Also, make sure you are using TIG welding rods. They look the same as the
gas rods, but gas rods have very few alloys in them. You can not do a decent
steel weld with rods made for gas welding.
Mark V.S. in Austin, TX
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Donald H. Locker [SMTP:dhl@chelseamsl.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2000 12:24 AM
> To: shiples@home.com
> Cc: shop-talk@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: Question about TIG
>
>
> I would guess insufficient gas flow. You are using the correct gas
> (argon) and DCEN (straight polarity), right? I also recall that
> snapping off the tungsten can generate internal cracks that don't show
> and affect the arc stability. Either grind off back over the bad
> stuff, or grind the tungsten off where you would have snapped it, or
> cut it with an appropriate BigFatSnipper.
>
> Old clean metal should be very much like the new stuff, only older.
>
> Try running beads without filler on test coupons to get the feel.
> It's much like running oxy-acetylene, but with control of the heat and
> much brighter.
>
> HTH.
> Donald.
>
> > Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 21:03:15 -0700
> > From: Steven Shipley <shiples@home.com>
> >
> >
> > I'm teaching myself how to use a Lincoln Square Wave 175 welder and
> > I've encountered a problem. I keep seeing a build-up of spatter
> > that sticks to the electrode and the ceramic cup. As this spatter
> > builds up the arc becomes harder to control. I'm spending a lot of
> > time putting new points on the electrodes.
> >
> > The welding books say that a TIG electrode isn't used up in the
> > welding process but in my case I'm always stopping, snapping off
> > the electode where the spatter has been deposited and regrinding.
> >
> > I'm welding on an old pickup truck so I have my suspicions of the
> > problem. But shouldn't old metal weld like new if it's been
> > ground to bare metal? And if it isn't the pickup truck's fault,
> > what is the operator doing wrong?
> >
> > Steve Shipley
> > Seattle, WA
> >
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