Aluminium rig help

[DTS]

If you look closely there’s no sign of any cleaning action at the edges of the weld, normally you’d see a millimetre or so of cleaning either side. What’s the AC balance set at? Also interested to see a picture of your tungsten & gas lens.

 

[jonathan molloy]

Not sure who your supplier is but I had a bad cylinder of Argon a while back. First noticed it on Mig as the weld was sooty and there was very little evidence of cleaning action around the edge of the weld. I tried it with Tig and it was definitely bad. Every so often it would get very bad, see pic. I took the cylinder back and was supposed to be getting the rep visiting me but he never did, whether my supplier never contacted the rep or what I don't know but I had actually forgotten about it until I saw this post
View attachment 138593

This is exactly what my welds look like

 

[jonathan molloy]

If you look closely there’s no sign of any cleaning action at the edges of the weld, normally you’d see a millimetre or so of cleaning either side. What’s the AC balance set at? Also interested to see a picture of your tungsten & gas lens.

I'm using 35 percent cleaning here's the setup fupa gas lens

 

[DTS]

I'm using 35 percent cleaning here's the setup fupa gas lens

View attachment 138598

They’re for DC only. Out of interest, what’s it weld like with a standard #7 on there?

 

[Richard.]

I'm using 35 percent cleaning here's the setup fupa gas lens

View attachment 138598

Get rid of that. Put a standard set up on. If nothing else the lack of cleanliness in the process your having will wreck that.
With a cup like that your going to need around 8-12lpm. Wasted on a bit of alu practice.

 

[Brad93]

Get rid of that. Put a standard set up on. If nothing else the lack of cleanliness in the process your having will wreck that.
With a cup like that your going to need around 8-12lpm. Wasted on a bit of alu practice.

I'm using 35 percent cleaning here's the setup fupa gas lens

View attachment 138598

There’s your problem mate.

Take that poxy lens off. They’re for inconel and titanium only. You just do not need them for anything else.

 

[Brad93]

Get rid of that. Put a standard set up on. If nothing else the lack of cleanliness in the process your having will wreck that.
With a cup like that your going to need around 8-12lpm. Wasted on a bit of alu practice.

10lpm absolute minimum with them lenses!!

 

[Paul.]

What a pity that wasn't mentioned in post 1

 

[jonathan molloy]

Is that really the problem didn't think that would have that big of an effect on the weld

 

[Brad93]

Is that really the problem didn't think that would have that big of an effect on the weld

They’re rated DC only and 160a

 

[Brad93]

Where abouts in the country are you perhaps someone local can help?

 

[jonathan molloy]

Where abouts in the country are you perhaps someone local can help?

Dublin Ireland mate I might know someone who can give me a hand gonna swap the lense first tough

 

[Richard.]

Is that really the problem didn't think that would have that big of an effect on the weld

I think there may be other things possibly contributing to the state of those welds but it’s certainly not helping. Iirc (I’m no expert on them) Those lenses I believe need a big tungsten stickout to work
They need decent flow rates and they are not able to cope with much in the way of current (120 ish amps I think).
Use a standard set up. What possessed you to spend that sort of money on a lense like that to ruin with alu.

 

[jonathan molloy]

Had it for stainless and tough the extra gas flow wouldn't hurt on ally

 

[DTS]

Had it for stainless and tough the extra gas flow wouldn't hurt on ally

Go back to a standard cup. You say 35% cleaning, do you mean 35% electrode negative? In that case it looks a bit like you’re melting the rod onto the base metal before it’s melted & cleaned too. Good luck.

 

[Richard.]

Go back to a standard cup. You say 35% cleaning, do you mean 35% electrode negative? In that case it looks a bit like you’re melting the rod onto the base metal before it’s melted & cleaned too. Good luck.

Cleaning is positive not negative
35% is not far off.

 

[DTS]

Had it for stainless and tough the extra gas flow wouldn't hurt on ally

Go back to a standard cup. You say 35% cleaning, do you mean 65% electrode negative? In that case it looks a bit like you’re melting the rod onto the base metal before it’s melted & cleaned too. Good luck.

 

[DTS]

Cleaning is positive not negative
35% is not far off.

Cleaning is positive not negative
35% is not far off.

Yeah, was eating a sweet corn and typing at the same time

 

[Richard.]

Yeah, was eating a sweet corn and typing at the same time

Your still eating it cos you quoted me twice

 

[jonathan molloy]

Thanks for the help from everyone I'll try the standard cup in the morning and check my lines and post results fingers crossed it's good