Aye aye

Re-titled thread so maybe it helps frustrated newbies like myself to more quickly find solutions to a specific problem

Cheers. I'd hate to be the guy who mentions a year from now how many parts i've tossed because they've "outlived their usefulness" and be told..."uh, it's cleanable and reusable."

PROBLEM SOLVED (not to say my welds are anything near serviceable or anything) I took apart the torch and stubby lens kit to reveal this on the collet body https://photos.smugmug.com/Machines/Welding/i-6LG3RQZ/0/514c8110/M/IMG_3852-M.jpg Set machine up as before: 120A, 65%, 150hz, 10cfh during pedal...

I hear and feel gas coming from the torch when the pedal is depressed. My tank sticker does say “argon.” I will try swapping my gas lens for the oem torch parts and see if it helps the welds

Much appreciating all the help

Test results per cj's suggestions: Machine setup at 120A (max avail right now), 150hz, 65% AC freq https://photos.smugmug.com/Machines/Welding/i-mDNT29v/0/65028e79/M/IMG_3814-M.jpg Gas flow meter while pedal is depressed https://photos.smugmug.com/Machines/Welding/i-x5br8xV/0/36f1345a/S/IMG_3816-S.j...

No filler used on the tests I will try those settings and post pics of the result. Stick out is always <0.25” Machine is set up AC with electrode negative. Ground cable on posi. Yes, the audible arc tone changes to be higher pitches as I adjust the freq Unfortunately I can only run 120A max as I’m p...

Are you relying on the gauge style indicator for determining your flow rate? Or a ball type flow meter? If your using the gauge it would be likely that it’s just reading that far off. I have the gauge-style indicator that came w the unit. In the future, I will probably get a ball-type meter in the ...

Thanks all for tips thus far! What ended up helping for a few runs was to clean the plate as suggested and turn down the gas flow to 8-10cfh. When I set my regulator to 15+cfh on subsequent runs, the puddle was immediately contaminated and arc less stable....I was still using a tungsten that I had s...

Cheers
Grind in half, meaning use a diamond wheel or metal cutting wheel on a grinder?
When I sharpen the tip, I spin it with a drill with the tungsten tip pointing towards the top of the wheel, all parallel. How do you blunt the tip without it grabbing?

Yes, typo, 0.09"

Hi all, To spare everybody the most common info of threads like this one, I'm a new welder with a new Lincoln SW 200, w a new bottle of 100% argon. What is pictured/utilized has been 0.9" 6061 Al plate, 2% lanth/blue 3/32" tungsten, and #7 and #8 gas lenses. My first 2 runs EVER looked lik...