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Pepper In Aluminum Tig Welds ???
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 1:50 pm
by rahtreelimbs
I noticed that I always seem to get small pepper looking things in my weld puddle. In watching Jody's videos I see it in some of his welds as well. Is this considered normal?
Re: Pepper In Aluminum Tig Welds ???
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 2:54 pm
by exnailpounder
Shield gas problem.
Re: Pepper In Aluminum Tig Welds ???
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 2:59 pm
by rahtreelimbs
How is this a shield gas problem? I have 3 different AC tig machines. All have gas lenses....I have used different bottles of argon. No leaks. No matter what the pressure is set at same thing. All 3 machines give the same results.
Re: Pepper In Aluminum Tig Welds ???
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 3:35 pm
by dynasty200sd
What percentage of EN are you using for the AC Balance?
If the aluminum is very clean, I have used 80% EN for my AC Balance without any issues (the puddle is silver and clean). Though other occasions I needed to reduced my EN to 68%-70% for my AC Balance in order to maintain a clean pudde.
Re: Pepper In Aluminum Tig Welds ???
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 3:53 pm
by rahtreelimbs
dynasty200sd wrote:What percentage of EN are you using for the AC Balance?
If the aluminum is very clean, I have used 80% EN for my AC Balance without any issues (the puddle is silver and clean). Though other occasions I needed to reduced my EN to 68%-70% for my AC Balance in order to maintain a clean pudde.
72......I have played up and down .......same thing!
Re: Pepper In Aluminum Tig Welds ???
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 4:14 pm
by rahtreelimbs
I will add that this happens with 4043 and 5356 rod. All surfaces hit wit a clean stainless steel brush and wiped with acetone.
Re: Pepper In Aluminum Tig Welds ???
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 4:51 pm
by LtBadd
rahtreelimbs wrote:I will add that this happens with 4043 and 5356 rod. All surfaces hit wit a clean stainless steel brush and wiped with acetone.
What about your base material, does this happen say on flat bar, or do you have a different piece (of AL) to weld on. My purpose is to determine if the base material could be the issue.
Re: Pepper In Aluminum Tig Welds ???
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 4:54 pm
by rahtreelimbs
LtBadd wrote:rahtreelimbs wrote:I will add that this happens with 4043 and 5356 rod. All surfaces hit wit a clean stainless steel brush and wiped with acetone.
What about your base material, does this happen say on flat bar, or do you have a different piece (of AL) to weld on. My purpose is to determine if the base material could be the issue.
Many different pieces if base metal.....I thought I coveted all variables.
Re: Pepper In Aluminum Tig Welds ???
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 5:00 pm
by Skylineauto
rahtreelimbs wrote:I will add that this happens with 4043 and 5356 rod. All surfaces hit wit a clean stainless steel brush and wiped with acetone.
Clean rags for the Acetone? Clean brushes? Clean gloves? Start looking at things that are common for for what you're doing. Clean work surface? Is there a draft close by?
Re: Pepper In Aluminum Tig Welds ???
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 5:02 pm
by noddybrian
Realize your not new & don't mean to offend - but is it possibly either torch angle or getting tip of rod outside gas cover while hot ? I still do it occasionally in difficult positions - seems once you dip a couple of times with an oxidized rod end the crud will follow along the weld a good distance.
Re: Pepper In Aluminum Tig Welds ???
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 5:38 pm
by Braehill
Almost all filler rod have additives that act as fluxing agents to draw impurities to the surface, and this is a good thing, keeps them from being trapped in the weld puddle. A lot of this is just that.
When you achieve a full penetration weld without shielding gas on the back side you can draw oxidation through the puddle and it comes to the surface because it's drawn to the hottest spot.
Most of this can easily be brushed off and should be little cause for concern. Yes it's normal in the real world.
On the other hand you could buy a new SS wire brush every time you weld something, get cleanroom rags, a 55 drum of Acetone, Ultra High Purity Argon, and a purge chamber. But hey, that $5.00 bookshelf bracket can never be too clean, now can it.
Len
Re: Pepper In Aluminum Tig Welds ???
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 7:58 pm
by exnailpounder
rahtreelimbs wrote:How is this a shield gas problem? I have 3 different AC tig machines. All have gas lenses....I have used different bottles of argon. No leaks. No matter what the pressure is set at same thing. All 3 machines give the same results.
Re: Pepper In Aluminum Tig Welds ???
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 10:01 am
by pgk
Maybe I missed it, but have you tried different rod, good idea to clean rod also, aluminum oxidizes very quick..
Re: Pepper In Aluminum Tig Welds ???
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 11:57 am
by HitMissTom
I am going to follow this post as I really want to see what fixes the problem.
I will add that I was practicing on some old aluminum (probably outside for years) and no matter what I did, or how I tried to clean it, I could not get a non-contaminated weld on it. Tried a different piece and all was fine.