I have a cheap $798 (AUD) AC/DC 200 amp machine but it does have HF start. I often have an issue where the arc will not start unless i first (before hitting the pedal) lightly rub the tungsten tip on the alu surface. I don't mean scratch it, just lightly touch the surface as if it just needs to remove some fine film from the tip.
This can happen even after brushing the surface with the wire brush.
It never happens if I've just ground the tungsten or if the tungsten is still quite hot from just running a bead.
Touching the tungsten lightly to the surface like this never causes any contamination.
I'm assuming a very light coat of oxidation or something on the tungsten although I have a 6 second post flow.
Thanks!
Tig welding tips, questions, equipment, applications, instructions, techniques, tig welding machines, troubleshooting tig welding process
Yeah, as long as your HF does fire, I would assume its just oxidation.
I have the same thing occasionally but after a while, I just got used to it.
If you TIG steel, does it do the same thing?
I have the same thing occasionally but after a while, I just got used to it.
If you TIG steel, does it do the same thing?
if there's a welder, there's a way
Jim FLinchbaugh
- Jim FLinchbaugh
-
Workhorse
-
Posts:
-
Joined:Thu Sep 01, 2016 11:56 pm
-
Location:Kalispell Montana
I have an AHP 200X that did the same thing.
Adjusting the high freq point gap and aligning them, fixed this issue
Adjusting the high freq point gap and aligning them, fixed this issue
- C. Livingstone
-
Guide
-
Posts:
-
Joined:Sat Dec 03, 2016 9:22 am
Yeah,
I get that sometimes too, but mostly just with AC TIG, if I'm recalling correctly.
But I think I heard somewhere that the negating of that by the quick touch down to the base metal, isn't for breaking through some oxidation at the tungsten so much, as that it discharges any slight residual current that may somehow develop at the tunsten, so that the HF circuitry then senses it's OK to initiate a HF arc start again.
I'm still fairly new to AC TIG welding, and maybe I'm just hallucinating, but I do notice some slight static-like discharge at the tungsten whenever the HF starts need a little help that way.
My 2015 unit doesn't have HF gap settings, I believe, but Everlast did later go back to a HF gap-type daughterboard on my same model, I believe. So, maybe the lower-tech gap-type arrangement is better somehow.
Otherwise, I'll keep about a half-a-second of pre-flow and at least 5 seconds of post-flow for most things, which keep my tungsten color pretty nice. I'll be trying some new stuff soon though, which is reportedly an outstanding tungsten blend that makes arc starting better and can even reduce Argon consumption. So, we'll see about that!
I get that sometimes too, but mostly just with AC TIG, if I'm recalling correctly.
But I think I heard somewhere that the negating of that by the quick touch down to the base metal, isn't for breaking through some oxidation at the tungsten so much, as that it discharges any slight residual current that may somehow develop at the tunsten, so that the HF circuitry then senses it's OK to initiate a HF arc start again.
I'm still fairly new to AC TIG welding, and maybe I'm just hallucinating, but I do notice some slight static-like discharge at the tungsten whenever the HF starts need a little help that way.
My 2015 unit doesn't have HF gap settings, I believe, but Everlast did later go back to a HF gap-type daughterboard on my same model, I believe. So, maybe the lower-tech gap-type arrangement is better somehow.
Otherwise, I'll keep about a half-a-second of pre-flow and at least 5 seconds of post-flow for most things, which keep my tungsten color pretty nice. I'll be trying some new stuff soon though, which is reportedly an outstanding tungsten blend that makes arc starting better and can even reduce Argon consumption. So, we'll see about that!
- Tri-Mix.jpg (40.79 KiB) Viewed 979 times
Peace be with you all,
Christian Livingstone
www.youtube.com/newjerusalemtimes
Everlast AC/DC 210EXT (2015)
CAT250D DC-TIG/Plasma Combo
Christian Livingstone
www.youtube.com/newjerusalemtimes
Everlast AC/DC 210EXT (2015)
CAT250D DC-TIG/Plasma Combo
JFF45
- JFF45
-
Active Member
-
Posts:
-
Joined:Thu Dec 29, 2016 6:13 pm
-
Location:Morayfield, QLD Australia
Thanks for the replies.
I've read suggestions that later, even chinese, inverter AC/DC machines don't use gapped points anymore but I'll need to confirm that.
I've seen the static electricity theory mentioned several times and I'm apparently not alone in simply touching the tip to the workpiece. Some even seem to do it anyway as part of there normal startup process to eliminate the 'hit or miss' aspect of it.
I'm happy to keep doing it, might even do it every time, now that I'm sure it's not an impending fault in the machine.
Btw, it happens with both zirconiated and lanthanated electrodes.
I've read suggestions that later, even chinese, inverter AC/DC machines don't use gapped points anymore but I'll need to confirm that.
I've seen the static electricity theory mentioned several times and I'm apparently not alone in simply touching the tip to the workpiece. Some even seem to do it anyway as part of there normal startup process to eliminate the 'hit or miss' aspect of it.
I'm happy to keep doing it, might even do it every time, now that I'm sure it's not an impending fault in the machine.
Btw, it happens with both zirconiated and lanthanated electrodes.
John
I've trained myself to lightly touch the tungsten to the work to make sure I didn't forget to tighten the collet. That also gives me added confidence that I know how far I am from the work when I start the arc. Both issues are related to getting older, the first has to do with the brain not always working, the second with the eyes not always working.JFF45 wrote: I'm happy to keep doing it, might even do it every time, now that I'm sure it's not an impending fault in the machine.
Lincoln Square Wave 200
Lincoln 225 AC/DC
Harris Oxy/Acetylene torch
Lincoln 225 AC/DC
Harris Oxy/Acetylene torch
JFF45
- JFF45
-
Active Member
-
Posts:
-
Joined:Thu Dec 29, 2016 6:13 pm
-
Location:Morayfield, QLD Australia
I can relate.. Starting to learn TIG at 71 might have some asking questions about my brain but the eyes are still coping at this stage.MarkL wrote:I've trained myself to lightly touch the tungsten to the work to make sure I didn't forget to tighten the collet. That also gives me added confidence that I know how far I am from the work when I start the arc. Both issues are related to getting older, the first has to do with the brain not always working, the second with the eyes not always working.JFF45 wrote: I'm happy to keep doing it, might even do it every time, now that I'm sure it's not an impending fault in the machine.
John
Jim FLinchbaugh
- Jim FLinchbaugh
-
Workhorse
-
Posts:
-
Joined:Thu Sep 01, 2016 11:56 pm
-
Location:Kalispell Montana
JFF45 wrote:Thanks for the replies.
I've read suggestions that later, even chinese, inverter AC/DC machines don't use gapped points anymore but I'll need to confirm that.
mine's 2016 model has point gaps. How hard is it to look?
Struggle on
JFF45
- JFF45
-
Active Member
-
Posts:
-
Joined:Thu Dec 29, 2016 6:13 pm
-
Location:Morayfield, QLD Australia
Lucky you!Jim FLinchbaugh wrote:JFF45 wrote:Thanks for the replies.
I've read suggestions that later, even chinese, inverter AC/DC machines don't use gapped points anymore but I'll need to confirm that.
mine's 2016 model has point gaps. How hard is it to look?
Struggle on
I really don't see the point in opening a new machine that has no issues..
Who's struggling?
John
JFF45
- JFF45
-
Active Member
-
Posts:
-
Joined:Thu Dec 29, 2016 6:13 pm
-
Location:Morayfield, QLD Australia
I got into the habit of using a heavy 3rd hand I made with a MIG copper tip fitted to it that I place on the workpiece. It's connected to the machine with an auto earth cable via the machines clamp.electrode wrote:Also check your work clamp for a good connection or your welding table for same. If my table gets a bit rusty mine will do that sometimes but it's rare because I try to keep it cleaned up.
Sometimes I forget to place it on the piece and the arc starts the same anyway.
I've found the MIG needs a much better earth but probably because of the current difference.
John
Return to “Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding”
Jump to
- Introductions & How to Use the Forum
- ↳ Welcome!
- ↳ Member Introductions
- ↳ How to Use the Forum
- ↳ Moderator Applications
- Welding Discussion
- ↳ Metal Cutting
- ↳ Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
- ↳ Mig and Flux Core - gas metal arc welding & flux cored arc welding
- ↳ Stick Welding/Arc Welding - Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- ↳ Welding Forum General Shop Talk
- ↳ Welding Certification - Stick/Arc Welding, Tig Welding, Mig Welding Certification tests - Welding Tests of all kinds
- ↳ Welding Projects - Welding project Ideas - Welding project plans
- ↳ Product Reviews
- ↳ Fuel Gas Heating
- Welding Tips & Tricks
- ↳ Video Discussion
- ↳ Wish List
- Announcements & Feedback
- ↳ Forum News
- ↳ Suggestions, Feedback and Support
- Welding Marketplace
- ↳ Welding Jobs - Industrial Welding Jobs - Pipe Welding Jobs - Tig Welding Jobs
- ↳ Classifieds - Buy, Sell, Trade Used Welding Equipment
- Welding Resources
- ↳ Tradeshows, Seminars and Events
- ↳ The Welding Library
- ↳ Education Opportunities