Newbie now with TIG.

[Richard.]

Try striking on dc with a balled electrode daz. Post findings.

 

[dazza]

Post flow is way too low also. That's why your tungstens are blue and again will be contributing to the poor starts. You need at least 6 seconds on the lowest current and I'd say closer to 10 for what your welding.

It was higher i've changed it as i'm about to run out of gas.

Try striking on dc with a balled electrode daz. Post findings.

Will give it a blast later, Ball it up on ally then switch to dc and arc up on steel?

 

[Richard.]

Will give it a blast later, Ball it up on ally then switch to dc and arc up on steel?

That's is mate. Spot on. This will determine if the strike issue is hf related or ac related.

 

[dazza]

That's is mate. Spot on. This will determine if the strike issue is hf related or ac related.

I happened to have a 1.6mm balled tungsten.

No problems at 45 amps.

 

[Richard.]

I happened to have a 1.6mm balled tungsten.

No problems at 45 amps.

View attachment 118795

Ok. Good news I think. This demonstrates your hf is strong even with a balled tungsten.
Bad news I have no clue whatsoever as to why it won't strike up as nice on ac.
It's rubbish mate send it to me I'll dispose of it for you. I'll pay postage too (one way

 

[dazza]

Ok. Good news I think. This demonstrates your hf is strong even with a balled tungsten.
Bad news I have no clue whatsoever as to why it won't strike up as nice on ac.
It's rubbish mate send it to me I'll dispose of it for you. I'll pay postage too (one way

Im happy with it, for the amount of welding i do it works well. Think my torch angle and arc length on flat plate needs work. On the fillet today i was restricted by the no 8 cup and it got down in there. Think the extra pre flow may have helped plus it gives me time to reposition after smashing the pedal. Maybe i can add another pot so i don't need to open the machine to change it.

 

[Brad93]

I'd say you've got a machine issue there. Setting 1 shouldn't have that much effect.

Possibly a pin hole somewhere between the bottle And end of the torch too.

 

[dazza]

I'd say you've got a machine issue there. Setting 1 shouldn't have that much effect.

Another member with the same machine has a higher setting but this is was the tech at EWM said.

"The setting for the „duration of ignition half wave“ depends on the diameter of the TIG electrode you use.
For smaller electrodes a very short time should be adjusted (lower ½) and only at very big electrodes this time should be adjusted bigger."

Not sure if he means dial at 50% or 0.5.

Possibly a pin hole somewhere between the bottle And end of the torch too.

A leak that small would cause that?

 

[Brad93]

Yeah a pinhole can cause that dirty start. I typically use around half a second preflow, 6 seconds of post flow (although I'm water cooled so my tungsten cools quicker).
You need enough postflow so that your tungsten stays shiny.

The ignition EP setting must be different to my machine then.

You've definitely got an issue somewhere. Hard to say where without the machine in front of me.
I'd try a new hose from the regulator to the machine and test all joints with leak detector.

 

[dazza]

Yeah a pinhole can cause that dirty start. I typically use around half a second preflow, 6 seconds of post flow (although I'm water cooled so my tungsten cools quicker).
You need enough postflow so that your tungsten stays shiny.

The ignition EP setting must be different to my machine then.

You've definitely got an issue somewhere. Hard to say where without the machine in front of me.
I'd try a new hose from the regulator to the machine and test all joints with leak detector.

Tested all joints will have to pick up a new hose.

 

[dazza]

And todays offerings

3mm started off at 125amps but then upped it to 140.


First pic below second run from bottom, bench got too hot tried to push on but lost it completely.

 

[dazza]

Had to have another go.

Changed the balance back to the negative side now. 3mm 145 amps.

I started from the middle it looks pretty good concaved then i slapped the tungsten, Tried to fill in the gap from the right to the good bit and made a right mess.

 

[RichardM]

I'm certainly no expert but I had sooty starts from now long enough pre and post gas flow.

Also experience start problems when not earthed sufficiently well.

 

[Brad93]

I think you need to get some tuition Dazza or at least have someone point you in the right direction as it's impossible to tell what is being caused by the machine and what is operator error.

 

[Brad93]

When I inspect someone's set or set a new machine up, I can tell you in the first 5 seconds if I've got an issue somewhere. I know if I've got a brand new tungsten, new bottle of gas, the issue lies between the two somewhere.
That's just experience in reading the pool and knowing something is going on.
One that's got me before is I welded stick then went back to Ali on AC and blitzed my tungsten. I was scratching my head then realised I'd put my torch and earth round the wrong way so my EP/EN balance was backward. I actually had 70% EP!

You could have a leaky bullnose on the reg, pin holes, old filler, leak in the torch lines, poor crimps inside the torch, gas leaking out the back cap.

Iirc you live in Spain? If you come over the UK anytime try and pop in to Richard or even me if richard isn't available so we can check it's not a user issue, then you can rule some more possibilities out.

 

[51mo]

Dazza, thank you for documenting your journey into the world of Tig. I am also considering a Tig purchase to work on my project car and as much as I would like to go straight in to having a go at aluminium this thread has made me a lot more cautious about jumping in to something that has the possibility of destroying my moral.

I think I will get a cheaper DC welder to first have a play around with stainless steel so I can fabricate a few exhaust components and I will definitely be keeping an eye on this thread to see how you get on. From the little I know about welding and having read this whole article in one sitting your welds have become much better from when you first started out and your perseverance is exemplary.

Richard, Brad, you two have taught me a lot already from your advice to Dazza, thank you.

Thanks Simo

 

[dazza]

Dazza, thank you for documenting your journey into the world of Tig. I am also considering a Tig purchase to work on my project car and as much as I would like to go straight in to having a go at aluminium this thread has made me a lot more cautious about jumping in to something that has the possibility of destroying my moral.

I think I will get a cheaper DC welder to first have a play around with stainless steel so I can fabricate a few exhaust components and I will definitely be keeping an eye on this thread to see how you get on. From the little I know about welding and having read this whole article in one sitting your welds have become much better from when you first started out and your perseverance is exemplary.

Richard, Brad, you two have taught me a lot already from your advice to Dazza, thank you.

Thanks Simo

HI Simo welcome to the forum, Don't let me slow progress put you off ac. I don't practice enough been on the same bottle of gas for a year which shows i've not been tiging as much as i would like.

 

[Richard.]

Dazza, thank you for documenting your journey into the world of Tig. I am also considering a Tig purchase to work on my project car and as much as I would like to go straight in to having a go at aluminium this thread has made me a lot more cautious about jumping in to something that has the possibility of destroying my moral.

I think I will get a cheaper DC welder to first have a play around with stainless steel so I can fabricate a few exhaust components and I will definitely be keeping an eye on this thread to see how you get on. From the little I know about welding and having read this whole article in one sitting your welds have become much better from when you first started out and your perseverance is exemplary.

Richard, Brad, you two have taught me a lot already from your advice to Dazza, thank you.

Thanks Simo

Your most welcome mate. Welcome to the pack. Please let us know once you get your gear and share your results.
Don't be put off by aluminium. It's no more difficult than dc welding it's just different and less tolerant to imperfect conditions/mistakes.
Some people find it easier because of the increased speed and elaborate pool which is clearly visible on all thicknesses and current levels. Some find it harder again because of the speed and it's high thermal conductivity. It's an individual thing but it will teach you a lot about welding that dc alone doesn't cover to the same degree.

 

[Brad93]

I wondered why the neighbour collected rain water to fill his well. Just received our first water bill .

3 months 63m3 €300. In our old place we used 42 to 45 every month. Maybe the leak from the hot water tank is worse than i thought. The price shoots up over 50m3.

Blimey. Get a few water butts off the roof and use that for flushing the loos.

 

[dazza]

Blimey. Get a few water butts off the roof and use that for flushing the loos.

Posted in the wrong thread.