Welding Tips and Tricks

I am learning to tig with my new ultra205. I use the nr 4 cup supplied and 3/32 tungsten with about 5lpm of argon. Having problems with metal splater on the cup building up. I file it off and keep on going with the same nozzle. What am I doing wrong. I am runing practice beads on 1/2 bar stock.

Usually when I get spatter on the cup, I didn't clean things well enough. Are your welds turning out porous?

Agreed.

Spatter in the cup is usually impurities in/on the metal "cooking" off. Rust or oils, or mill-scale that was missed, are big culprits on carbon steel. Oils and other organic contaminants are the main problems on aluminum.

How are you prepping your joints? Are the filler rods clean, as well?

Scotchbrite and other plastic-based abrasives are another bad idea that keep getting used.

Steve S

P.S. I'm going to move this topic to the TIG forum, where you'll probably get more responses.

thanks for your comments. I have been grinding the area where I want to run a bead,but the next bead i run right beside. That area is dirty with soot and what ever. Do I need to clean the surface between each bead?

Yes, a quick wire-brush between passes is normal. I'm curious why you'd have that much soot and other schmutz, though.

Steve S