Tig - what am i doing wrong?

[Welderpaul]

Ok, welder set up, workpiece +, torch - , gas on, tungsten ground, steel prepared, gloves on, mask down.
Hmmmm red hot glowing tungsten and no weld.
Bugger.
What am i doing wrong.

 

[snowcat]

you getting an arc there paul?

 

[Welderpaul]

Yes, arc there no probs. Welder workin ok.

 

[snowcat]

what setings you got on the machine?

 

[Hitch]

Glowing tungsten, does it melt back?

ou have it connected right, but it sounds like you need to reverse the polarity. Some machines can do it on a switch instead of changing the cables round. Does yours?

 

[Welderpaul]

on and off. Switch between mma and tig (yes it's on tig) and amps. Same problem on full amps range.
Gas on 10 Litres

 

[Welderpaul]

Glowing tungsten, does it melt back?

ou have it connected right, but it sounds like you need to reverse the polarity. Some machines can do it on a switch instead of changing the cables round. Does yours?

Doesn't really melt back, but if i kept going it probably would.
Tried reversing polarity - even worse with workpiece neg. No switch to do this function.

 

[Hitch]

Sounds odd.

Are your collets and things all in properly?

Sounds silly, but youve got the right bottle on havnt you? Pureshield argon.
Right tungsten? Red, or white?

All simple things that can easily be overlooked.

 

[Welderpaul]

collets seem seated ok, but i'll check. Aye, on Pureshield Argon, Red tungsten.

 

[Hitch]

I take it your welding stainless or steel then?
What machine is it Paul?

 

[Welderpaul]

3mm mild steel. Its a Lincoln Electric Invertec 140S

 

[MigTig]

Right.. basic Tig setup:

Amps, stick it right down to around 30a to start with,
Gas: Pure argon only
Polarity: Torch= - Earth= +

The only thing I can think of that will cause your problem is not enough gas or non at all, or far to high amps.

Hope its nothing wrong with the machine :S

 

[Welderpaul]

Check.
Check.
Check.
How many litres per minute should i be on? - on 10 LPM at the mo

 

[Drains]

Paul. You have a glowing red hot tungsten. Are you touching down?

 

[snowcat]

Another thing to check is your earth sounds stupid but could be, normaly something simple.

 

[Welderpaul]

Paul. You have a glowing red hot tungsten. Are you touching down?

Touch workpiece with tungsten and lift away to start the arc. arc starts ok, then tungsten gets red hot straight away.

Touching down?

 

[Welderpaul]

Another thing to check is your earth sounds stupid but could be, normaly something simple.

Nah, new earth clamp with crimped lug and bolted connection

 

[snowcat]

Il ask me mate he has a scratch start on the same machine back in 30.

 

[Welderpaul]

Il ask me mate he has a scratch start on the same machine back in 30.

Champion. Gonna av another do in a bit. Pisser innit.

 

[Drains]

Touch workpiece with tungsten and lift away to start the arc. arc starts ok, then tungsten gets red hot straight away.

Touching down?

Sounded like it was a straight short. Should have given you more credit!