I'm welding sch40 ss on DC- at 80amps gas on about 20, when I go to start to make a pool it starts to spit metal from the pool. Also using 3/32 2% tungsten.


Modified by dragline at 3:26 PM 12/9/2004

 

Sounds like contamination. Make sure everything is clean, including your cup.

 

Everythings new.

 

ok, describe how you prepair your tungsten for welding.

 

I grind it to a point on a angle the same size as the tungten.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dragline &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I grind it to a point on a angle the same size as the tungten.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, for this, try grinding the tungsten down to a point 2.5 times the diameter of the tungsten, and use a fine grain grinding wheel that hasn't been contaminated.

It should give you a finer arc.

As for the spitting metal, I just started with SS, have have done very few peices useing only 409 SS, but for your carbons, when it starts to spark, it's either contaminated, or you're using too much heat on the surface. I think.

 

Make a pole? what are we making? Lastly, SPLIT metal or SPIT metal?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fulldragcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Make a pole? what are we making? Lastly, SPLIT metal or SPIT metal?</TD></TR></TABLE>

What I guessed was pool, and spit.

 

There you guys happy it says POOL.

 

yes, thank you for the edit..
my tig did this when i used 75 % argon 25 % co2
went back to straight argon and have never had a problem.
but another thing that i have seen is that the metal is not clean, rust particles and other debris get hot and jump off the base metal.

 

I don't know how much experience you have, so I'll start with the simple stuff first:

You may have your tungsten sticking too far out of the cup. You want it to stick out NO MORE than 1/2" (typically)..there's exceptions you will learn later. Also, you have to hold your tungsten about 1/16" from the puddle.

I run my gas flow at 30 minimum.

Also, make sure that the metal is clean.

 

Related to the above, when you get the spitting, is there brown soot on the metal? That's a dead giveaway of insufficient gas coverage... I've had lots of "experience" with that. Make sure there are no drafts where you are working, like open doors. If the argon "cloud" gets blown away from the weld area, it'll result in what your saying everytime. Also make sure you have sufficient flow, 10cfm or greater.

 

Welding is 95% preparation and 5% actual welding.

Make sure that the inside of the tubing is clean.

If you get 100% penetration and there is rust or oil on the backside of the weld it will float to the top of the weld pool and bubble and shoot molten metal all over the place. Make it a habit to clean both sides of a weldment with Acetone before you weld. Also make sure that you're backpurging or using Solar Flux.

 

You need 100% argon, don't stick your Tungsten out too far. I ususally go by sticking the Tungsten out the same distance as the width of the cup opening. Also make sure there is no breeze blowing away your gas, that will cause huge problems. Clean the material very well and wipe it with acetone to remove any contaminants. Weld away!