TIG broken or not?

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Hi: I'm having some trouble with my Miller TIG. The shop says I need to bring it in for $85 per hour service, but I'm wondering if these symptoms point to an obvious problem for any of you more experienced people:If I leave the unit for a while - hours or days and start it up, I am able to get a good arc going no problem and weld (DV neg stainless). As soon as I take my foot off the foot pedal and start up again, my arc looks sort of like that fizzy spark when you don't have your ground connected properly.I can sometimes re-start the arc by scratching the tunsten electrode onto the surface, but from then on, even a successful restart usually ends up sparking and bubbling like I have no gas.I had plenty of gas in my bottle, and I can hear and feel flow coming out of the electrode.I'm wondering if these are symptoms of a contaminated gas canister, or possibly a leak in a gas line or something. Leaving it maybe argon builds up in the line - I don't knowAny help would be appreciatedThanksGreghttp://www.pedaltheocean.com
Reply:This may be far fetched, but if you happen to have grabbed some pure tungsten (green) and this an inverter machine, this could cause this type of arc starting problems.
Reply:Originally Posted by pulserThis may be far fetched, but if you happen to have grabbed some pure tungsten (green) and this an inverter machine, this could cause this type of arc starting problems.
Reply:I'd check the points also.My name's not Jim....
Reply:[QUOTE=Boostinjdm;383317]I'd check the points also.[/QUOTEPoints on the tips? naw. I cut them and regrind always. Unless my grinder stone is seriously contaminated - Which I doubt because i've always been able to weld even with a totall cruddy tip. Not well, but still a strong arc
Reply:Does it have the option for lift arc?  I would switch it over to that and give it a try, you start the arc by touching it to the work piece and lifting straight up.Its similar to what you described having to do earlier but you shouldn't have any porosity issues with it.The fizzy spark you are describing is the high-frequency current, used to aid in arc starting when using the foot pedal.  If you can see that, then don't worry about checking your points because obviously they are working correctly.  I would suggest trying to get your hands on another foot pedal to try out as maybe that is the problem.And lastly, though I hoped you checked this already is look at the panel on your machine and make sure the amperage and output buttons are set to remote.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:I'm not sure if I can set it to lift arc, but I'll check. The foot pedal could be the problem. However, once I get the arc started, it starts to act like there is no argon shielding the arc. Does that still sound like a problem with the foot pedal? Originally Posted by sn0border88Does it have the option for lift arc?  I would switch it over to that and give it a try, you start the arc by touching it to the work piece and lifting straight up.Its similar to what you described having to do earlier but you shouldn't have any porosity issues with it.The fizzy spark you are describing is the high-frequency current, used to aid in arc starting when using the foot pedal.  If you can see that, then don't worry about checking your points because obviously they are working correctly.  I would suggest trying to get your hands on another foot pedal to try out as maybe that is the problem.And lastly, though I hoped you checked this already is look at the panel on your machine and make sure the amperage and output buttons are set to remote.
Reply:Found the problem! Thanks Pulser - you were right. I was using a new pack of electrodes and just assumed the shop sent me the same ones I was using previously. The new electrodes have a GREEN end and are labeled "Pure Tung" I think I was using RED colored electrodes previously!!!
Reply:adventuresofgreg,Thanks for the feedback, glad you got it figured out.  I ran into this same situation a couple of years ago with a Lincoln inverter machine and some random electrodes that were laying around with no indentification.  I had heard pure could be an issue with an inverter, but thought it had to be BS, but it was true.
Reply:Man that was a cheap fix Glad it worked out without costing you to much.Miller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.