Advice thanks.. I couldn't believe it!

[Noods]

And I for one will help you do that.

Yes mate I know you will and I'm really proud of you for offering too.. I'm a little worried that the machines out of warranty now, if, it's the machine and not, as I suspect, it's me.. I have to say though whatever it is I've tried everything suggested over and over, including every which way possible too, so it's not without a considerable effort.. To give you some idea of my riddiculas determination, yesterday, I tried to weld a 2mm piece of steel tube onto a 3mm thick piece of box sec.. I fitted it up with a gap less than a hair.. Clean etc too.. It took me 5 hrs to achieve an ok job, not a sublime job as I'd like but ok ish.. 5 hrs, crazy! Just no consistency at all, one min things looked good next, crap.. Can't wait to put it in the hands of an expert to see if it is indeed me, as I suspect, or possibly, the little yellow box of woe.. X

 

[Chris Stevens]

DC tig isnt that difficult, and unless you are making major fundamental errors repeatedly, I would guess machine is faulty. If you dont have a good LWS, why not carefully box the machine and ancillaries, and send to someone who can check it for you?

 

[Richard.]

I am looking forward to putting an end to the mystery.

 

[eSCHEn]

I am looking forward to putting an end to the mystery.

Me too. You've got the right attitude Noods and good kit and juuuuuust a leeeeetle bit of patience You deserve to be doing beads like you describe in a couple of minutes, not five hours.

I say Professor Plum with the broken brass gas connection hidden inside of the machine's bowels.

 

[Richard.]

I say Mrs scarlet with the loose gas connection in the torch head is committing this never ending crime. Do you have another torch noods to rule it out?

 

[Noods]

Er...not the complete thing no.. Only the top assembly eg where it meets the handle and attaches via a nut.. If it goes on much longer there could well be a murder for you to solve.. I've got a lead pipe the rope a knife and 3 bullets...

That's a bullet from Bologna by the way.... My Ducati, Ducati, and Ducati... Just incase anyone was a little worried.. X

NöOdS

 

[Noods]

Well I've just discovered a little problem..

I was having a go tonight and it just wasn't happening, so come 9pm I'd had eeeeeeenough...

I always have music playing, and as I'm a little deaf! It's normally loud.. Normally the radio is switched off as I exit, but the battery charge had gone flat.. Silence... No what's that hissing sound? A pin prick found in the gas feed pipe that runs from the reg to the back of the tig box...

I'm sure it must have happened somehow tonight... Or had it?

 

[Turbo]

Just a suggestion - I'm not sure how far you are from Richard but could you possibly leave your tig kit with him so he could test it in his own time and see if it is ok? Or if it is too far maybe another forum member who can tig weld is closer and could test your kit for you.

There's nothing more frustrating than trying something repeatedly and not being able to do it. I was doing a refresher welding course, part of which was gas welding. I had been taught gas welding 20 years before but I couldn't seem to be able to do it now. Then the tutor tried using my gas set - he couldn't weld either! He checked the gear over & promptly condemned the regulators as neither set gauges was reading properly. I tried again with different gear & was soon producing acceptable welds!

 

[Chris Stevens]

Well I've just discovered a little problem..

I was having a go tonight and it just wasn't happening, so come 9pm I'd had eeeeeeenough...

I always have music playing, and as I'm a little deaf! It's normally loud.. Normally the radio is switched off as I exit, but the battery charge had gone flat.. Silence... No what's that hissing sound? A pin prick found in the gas feed pipe that runs from the reg to the back of the tig box...

I'm sure it must have happened somehow tonight... Or had it?

That may well be the cause of all your problems. Shame you dont have a good LWS as they would have picked that up immediately.

 

[Noods]

As I say I'm not sure if it occurred last night or previously to that..

Are they repairable or is it a new line req? The line I have is crimped on either end..

 

[dobbslc]

You can repair if the rest is in good condition, get a male-male connector and some 'O' clips then cut out the bad bit and crimp in the connector, you can buy the proper crimp tool but I've used an old blunt set of side cutters.

 

[eSCHEn]

Don't repair it just yet Noods, first try a bead with the hole taped up (electical/duct tape will be fine as it's low pressure) and see if the problem persists.

Then try a bead with a helper provoking the leak and see what happens.

That way you have a lot more assurance of the fix than a scatter gun approach

As dobbslc says, a connector can be inserted to fix a leak but the actual hose is fairly cheap. The connectors are usually 3/8" on either end and cheap to pick up as well. You may be able to re-use the ones you have right now

 

[Noods]

You can repair if the rest is in good condition, get a male-male connector and some 'O' clips then cut out the bad bit and crimp in the connector, you can buy the proper crimp tool but I've used an old blunt set of side cutters.

Would the clips and male male connector come from a welding supply shop?

 

[Noods]

Don't repair it just yet Noods, first try a bead with the hole taped up (electical/duct tape will be fine as it's low pressure) and see if the problem persists.

Then try a bead with a helper provoking the leak and see what happens.

That way you have a lot more assurance of the fix than a scatter gun approach

As dobbslc says, a connector can be inserted to fix a leak but the actual hose is fairly cheap. The connectors are usually 3/8" on either end and cheap to pick up as well. You may be able to re-use the ones you have right now

I sprayed a leak mist over all the connections ( gas) to see if any bubbles came up and No.. I then removed the insulation tape and Wow.. As a hammers fan I obv luv Bubbles.. But not escaping from my Argon line ... Taped up again for now.. No leak again.. Will run a few beads later with and without tape and post pics.. X

 

[eSCHEn]

I sprayed a leak must over all the connections ( gas) to see if any bubbles came up and No.. I then removed the insulation tape and Wow.. As a hammers fan I obv luv Bubbles.. But not escaping from my Argon line ... Taped up again for now.. No leak again.. Will run a few beads later with and without tape and post pics.. X

Good man. If you hadn't had such a long series of misfortunes I'd say just replace the hose and be done with it. However, testing this way gives you some confidence you've got the fault nailed and TBH mate TIG welding is easy it's all just about confidence and bravado, err I mean In all seriousness though, if you've not got that certainty the machine is fixed then when you fluff a bead up you'll wonder if it's it or you

 

[Richard.]

That may well be the cause of all your problems. Shame you dont have a good LWS as they would have picked that up immediately.

Well unless they were given that pipe with the machine Chris they wouldn't. As noods said it may be a new problem. It does sound like they haven't been as supportive as they could be but then we don't know all the ins and outs. There may be no fault with the unit. They may have checked it over already but if noods didn't supply the pipe and reg when it was checked then it's pretty safe to say that could go overlooked. Your always quicker than most to jump to conclusions.

 

[Noods]

This is all 3mm steel.. Pure argon run at 80amps with 1.6mm rod 1.6mm electrode no 9 ceramic for flat piece and No4 for angled fillet.. Gas at torch was 6 gas at reg 8 ( with tape on)

Pic above is with tape on.. Eg temp covering hole..

Pic above is without tape on.. Gas leaking..

I will let you guys comment before I say what I think..

X NöODs

 

[Richard.]

Back to the drawing board then

 

[Noods]

So frustrating!

 

[Noods]

Darren / Richard..

Everything was sent back to elmdale including the reg and all the pipes etc as they supplied all the kit in the first place, the del guy didn't want to take the reg back but I insisted he took it.. To be fair the manager at elmdale has been brilliant, but, as he says himself, he's useless at welding so struggles to advise.. And with no experience myself... Very frustrating and confidence sapping.. X