typically, all of my Tig welds are dark gray in color when i weld 304 stainless steel. does this mean it is getting too hot, or not hot enough? or does is have anything to do with gas flow. i just welded some schedule 10 stainless tubes together (the standard manifold elbows) and i had the welder set at 65 amps, the gas flow was at 20, and i was using 1/16" tip and rod. i am looking for the nice rainbow color, but i am not getting it. should i go up to a 3/32" or 1/8" tip?

any comments on the settings or consumables would be helpful also.

i have been lurking this forum for about a year (i don't even own a honda) because of all of the great information, and fabrication pictures.

Thank you!

 

First i feel that a 1/16 tungsten is to small, bump it upto a 3/32. Second, make sure your tungsten is sharp, and i mean SHARP! Having a contaminated tip will leave the weld finish crappy. I find that i get the gray color when welding to slow! If you move slowly it gives it time to burn the cromium out of the stainless making it look gray... i found turning my amperage up higher and moving along pretty quick helps keep the color there... also make sure your using filler. Just so you know when welding sch. 10 fittings ill have amerage at about 110amps and will pulse the amperage up and down with foot pedal since i dont have a built in pulser.

 

Awesome, thank you for the info. I will give that a try.

Also, do you typically use an up-down motion with the torch, or a circular motion?

 

anyone?