Moose McAlpine
Member
- Messages
- 1,581
- Location
- Norf Lund'n
Hi guys. I'm a bit out of practice in my TIG welding, i first started 7 or 8 years ago, and was "capable" despite being self-taught by reading and watching videos. Eventually, after dipping every tungsten i got my hands on, i could somewhat reliably take good metal, stick it together and turn it into useless scrap. My welds ended up kinda decent, but obviously not anything special.
Then life got in the way and fast forward a few years till recently, my R Tech machine popped its transformer and i made a terrible financial decision and bought an ex-demo EWM Tetrix 230, CK TL26 torch, Gas Saver kit and more earth clamps than you can shake a stick at.
Now every time i weld the bead comes out dull and grey. New clean metal, clean sharp tungsten (2% lanth), BOC PureShield Argon and all welds look like this:
I know the beads are lousy, i'm very out of practice and having pain in my hands lately which doesn't help.
Any ideas what i'm doing wrong? Years ago when i first started the welds remained shiny, i think even the stainless recently has cone out dull. (Will get a sample piece tomorrow) Too little gas coverage maybe?
Any help is much appreciated, thank you.
(Sorry for the long rambling post.)
Then life got in the way and fast forward a few years till recently, my R Tech machine popped its transformer and i made a terrible financial decision and bought an ex-demo EWM Tetrix 230, CK TL26 torch, Gas Saver kit and more earth clamps than you can shake a stick at.
Now every time i weld the bead comes out dull and grey. New clean metal, clean sharp tungsten (2% lanth), BOC PureShield Argon and all welds look like this:
I know the beads are lousy, i'm very out of practice and having pain in my hands lately which doesn't help.
Any ideas what i'm doing wrong? Years ago when i first started the welds remained shiny, i think even the stainless recently has cone out dull. (Will get a sample piece tomorrow) Too little gas coverage maybe?
Any help is much appreciated, thank you.
(Sorry for the long rambling post.)