Welding Tips and Tricks

Hey all,
I purchased a new #17 CK flex torch and am having some serious contamination issues with it. I was wondering if anyone has had an issue like this and had to wash the new torch in acetone?

Here are the details: my #9 CK welds perfect, take the 3/32 lanth tungsten and put it into the new #17 using the same cable. #17 torch, cup, lens (stubby kit), collet, and cap are new. Suddenly there is a lot of carbon, scum and skinning on the aluminum puddle. I clean the tungsten, new clean coupon, filler rod...same thing. I try to push through and I can tell that its getting cleaner but not very fast and not completely.

Clean 0.125 coupons, 4043 filler, 20cfh argon (same as the #9), ~125A

I'm wondering if there was some oil on the new pieces that volatilized when struck the arc? The new lens is a CK part also.

I'm going to wash everything tonight with acetone, new tungsten, and new clean coupons and rod and try it again. You all have any thoughts?

Same sized cup and same piece of aluminum I assume? I think by far the most likely situation is you have a leak SOMEWHERE in the torch, if your consumables are new and you've already checked the tightness and know how to put together a torch, then I can only assume it's likely in the hose connections on one end.

Yep, same sized cup, same piece of aluminum, and other known clean pieces. Yes,I know how to put a torch together. I did think that the torch connection was the culprit and re installed the cable, no dice. I'll double check the all the connections, rebuild the torch head again before I wash everything in acetone, and I'll double triple check the cable connections. Thanks!

My main reasoning for thinking it to be a connection issue is CK Worldwide is pretty unlikely risk their reputation by building a torch using oils or greases that might lead to poor initial torch performance and because any burning oil or grease in the head should burn away in pretty short order given the temperatures reached in tig welding.

The more I think about it, the more I think your right. The change was immediate when I did the swap. There must be some air getting in there somewhere.

I also think your right about the QC on the CK stuff. That would be a pretty big miss to leave trace oils on their products, and their quality is great.

I've got a set of interchangeable head torches for my welder. Mine are not CK but they are weldcraft, all the same thing really, nobody is immune to having troubles no matter how reputable the brand name. Of the dozen-or-so heads I have, one of them absolutely has a gas leak and I just don't care cuz I have so many. It's a bit of a shame but when you can work around it and it's not a big deal, who cares. In my case the 90° head is perfect but the 75 degree head is leaky. Okay, whatever. The moral of the story though is that yes the torch can have something inherently wrong or faulty and they can be a real pain in the ass. I suspect that this is more likely on the flex head and interchangeable head torches because there's so many parts.

Good point.

As least I have the #9 as a benchmark. I know that one runs. I have other lenses (not CK) that I can troubleshoot the #17 with. Just a matter of process of elimination. I'd be bummed if this thing turns out to be a dud, but I'm not there yet.

I'll let you guys know how it turns out.

pkele wrote:Good point.

As least I have the #9 as a benchmark. I know that one runs. I have other lenses (not CK) that I can troubleshoot the #17 with. Just a matter of process of elimination. I'd be bummed if this thing turns out to be a dud, but I'm not there yet.

I'll let you guys know how it turns out.

are the #9 and #17 running off the same tank of argon?

are you using any of the 9 parts in the 17 ?? Does the cable properly seat on the 17 or does it just tighten up ??

Ok, update...

Took the entire line and torch apart again (from the dinse to the torch), checked mating surfaces, reassembled. Fresh 0.125" coupon, fresh filler rod both cleaned with acetone, brand new lanth tungsten...Still shit. I did forget to mention that there was a green tint in the arc...copper or brass perhaps?

Back to the benchmark #9. I reinstalled in on the same cable as the #17 (same as before, same tank of argon) and ... TA DA! Great weld. Something is wrong with the #17 torch. I just ordered a new consumable kit for the 17 and will use new everything. I"m also going to use the argon tank and back flush the torch head to see if any chips flush out (but wouldn't the lens catch that?) the bottom cable connection end.

I'll keep you guys updated.

BillE.Dee wrote:are you using any of the 9 parts in the 17 ?? Does the cable properly seat on the 17 or does it just tighten up ??

No, I have all specific torch parts, the only thing I'm swapping is the cable.

I'll see if the cable is properly seating on the 17, that's a thought. I figured since the #9 and 17 are the same connection they should seat the same and since this is actually the 150A #17 cable it's supposed to fit the #17 end, but I'll double check.

I swap between a 17 and a 9 on my work cable all the time. There the same.

I fixed it.

I got the replacement consumables, swapped the lens and the collet...welds beautifully.
The collet is a little funny looking: no slits on sides to compress the tungsten, and the conical end is an asymetrical cone that I assume binds the tungsten between the lens and the collet body. I haven't seen one like this before. I'll try to post pictures, and I'll go back and narrow down if it's the collet or the lens now that I have spares I can swap around.

My theory is that I was given a collet for a different torch size or style and that it was restricting the flow of shielding gas...we'll see once I experiment more. Now I want to know what happened.

More updates to come.

That sounds like a wedge collet. They work good.

I swap between a 17 and a 9 on my work cable all the time. There the same

Just a thought, Josh. I do the same. I was ass u ming he received all the correct parts to use on the torch.
HOWEVER, glad he got up and running. Those little parts can pose problems without doubt.