Sometimes I seem to have a problem with getting HF start to work correctly. It seems to crackle and spark from the whole tungsten and when an arc starts it sometimes comes from the gas lens.
I suspect the collet is not making good contact with the electrode but seems to have a firm grip on the tungsten.
Doesn't happen every time but I have to watch or it will destroy a gas lens.
Help!
- LtBadd
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Hi Jake, welcome to the forum.jakesterusp wrote:Sometimes I seem to have a problem with getting HF start to work correctly. It seems to crackle and spark from the whole tungsten and when an arc starts it sometimes comes from the gas lens.
I suspect the collet is not making good contact with the electrode but seems to have a firm grip on the tungsten.
Doesn't happen every time but I have to watch or it will destroy a gas lens.
Help!
It would be helpful if you tell us what equipment your using, and the machine settings. Also a pic of your torch showing what the tungsten looks like, sharpened and ready to weld.
If the tungsten is contaminated from dipping into the puddle, this could cause such a situation. If so take it out and sharpen.
Richard
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- Otto Nobedder
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Jake,
It seems to me you either have crappy tungsten, or inadequate gas flow/gas start. Can you set a pre-flow on your torch? You need a positive flow of inert gas when the arc initiates, or you can get random arcing until the flow comes up.
Steve S
It seems to me you either have crappy tungsten, or inadequate gas flow/gas start. Can you set a pre-flow on your torch? You need a positive flow of inert gas when the arc initiates, or you can get random arcing until the flow comes up.
Steve S
- TRACKRANGER
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Welding in an environment where there is excessive air flow might be a contributing factor. Is this indoors / outdoors, near a doorway?
Is the machine a transformer or inverter, and what gas flow rate and pre-flow time do you have?
Trev
Is the machine a transformer or inverter, and what gas flow rate and pre-flow time do you have?
Trev
EWM Phonenix 355 Pulse MIG set mainly for Aluminum, CIGWeld 300Amp AC/DC TIG, TRANSMIG S3C 300 Amp MIG, etc, etc
dave powelson
- dave powelson
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There's contamination waaaaay up the electrode to the collet face.jakesterusp wrote:Sometimes I seem to have a problem with getting HF start to work correctly. It seems to crackle and spark from the whole tungsten and when an arc starts it sometimes comes from the gas lens.
I suspect the collet is not making good contact with the electrode but seems to have a firm grip on the tungsten.
Doesn't happen every time but I have to watch or it will destroy a gas lens.
Help!
Need to trim back the electrode and/or grind the contamination off, but stopping
short of the collet area.