Welding Tips and Tricks

I’m using a primeweld 225 tig and have been doing pretty well for the past month or so. Tried to do a little practice today and something went wrong. As I Tried to light up I got a really sporadic arc and then a lot spatter. I tried again and mashed the Pedal all the way down and was able to keep an arc but very unstable. I’ve checked all my connections and my gas everything seems to be fine not sure what’s happening. Also I will mention that I am using a 150A torch and over the past few weeks I’ve been running about 200a through it on some 1/4” steel. I wasn’t having any issues the last time I used the Machine

If you are using an air-cooled torch, the rubber hose at the torch end connector can quickly degrade and crack if it gets hot enough, enough times. Check that end. If that checks out, you need to ask your vendor as it should still be under warranty, right?

I checked Connections like you said everything seems to be OK and then called the vendor gave them the scenario they were just stumped as me I went ahead and changed out all the consumables in the torch new gas lens new tungsten everything seems to be working good now not really sure what happened but thanks for the feedback. I’m pretty green when it comes to Tig welding so when I picked up the torch after taking a day or two break and I didn’t change any settings I was pretty confused


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Check your ground, but sounds like you found the issue.

EDIT: FWIW, did you save the consumables that you took off? I'd like to see pics if you have. Maybe we can learn something.

Here are some pic’s of the consumables



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I've had my gas stop on me in the middle of a weld. I could hear it flowing when I started up, but after 10 seconds or so, it quit. The next day it wouldn't flow at all. Seemed to be a pedal issue. I also noticed that sometimes the valve on my regulator closes on it's one. Don't know why; ghost maybe. These are probably long shot suggestions but see if you can listen for the gas without striking an arc until it times out. And check the flow meter at the same time.

Ndailey wrote:Here are some pic’s of the consumables

That helps a LOT.

Your electrode and collet are FUBAR.

You'll need to cut/grind that spooge'd end off that electrode.

I recommend you replace your collet with a wedge style collet, the original style collets smash too easy. For your edification, look how deformed and discolored the collet is!

EDIT: I just grabbed this pic from the CK Worldwide website, I think this says it all. The wedge collet is on the right. Notice there are no slots to deform, rather the collet body is a solid tube. The older/original collet is on the left, and much like yours it is also FUBAR.

What do you use to grind your electrode? Have you ground any electrodes?



Alan

Once the internal collets get pinched like that the gas doesn’t flow properly. I’ve had this problem before, even had it caused one time because my tungsten was under sized. I had to check it with a micrometer to prove it. The ck wedge collets are great and just about eliminate this kind of problem totally. Good thing is it’s usually just the internal collet that needs replaced, the other parts are probably fine.

Dang, wish I knew about the collet’s an hour ago! I just ordered some new ones along with gas lenses and cups. O well guess I’ll have to order some more.
Man down lol!!


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Ndailey wrote:Dang, wish I knew about the collet’s an hour ago! I just ordered some new ones along with gas lenses and cups. O well guess I’ll have to order some more.
Man down lol!!

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The old style will do find, just don't over tighten, or get them too hot