[Dmon]

I just got a 180sd and I am attempting to tig Stainless. 304 stainless with 308/308L filler. My beads are a terrible black. Is this just too many amps or am I doing something wrong?

 

[4 Jaw Chuck]

Either you are getting no shielding gas at the tip or your pressure is too high. Too high a pressure will cause turbulence that mixes atmospheric oxygen into the shielding gas.

 

[poncho62]

moving to "garage"forum.........

 

[daimon1054]

I have done SS with a mig and if you don't use the right gas it will discolor. It can be sanded and buffed out but it will discolor.

 

[Dmon]

The gas was set to 20 cfh. I was using a lens/shield combo from Radnor. These were sold to me at the time of the 180 buy. The cup is kind of a tapered to a smaller outlet. They claimed less gas and the electrode could protrude farther.

 

[Kultured]

how far is you stick out? to far?
I use about 6lb, when welding stainless
are you pulling or pushing.. you might already know but you need to push it..

 

[Dmon]

I was using 3/32 2% thorieated electrode, and it was protruding about an 1/8". I was also pushing. It kind of sounds like I was using too much gas flow. I will try it agian tomarrow with less.

 

[Dmon]

Ok Here is a pic. The black bead ( if you could call it that) in the upper right corner was a before I made these changes. I changed to 1/16" electrod TH. Reduced gas to 12 and put the stock cup that came with my 180. Set my max amps to 70. I had another person look at the machine to tell me the amps. Most of the time I averaged about 22-26 amps.

 

[daimon1054]

Change your gas, if you are not using tri gas you will discolor.

 

[Dmon]

Tri gas with a tig?.

 

[daimon1054]

You can uas any gas you wish but if you are using argon on SS it will discolor. As said the weld is fine and can be poished out.

 

[Dmon]

That is strange I posted this question at millers fourms and there is a gentelman that laied a bead on ss with argon it was not discolored. Look at this.
http://www.millermotorsports.com/mboard/attachment.php?attachmentid=908

 

[daimon1054]

I can only tell you what I have done and read? I am sure a pro welder could do things that I would not dream of.

 

[Kultured]

at the machine shop they use 100% argon.. all I ever used on my own stuff too... JMO

 

[daimon1054]

OK I just called a friend who was certified in the Navy he said you more than likely have contamination and he is thinking oil.
1 clean the metal with a good degreaser and possibly even alcohol
2 check with your supplier and make sure they have not had problems with oil in the gas

He said if it was a lack of gas problem then you would be consuming the tungsten or the weld would be pocked and that I was wrong argon should be fine.

 

[Beenaway2long]

The one on the upper right:
IMO Looks like too many amps. Does it look like little grapes on the back side? If so, its too hot.

 

[Dmon]

I think you are right, It just seems like no matter how many amps I use the back side is burned up, with crap hanging. I ordered a smaller electrode and smaller filler to try and reduce the amps. It just seems like at this point no matter what I have tried my welds look like crap. Today I am going to go and see if I can find a good book on tig welding, with nice big color pictures.

 

[daimon1054]

Make a call to the local schools there are a few here that teach welding. There is a tech school near me that teaches body work and welding. I tried to learn to weld from a book years ago and never could get it my welds never looked like the picture. The picture was never of a hack like me it was a pro trying to make the mistakes with prefect tech. I had multipul mistakes:mwink:

Call the welding shops and see if they know someone who will teach you on your machine and IMO your even futher along. I had a friend work with me for 20 min on my plasma cutter and I went from shakey slag infested cuts to nice clean straight cuts.

 

[Beenaway2long]

Check your welding supply store. Occasionaly they will have lessons, if the store is big enough. You should ask them what the problem is as well. Show them the piece.

 

[Dmon]

update

Ok, I know it has been some time but I thought that this post deserved an update. I did get smaller electrodes. I ended up using .040 electrodes with the machine set to 35 amps. The gas was set to 17. There was very little burn through and the HAZ was nearly non-exsistant. Now all I need is practice, practice, practice. Thank you everyone.