BAD GAS/WRONG GAS - Page 3

exnailpounder · Sun May 07, 2017 10:21 am

MarkL wrote:
Mattwho777 wrote:I took out the cheap gas lens I purchased. Put in the one that came with the machine.
I learned a lot from this thread, there's a few things I'd like to make sure I've got right:
Did the machine come with a gas lens or a standard collet body?
During the original diagnosis, it seemed like you were able to weld steel OK with the cheap gas lens, is that true? If so I'm not sure why the results on aluminum were so bad. I would have thought the cheap gas lens would have done rather poorly on steel as well.

Mark...check this out.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM28MIhmneU

Mattwho777 · Sun May 07, 2017 10:24 am

MarkL wrote:
Mattwho777 wrote:I took out the cheap gas lens I purchased. Put in the one that came with the machine.
I learned a lot from this thread, there's a few things I'd like to make sure I've got right:
Did the machine come with a gas lens or a standard collet body?
During the original diagnosis, it seemed like you were able to weld steel OK with the cheap gas lens, is that true? If so I'm not sure why the results on aluminum were so bad. I would have thought the cheap gas lens would have done rather poorly on steel as well.

Yes it came with a regular collet body. The gas lens was from eBay.

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Mattwho777 · Sun May 07, 2017 10:28 am

exnailpounder wrote:Glad you figured it out! Much better! Now you can appreciate how much is going on while tig welding. Once you get everything dialed in, you should only have to tweak your settings once in awhile or use some of your bells and whistles. Another tiggerator joins the ranks! Ps...even good gas lenses are cheap. I think I paid $5 for a Miller brand lens last time I was at the LWS. Good luck!

Yeah I picked up a large gas lens but they gave me the wrong insulator at the LWS. So I was using the smaller style ones from eBay.
Thanks again....

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MarkL · Sun May 07, 2017 1:49 pm

exnailpounder wrote: Mark...check this out.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM28MIhmneU

Interesting. I feel like I need to have a gold standard lens that I know works but I never use it, I just pull it out when everything is going to hell and see if it fixes the problem.

MarkL · Sun May 07, 2017 1:55 pm

Mattwho777 wrote: Yes it came with a regular collet body. The gas lens was from eBay.

Well if it's any consolation, I just had a gas lens do about the same thing and it came from a reputable company and I paid good money for it. I gave up trying to figure out what was wrong and tossed it. It looked like brand new, had worked fine for a month, and when I replaced it with an identical lens from the same company, everything worked fine. So I know it was the lens but have no idea what was wrong with it.

Mattwho777 · Tue May 09, 2017 10:34 am

I was thinking about ordering a set off Amazon so I could get multiple different cup sizes but now I think I'm just going to go to the LWS and buy just one and see if it works or not. The large gas lens is the one I want to use but like I said they gave me the wrong insulator and It was not sealing right.

Olivero · Tue May 09, 2017 12:45 pm

Mattwho777 wrote:I was thinking about ordering a set off Amazon so I could get multiple different cup sizes but now I think I'm just going to go to the LWS and buy just one and see if it works or not. The large gas lens is the one I want to use but like I said they gave me the wrong insulator and It was not sealing right.

I always get my torch supplies from the LWS, that way I can bring it back and say "HEY! This shait doesen't work"

Doesn't feel the same with Amazon.

Mattwho777 · Tue May 09, 2017 12:53 pm

Olivero wrote:
Mattwho777 wrote:I was thinking about ordering a set off Amazon so I could get multiple different cup sizes but now I think I'm just going to go to the LWS and buy just one and see if it works or not. The large gas lens is the one I want to use but like I said they gave me the wrong insulator and It was not sealing right.
I always get my torch supplies from the LWS, that way I can bring it back and say "HEY! This shait doesen't work"

Doesn't feel the same with Amazon.

I guess I'll just take my torch head off and take it with me next time. Might save myself a trip.

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Olivero · Tue May 09, 2017 2:10 pm

Mattwho777 wrote:
Olivero wrote:
Mattwho777 wrote:I was thinking about ordering a set off Amazon so I could get multiple different cup sizes but now I think I'm just going to go to the LWS and buy just one and see if it works or not. The large gas lens is the one I want to use but like I said they gave me the wrong insulator and It was not sealing right.
I always get my torch supplies from the LWS, that way I can bring it back and say "HEY! This shait doesen't work"

Doesn't feel the same with Amazon.
I guess I'll just take my torch head off and take it with me next time. Might save myself a trip.

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They do their best but there are so many different types of everything in the welding world, I don't blame them.... every time, most of the time I do. But not every time

exnailpounder · Tue May 09, 2017 5:29 pm

Mattwho777 wrote:I was thinking about ordering a set off Amazon so I could get multiple different cup sizes but now I think I'm just going to go to the LWS and buy just one and see if it works or not. The large gas lens is the one I want to use but like I said they gave me the wrong insulator and It was not sealing right.

Even good gas lenses are cheap and Like Olivero said, you can take it back and bitch at 'em if it doesn't work. Are you talking about the teflon insulator for the gas lens? I use one only because I bought a few by mistake but (arguably) they aren't necessary but that's another argument for another day

Mattwho777 · Tue May 09, 2017 5:33 pm

exnailpounder wrote:
Mattwho777 wrote:I was thinking about ordering a set off Amazon so I could get multiple different cup sizes but now I think I'm just going to go to the LWS and buy just one and see if it works or not. The large gas lens is the one I want to use but like I said they gave me the wrong insulator and It was not sealing right.
Even good gas lenses are cheap and Like Olivero said, you can take it back and bitch at 'em if it doesn't work. Are you talking about the teflon insulator for the gas lens? I use one only because I bought a few by mistake but (arguably) they aren't necessary but that's another argument for another day

No I wasn't mad a the LWS. I just have another Large Dia. gas lens that I haven't been able to use because they gave me the wrong Teflon insulator. Hopefully that one does better than the one I was using before.

Mattwho777 · Tue May 09, 2017 5:37 pm

exnailpounder · Tue May 09, 2017 5:39 pm

Mattwho777 wrote:
exnailpounder wrote:
Mattwho777 wrote:I was thinking about ordering a set off Amazon so I could get multiple different cup sizes but now I think I'm just going to go to the LWS and buy just one and see if it works or not. The large gas lens is the one I want to use but like I said they gave me the wrong insulator and It was not sealing right.
Even good gas lenses are cheap and Like Olivero said, you can take it back and bitch at 'em if it doesn't work. Are you talking about the teflon insulator for the gas lens? I use one only because I bought a few by mistake but (arguably) they aren't necessary but that's another argument for another day
No I wasn't mad a the LWS. I just have another Large Dia. gas lens that I haven't been able to use because they gave me the wrong Teflon insulator. Hopefully that one does better than the one I was using before.

You can use that lens without the insulator. Your lens threads into the torch body right? The insulator does nothing to seal the torch from air inclusion. If you look at it, it will make sense. Can't even say how many times I have had "that" argument.

Poland308 · Tue May 09, 2017 5:40 pm

: IMG_0299.JPG (60.33 KiB) Viewed 2083 times

I got lucky. I was at the LWS and asked about Pyrex gas lenses. They dug one out of a box and gave it to me to try. Liked it so much now I'm going to have to buy more sizes.

Mattwho777 · Tue May 09, 2017 5:43 pm

Poland308 wrote:
IMG_0299.JPG
I got lucky. I was at the LWS and asked about Pyrex gas lenses. They dug one out of a box and gave it to me to try. Liked it so much now I'm going to have to buy more sizes.

That's the one I would really like to have. Let us know what you think.

exnailpounder · Tue May 09, 2017 5:46 pm

If they gave it to you then the price was right but after all I have read, I wouldn't pay the "left nut" asking price for one.

Poland308 · Tue May 09, 2017 6:07 pm

I love it. I was able to get down in a deep recess on that aluminum casting but still see. And it was a noticeable difference in gas coverage over the standard gas lenses I have with alumina cups.

Olivero · Tue May 09, 2017 6:40 pm

Weeeeeell. I never tried a gas lens, I told Nail I would... but I never did.

I like the alumina cups.

exnailpounder · Tue May 09, 2017 6:43 pm

Olivero wrote:Weeeeeell. I never tried a gas lens, I told Nail I would... but I never did.

I like the alumina cups.

You never tried a gas lens????

Poland308 · Tue May 09, 2017 6:47 pm

I've got standard ones with alumina cups but I don't use them much. But this one from CK is a whole step up in how the welds turn out.

Olivero · Wed May 10, 2017 9:54 am

exnailpounder wrote:
Olivero wrote:Weeeeeell. I never tried a gas lens, I told Nail I would... but I never did.

I like the alumina cups.
You never tried a gas lens????

Aw shaite. Here we go.

No, I never did. I know... I know........

I just couldn't bring myself too it. so I bought a box of cups instead

jernigan78 · Thu May 11, 2017 7:56 pm

Aloha guys. I almost always use a gas lens. Tried it when I first started to tig and never went back. M. Furick now makes clear cups that can handle being used for AC. And let me say they are sweet. Makes it so much easier to see whats going on. I also use Furick cups a lot for stainless, and the coverage is the best. Pics below are all with clear cups/gas lenses.
#1. the first test run on aluminum when I got my Dynasty. Pretty much just playin around and getting a feel for the machine.
#2. Some leveling feet I made yesterday for a new milling bench im making. Only running 15CFH gas. almost no color.
#3. Screenshot of the M. Furick website showing his ally cups. Good stuff. (and no I don't work there, haha) http://furickcup.com/furickshop/

jernigan78 · Thu May 11, 2017 7:58 pm

ok... reverse the order in my previous post. lol. They came out in the reverse order of what I uploaded them in.

Olivero · Sat May 13, 2017 1:20 pm

Alright, now that's some cups I am willing to try, I emailed you guys asking some questions.

Motomazzo · Wed May 17, 2017 10:14 pm

I had a bad bottle of Argon just a few weeks ago. It's been in my shop for 5-6 years or so. Gas was okay(noble gasses don't go bad) but apparently, there was moisture or corrosion or whatever in the bottle. Couldn't keep the black bits out of my welds on aluminum for anything. Mild steel was not much better. Finally, neighbor across the street brought over his bottle of Argon. After we purged the lines, it was like night and day. We switched back and forth several times and each time we could duplicate the symptoms. I returned the bottle with 500 psi left. Got an exchange and blew through the entire bottle, no issues whatsoever....except the ones which were entirely my fault.