To start out I have a Thermal Arc 186.
It stick welds great tig not so good.
When welding I get a fine shower of Sparks and the tungsten burns and all crappy looking.
Pic is of the tungsten after 15 seconds or so of welding.
Machine settings are 1 sec pre flow 30 amps hot start 100 amps max 10 sec post flow. HF on. Machine is on DC. Torch is hooked to the - and the ground to the+.
Red band tungsten ground to about 60 degrees. I started a arc and ran at full pedal for 15 sec.
1508472085781-64942258.jpg (30.54 KiB) Viewed 1985 times
Artie F. Emm wrote:
If that dark stripe is your weld then yes, it looks like a gas coverage issue.
Also, I have to ask, just to get the question out of the way: is that very shiny steel? Or is it aluminum?
His description indicates that is a picture of the tungsten. It looks like it's on a piece of paper towel. I've never seen a tungsten look like that.
Lincoln Square Wave 200
Lincoln 225 AC/DC
Harris Oxy/Acetylene torch
I can barely make out what appears to be a slightly iridescent ball on the end, which I've seen before when I had a leak that was sucking air into the shield gas flow.
Without a clear view of the tungsten, this is purely guessing and speculation on my part.
If the increased time before the issue occurs is a result of increasing the regulator pressure I would assume it t be a gas blockage - a simple pea-shooter gauge will confirm this or by ear - if that is the cause start with no hose on the regulator & confirm good flow - then check hose for kinks to machine - then remove torch & confirm flow from solonoid valve - then check torch without consumables fitted - then check consumables - some manufacturers tolerances will not work together or it could be as simple as bad a collet .
Are you still using the factory supplied torch? Or an aftermarket one? Not that an aftermarket one is a bad thing. But I could see where the little hose on the factory one, that goes from the gas fitting on the front of the machine to the torch/machine dinse connection, might leak.
Thayne78 wrote:.....It was taken with a cellphone and the picture is good on the phone but sucks on the forum. Sorry about that..
Many cameras (phones) have 'macro' setting, which is used for very close focus. You likely know this already, but just thought I would toss it out there......
Thayne78 wrote:.....It was taken with a cellphone and the picture is good on the phone but sucks on the forum. Sorry about that..
Many cameras (phones) have 'macro' setting, which is used for very close focus. You likely know this already, but just thought I would toss it out there......
I never thought that the camera on my phone was so good.
It's a cellphone.
I searched the web and got a few pointers and cool. There are adjustments I never thought possible.
Thanks
Thayne78.
then yes, it looks like a gas coverage issue. What is your flow rate? Pure argon?
