Tig help!

[CJ_978]

hey guys, i need help i dont know if its me or my machine, but i have an older 90's syncrowave 250 and when im welding aluminum its melting my tungsten i was welding my transmission which is cast aluminum, i pre heated it and cleaned it real good, but its melting my tungsten, what should i do?

[David R]

Pure Argon?

What size tungsten, what type?

David

[CJ_978]

yes pure argon and using 1% Zirconiated 3/32 which i know the 3/32 is prob to small, but this has happen on a number of things like the aluminum motorcycle frame i was welding, it kept balling up to nothing, and i dont have it on max clean setting i have it on 6

[castweld]

I run a syncro 250, 20 series torch, 3/32, argon and weld on trannies often. I set amps to 250 ( 20 series torch limit), try turning cleaning down to 7 or 8 (more pen). That should allow you to run 250 amps for short runs with 3/32. Bell flange is thickest area and v'eeing helps. Also preheating al to 350 degrees should reduce needed amps almost 50%. Also depending where on case your welding a pre and post heat may be needed, I use 350degrees.
Peter

[CJ_978]

ok so do you think its just turning the penetration up? what should i use for tungsten? pure or 1%?? the crack is on the bell housing flange, i drilled the hole to stop the crack, and preheated it with a propane torch

[con_fuse9]

Watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpanERwagaU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpanERwagaU

Good luck

[weldermike]

My friend had a similar problem, so we lugged my machine to his shop so he could finish a job, at the end of the day we hooked my bottle up to his machine, and bingo, he had a bad bottle of pure argon. Have you tried a different bottle?

[CJ_978]

ok thanks guys the video helped a bit, but for the bottle of argon, how do you know if you have a bad bottle? like what turns it bad??

[weldermike]

His bottle was labled argon, but was some form of a mix. Screw up at the gas fill.

[DSW]

Bad gas would give you similar results to running with no gas/ poor gas coverage. If you are getting clean beads, but the issue is simply the tungsten, chances are it's not gas related. Picts of your issues would help.


From what little info you have given, my guess is it's simply that you are using the wrong size and type of tungsten for the amps you are pushing. Usually for alum past 1/8" ( over 180 amps) I'm running an 1/8" 1% or 2% lanthanated tungsten on my syncrowave because it doesn't ball as much and I get a tighter arc. In reality we need more info to give anything but guesses. You haven't listed amps that you are running that I've seen yet, nor do we know just what "melting my tungsten" really means. Is it balling up, or is something else happening? The more detailed info we get the better the replys can be. My crystal ball is a bit foggy this morning...

[CJ_978]

i was running between 165-175 for amps, and the welds were comming out dirty a little, probably because the trans wasnt cleaned enough, but as for the tungsten, it was balling up and melting away as if it were on max clean, i'll post pictures later on tonight

[n20junkie]

Are you using pointed or a balled tip? Have to ask

[CJ_978]

balled tip