Gas Flow Question

[HasBean]

Saw this mentioned in another thread but didn't want to hijack so started another.

I've only in the last week started to use Argoshield Universal having used disposable bottles up till now. What I've noticed is quite a layer of brown 'residue' left after welding covering the surrounding area and some of the weld (never used to get this using disposables).
Is this just the nature of the beast or am I using the wrong gas flow? I've been trying to set it to about 10-12 l/m.
Or am I woofing up the wrong tree?
(I can't experiment at the moment as I'm awaiting a new regulator)Any ideas guys?

Cheers,
Paul

 

[oddball90]

Wait for the new reg.

 

[Welderpaul]

Saw this mentioned in another thread but didn't want to hijack so started another.

I've only in the last week started to use Argoshield Universal having used disposable bottles up till now. What I've noticed is quite a layer of brown 'residue' left after welding covering the surrounding area and some of the weld (never used to get this using disposables).
Is this just the nature of the beast or am I using the wrong gas flow? I've been trying to set it to about 10-12 l/m.
Or am I woofing up the wrong tree?
(I can't experiment at the moment as I'm awaiting a new regulator)Any ideas guys?

Cheers,
Paul

Brown residue usually a sign of not enough gas flow. Flow rate sounds about right, yeah, wait for your new reg - see what that does - in the meantime, turn the gas up a bit to check?

 

[HasBean]

Thanks guys, new reg should be here in the next day or so so should be able to have another go this weekend.

 

[matt1978]

The soot can also be caused by the Arc length being too long (This would only apply to spray arc, Thicker sections), if you have changed your gas from a throwaway 100% Co2, and are now using a Argon Co2 mix, but have not changed the settings you may find that either you have too much voltage against the wire feed rate which would mean that your arc length is too long. Try reducing the voltage slightly or increasing the wire feed. The wire should just be sitting off the top of the weld pool.

Alternitively you may be welding in dip transfer and I am talking cack. If this is the case I would say that aslong as the material your welding is fairly clean (free of oil, rust & paint) that your regulator is bost (Black country word )

 

[HasBean]

Dip it is, and I generally run an angle grinder over the surfaces before welding, so the curse of the knackered regulator strikes again!
(Luckily I've been on the blower to Weldequip and a posh new reg is winging it's way to me as I scribble!)

 

[matt1978]

Good stuff.

Hopefully thats all sorted then!

 

[HasBean]

Fitted my new reg this afternoon, operation seems much smoother, no flickering needles, and the flow of gas out of the torch seems greater at the same setting I'd put the old one to. This would bear out why I was getting a lot of 'dust' on my welds if the flow was too low (haven't tried it yet though)
Quality piece of kit! (Thanks Steve)

Took the old one apart, full of brass swarf :full