I have spent the day modifying my pinto sump. I have TIG welded it all together with generally good results.
I am welding at about 90 amps and using a gold tip electrode.
I seam to be getting through the electrode really quick as it seems to be getting really hot (glowing) and lose its point very quickly.
Every 2-3 inches, I need to re grind the tip
Any tips or ideas.
Cheers in advance
The Baron
what welder have you got. can you here the gas com e out the gun when you press the button.
adam
You're welding steel, using a DC tig welder?
The earth should be the positive connection and the torch tungsten the negative.
More heat is generated on the +ve side of the arc, hence burning away the tungsten would be one symptom.
Make sure you have enough gas flowing, and you're not in a draughty location.
Final thought, I don't know what a gold tungsten is, I'd use a red tip for steel
[Edited on 17/11/07 by JohnN]
Gold is normally 1 1/2 % lanthanated. It's good for AC or DC and increases the current carrying capacity.
I personally wont use Thoriated Red Tip tungstens due to the radioactive dust produced when grinding.
It does sound like either lack of gas flow or electron flow is opposite to normal overheating the electrode.
Of course the other option is to move up to the next size electrode!!! What are you using 2.4mm?? I find 1.6mm fairly redundant except for very fine
work as it does exactly what you are describing.
Cheers
[Edited on 17/11/07 by SeaBass]
I'm currently using a 2.4mm tungsten (gold Tip for the reasons SeaBass has stated)
The Earth is connected to the +ve
I'm using argon shield (from the MIG welder) at 10LPM (20 CFH ish)
My TIG welder is a greenbird 200 amp (one of the group but ones from last November)
Just done a search, it could be the gas. I'll have a go with pure argon (one of those chuck away bottles)
[Edited on 17/11/07 by The Baron]
quote:
Originally posted by The Baron
I'm currently using a 2.4mm tungsten (gold Tip for the reasons SeaBass has stated)
The Earth is connected to the +ve
I'm using argon shield (from the MIG welder) at 10LPM (20 CFH ish)
My TIG welder is a greenbird 200 amp (one of the group but ones from last November)
Just done a search, it could be the gas. I'll have a go with pure argon (one of those chuck away bottles)
[Edited on 17/11/07 by The Baron]