gomotomoto
- gomotomoto
-
New Member
-
Posts:
-
Joined:Wed Oct 19, 2011 4:28 pm
I'm flattening the tungsen on the grinder when welding aluminum, but it's not "balling" when I weld. I assumed that the tungsten would kind of automatically ball up after a second of welding. Instead it get's a bit nasty looking and wondering if something's not right?
ajlskater1
- ajlskater1
-
Ace
-
Posts:
-
Joined:Thu Feb 02, 2012 5:32 am
what kind of tungsten are you running? and also does it have a ac balance control?
Miller recommends Ceriated tungsten for the Diversion 165. The welder provides square wave AC 30% positive (for cleaning) and 70% negative (for penetration) at 120 Hz. I believe the 30/70 is the TIME ratio and that the amperage +/- is balanced but I could be wrong. That said, I have found it to be a real sweet spot for aluminum within the capability of the machine.
Ceriated tungsten is NOT supposed to ball. That is a phenomenon of pure tungsten used with sign wave AC from a transformer power source - old school. I was running some practice beads as recommended by Jody in a recent video (trying to use up the Argon in a leaking tank which I scored from craigslist - but that is another story). I was pushing my Diversion 165 rather hard with a 3/32" Ceriated electrode on which I had ground a slight flat tip. After making several beads I observed that the very tip of the electrode was very slightly rounded and quite shiny. Nothing like the "ball" on a pure tungsten electrode.
But there is better - 2% Lanthanated tungsten. Look back through Jody's recent videos. There is one where he did a test of various electrodes. I obtained some 2% Lanthanated electrodes from weldingcity.com. My D 165 is no match for a 3/32" 2% Lanthanated electrode. I don't think I could ball it, burn it or wear it out. I will not buy any other type of tungsten again. Try and find the video. It shows various electrode tip degradation. Very good information.
Ken
Ceriated tungsten is NOT supposed to ball. That is a phenomenon of pure tungsten used with sign wave AC from a transformer power source - old school. I was running some practice beads as recommended by Jody in a recent video (trying to use up the Argon in a leaking tank which I scored from craigslist - but that is another story). I was pushing my Diversion 165 rather hard with a 3/32" Ceriated electrode on which I had ground a slight flat tip. After making several beads I observed that the very tip of the electrode was very slightly rounded and quite shiny. Nothing like the "ball" on a pure tungsten electrode.
But there is better - 2% Lanthanated tungsten. Look back through Jody's recent videos. There is one where he did a test of various electrodes. I obtained some 2% Lanthanated electrodes from weldingcity.com. My D 165 is no match for a 3/32" 2% Lanthanated electrode. I don't think I could ball it, burn it or wear it out. I will not buy any other type of tungsten again. Try and find the video. It shows various electrode tip degradation. Very good information.
Ken