Question from Welding Newbie

[Gray Cat]

I'm very new to welding and have an issue with my Miller 135. I am using 20/80 Argon mix and that worked fine until recently. I get flame at the welding tip (shroud)! No matter what flow rate I use, the flame appears. The unit still welds but the flame is really throwing me off and I know that can't be right.
A few weeks ago I cleaned out the tip (shroud, which is copper) and that's when the flame problem arose. Could I have scraped out a protective coating in the shroud or something?
Any help/advidse would be most welcome.
Many thanks!
Roy

 

[shenion]

Hmm, that is odd. Maybe you are getting air in somehow.

Does it have a slide-on or screw on shroud.

Are you getting good gas flow?, maybe you pushed crap into the orifices.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Fit a new shroud. They're so cheap it pays to change them on a regular basis. Use a good quality tip-dip too, this will make cleaning easier, I use a white liquid one rather than the gel type, one dip lasts hours and the spatter just falls off when I clean it.
Woz

 

[shenion]

Hmm, woz brings up a point. The shroud is normally isolated. Maybe you pushed some spatter back between the insulator and shroud.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Hmm, woz brings up a point. The shroud is normally isolated. Maybe you pushed some spatter back between the insulator and shroud.

Exactly what I'm thinking Shenion, I've never personally known them to arc across but If the insulation is bridged and the shroud isn't central anymore then an arc could easily happen between tip and shroud. Seems too coincidental for it not to be a bad shroud.

 

[Gray Cat]

Thanks!!!

Many thanks for your responses. I will check the shroud area etc. carefully and replace it as well as I'm sure I must have ******** something up! I'll post the result so everyone will get some information out of my issue.
Regards All
Roy

 

[Ratty]

Use a good quality tip-dip too, this will make cleaning easier, I use a white liquid one rather than the gel type, one dip lasts hours and the spatter just falls off when I clean it.
Woz

Can you recommend a good tip-dip woz (or anyone)..and where to get it? Thanks. On-line is probably easiest, our nearest BOC is a 20 mile round trip.

 

[Drains]

Rats, I think you need to talk to that nice Mr Weldequip fella.

 

[Ratty]

Good idea Si - I'll pm him int mornin

 

[Welderpaul]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Tip-Dip-For-W...ryZ11774QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I use SIF Tip Dip. Does the job no problem! Postage looks a bit steep mind!

 

[Baz-Cem]

I had my Tip Dip from Weldequip and it was cheaper than the Ebay one Ratty

 

[Wozzaaah]

Can you recommend a good tip-dip woz (or anyone)..and where to get it? Thanks. On-line is probably easiest, our nearest BOC is a 20 mile round trip.

Yes Ratty as a matter of fact I can. Cleanweld/'the works' white spatter shield from weldequip, Fantastic stuff. It's a white liquid rather than the usual gel type stuff, one dip lasts several hours. Someone told me it's PTFE based but I've not been able to confirm it. They also do giant cans of vegetable oil based anti-spatter spray as well as other stuff, WE sells that too
Woz

 

[Ratty]

Yes Ratty as a matter of fact I can. Cleanweld/'the works' white spatter shield from weldequip, Fantastic stuff. It's a white liquid rather than the usual gel type stuff, one dip lasts several hours. Someone told me it's PTFE based but I've not been able to confirm it. They also do giant cans of vegetable oil based anti-spatter spray as well as other stuff, WE sells that too
Woz

I got some! - spatter shield, anti-spat spray....and...sifbronze rods, sif-flux, 20 x 1mm cutting discs. He's a persuasive seller is W'eq!
Excellent service, ordered on Thursday, he told me the flux was out of stock but I should get it all by Tuesday. Parcel arrived Monday morning. Thanks again Steve.
Now I can weld or braze anything (if I ever get time )