Nice color, but not shiny weld bead on stainless sheet
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 8:39 pm
Hello. My name is Mariusz.
I have a question.... why my bead is not shiny?
The colors are good - goldish, pale blue, purplish but they are not shiny. They are not gray or overheated. They look like frozen/matt/flat.
I am welding 1mm (18ga, 0.039) thickness stainless steel sheet (butt weld) on some scrap parts.
I use pink ceramic #12 cup with gas lens and 1,6mm (1/16) 2% lanth tungsten sharpend like a needle (brand new, grinded on a wheel used only for tungsten)
I keep my torch at almost 90 degree, very close to the puddle.
I use 1mm (18ga, 0.039) filler rod mainly 308lsi but I've tried 316 (I don't know exactly what is the base material made of other than it's stainless) Without adding filler problem still exists..
I use pulse but average output is at 15 to 23 amps
I used diffrent gas flow setups. From 10cfh (5lpm) to 30cfh (15lpm).
For the tests I didn't use backpurge, but welded thin SS sheet on thicker aluminium sheet to act as heatsink.
And now is something that I don't understand. On the welding side beads are matt/flat/frosted but nice colors. HOWEVER!! On the other side they look amazing chrome/gold/straw//blue and purple VERY shiny. AND this is WHITOUT using backpurge.
I spreayed soapy water on gas lines and got very small bubbles on flowmeter, connection and cup isolator. The bubble are so small I dont think it's the problem. I am pretty sure there always be some small bubbles in the gas line somewhere... Or am I wrong?
The fan on my welder is doing it's job so I put some ply wood screens around my welding area.
I bought Argon about 2-3 years ago. Maybe some moisture inside?
Any other Ideas?
The weldinge machine is DIGITIG 205P AC/DC
Any help is priceless...
Thank You!
I have a question.... why my bead is not shiny?
The colors are good - goldish, pale blue, purplish but they are not shiny. They are not gray or overheated. They look like frozen/matt/flat.
I am welding 1mm (18ga, 0.039) thickness stainless steel sheet (butt weld) on some scrap parts.
I use pink ceramic #12 cup with gas lens and 1,6mm (1/16) 2% lanth tungsten sharpend like a needle (brand new, grinded on a wheel used only for tungsten)
I keep my torch at almost 90 degree, very close to the puddle.
I use 1mm (18ga, 0.039) filler rod mainly 308lsi but I've tried 316 (I don't know exactly what is the base material made of other than it's stainless) Without adding filler problem still exists..
I use pulse but average output is at 15 to 23 amps
I used diffrent gas flow setups. From 10cfh (5lpm) to 30cfh (15lpm).
For the tests I didn't use backpurge, but welded thin SS sheet on thicker aluminium sheet to act as heatsink.
And now is something that I don't understand. On the welding side beads are matt/flat/frosted but nice colors. HOWEVER!! On the other side they look amazing chrome/gold/straw//blue and purple VERY shiny. AND this is WHITOUT using backpurge.
I spreayed soapy water on gas lines and got very small bubbles on flowmeter, connection and cup isolator. The bubble are so small I dont think it's the problem. I am pretty sure there always be some small bubbles in the gas line somewhere... Or am I wrong?
The fan on my welder is doing it's job so I put some ply wood screens around my welding area.
I bought Argon about 2-3 years ago. Maybe some moisture inside?
Any other Ideas?
The weldinge machine is DIGITIG 205P AC/DC
Any help is priceless...
Thank You!