time to purge the line.  It will also flow out when the machine is on and it is switched from stick mode to tig, but it will cut off in a couple seconds, and only flows out again when you press the pedal.  If you turn the machine on and it is switched to "stick" then no gas will come out at anytime.To add to what Donald has stated.  I use 3/32" red (2% thoriated)  All of the time, and never run into a problem even on Aluminum.  Alot of guys now days do that, but I would suggest after you get the hang of it to try some different ones and see what you like.   For steel and stainless you will switch the machine to DC-  Rarely will you use the DC+ side for tig, and ofcourse AC is for Aluminum.  I will add that if you still have the factory torch you might consider getting a 17 series torch as the little 9series factory one will get pretty hot in no time flat.  The 17 does a much better job in my opinion, and it will screw right onto your cable like the factory ones.  That machine is a great learning machine.  It's what I learned to tig on, and I still use it from time to time.Last edited by Hammack_Welding; 09-04-2008 at 08:25 PM.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:looking at the manual. this did answer some things. there is a 15 second pre flow of gas when i turn it on. this explains that. also told me DC- for steel and SS. i already knew AC was for aluminum. plus a lot more helpful info. thanks...Lincoln Square Wave 175 TIGLincoln 110v flux core welder (my 1st)Clarke 180EN MIG
Reply:Stick welding DC+ stinger on +pos and ground - neg.Tig welding torch on -  neg and the ground + pos DC- straight polarity Ac is used for Alum if you have High Freak on your machine The cup sizes I use gase lense with a 8 cup it's a good alround cup.I use a 6 cup on small pipe.The Jumbo gas lense on big pipe The bigger the cup less movement walking the cup and faster welding.Ac welding alum you don't want to use 3/32 tungsten it will blow the end of the tungsten in the weld.AC alum welding you want to use 5/32 tungsten it will hold the heat better.3 to 150 amps use 3/32 tungsten 150 to 210 use 1/8 tungsten 210 to 300 use 5/32 tungsten.red tip tungsten on carbon, stainless. Green tip on alum. Gas lense breaks down the argon more and give better coverage in wind condistions.You will use less argon using gas lense.Not the collect body.It cost a littler more to get set up with gas lense.Tig wire you got ER70S-6 If you sand the copper coating off The puddle will flow better and a cleaner weld.I clean mine on all x-ray welding.You want to lay the tig wire on a pc metal at 15 degree with  the tip of the tig wire cut at 45 so when you slowy move on the wire you will not have a large hump always cut the end of the tig wire after each stop to remove contaminated tig wire.
Reply:I used to have one of those machines.  The things I didn't like:1)  You can't change the postflow, so you have no control over how much gas is wasted every time you stop welding.2)  You can't change the AC balance...which isn't all that big of a deal usually..  but the auto balance feature messed up and at times would make welding on AC impossible.
Reply:If possible turn down the pre-flow. 15 seconds is a waste, you only need enough to clear the cup; if any. My Syncrowave is preset at 6 seconds and I hate it. The one at class has none, pedal = arc = no waste.9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250