Bad Tungsten Possible?

[Leefy]

I use a dynasty 350 and just started a new box of 1/16? 2% orange band tungsten. I have the machine set at 125 amps, 70% balance, 140 en, 95 ep, 125 hz. Start up amps 40. Trying to do a fillet on 3/32 aluminum. Preflo .2-.4 sec, and post flow both automatic and 12 seconds with a flow of 14 on a gas lens. Tungsten is ground the correct way and leaving a small land on the end. Aluminum wire brushed with stainless, wiped with acetone. Start the arc and I immediately get contamination running all over, then the tungsten starts to ball and runs all over the place and as well, the arc runs all over the place. If I keep going for an inch or so, the ball seems to finally stabilize a little but droops to the down side. If I run a horizontal bead on the same stock, I see the tungsten start to split for a second or so but then it forms the ball and works ok. Never had the problem with my last box. It is a name brand private label from airgas. Tried two sticks and the same. Am I missing something or do you get bad tungsten from time to time.

Note: Edited as I just read and see I typed wrong aluminum thickness: It is 3/32" thick.

[MMW]

Have you tried a bigger tungsten? 3/32 or 1/8? 1/16 is small for welding 3/16 alum. You may just be burning it off. If you have successfully used this setup before then I would say a gas problem or material problem. Very unlikely a new tungsten is bad.

[John Brison]

Do u mind to disclose everething that is in the tung box tag??

and the supplier and manufacturer?


tks

[Leefy]

Have you tried a bigger tungsten? 3/32 or 1/8? 1/16 is small for welding 3/16 alum. You may just be burning it off. If you have successfully used this setup before then I would say a gas problem or material problem. Very unlikely a new tungsten is bad.

NOTE: I goofed up typing the thickness of the aluminum. It is 3/32" thick.

Have used a 3/32 but switched to the 1/16 to see if I could get a narrower fill bead using 1/16 filler. Everything was ok with the 3/32.

Do u mind to disclose everething that is in the tung box tag??

and the supplier and manufacturer?


tks

John. The package says TNG 116x72 Cer and 1/16x7" 2% ceriated AWS Class EWG. Specifications ANSI?AWS A5-12, JIS but has no other branding but like I said, it was purchased at airgas.

[GTA/SPEC]

I would bet that its Chinese tunsten. There are alot of companies, big and small, that peddle low quality tungsten. If you are not buying GTC brand (formally Osram Sylvania) then you are most likely buying low quality tungsten.

I service a factory in China that specializes in the tig welding. Even they don't buy Chinese tungsten. They import GTC from the US.

[popspipes]

I suspect the tungsten isnt large enough if its forming a ball, I have a dynasty 200dx and it will form a ball if I get close to the current limits of the tungsten size.
I sure didnt know the Chinese made tungsten as well, I know all about the quality of their stainless fittings!

[willy]

I would bet that its Chinese tunsten. There are alot of companies, big and small, that peddle low quality tungsten. If you are not buying GTC brand (formally Osram Sylvania) then you are most likely buying low quality tungsten.

I service a factory in China that specializes in the tig welding. Even they don't buy Chinese tungsten. They import GTC from the US.

There may be hope for us yet - for a while there I thought the only thing the US was exporting was jobs

[thunder71]

use green 100% tungsten & your problems will disappear...

[Leefy]

I suspect the tungsten isnt large enough if its forming a ball, I have a dynasty 200dx and it will form a ball if I get close to the current limits of the tungsten size.
I sure didnt know the Chinese made tungsten as well, I know all about the quality of their stainless fittings!

Three out of the four packages of tungsten I still have in the pacs say made in China and the forth, the one I am having problems with, doesn't say where it is made. Got me thinking about where most is coming from so started looking at the internet and it seems that you can't find out where it is coming from. Even the printed information from several companies I have dealt with doesn't say where the tungsten is from.

use green 100% tungsten & your problems will disappear...

I'm sure you have heard this before but the dynasty 350 book says use the orange tungsten. That is the only one I have tried with the exception of a tri-mix sample.

[gordfraser]

i dont think cerated hold together as good as say lathanated when you get to the upper amperage for that particular size.
they are good low down and mid range.

wouldnt even try green in an inverter.....no need

Red would be worth a try if you cant get lathanated.

you could also cut down on the EP (cleaning) as that would go easier on your tung.

I generally have 20% cleaning time, which works just fine. If i go down to 10
5 cleaning i sometimes see a difference as i dont use much acetone and minimal wire brush.

[gordfraser]

Havnt seen anyone that thought they got bad tungsten's shouting about it yet, so id try looking elsewhere for the cure for now.

Wow. cant believe how much more expensive the USA tungs are!

[crawler]

use green 100% tungsten & your problems will disappear...

I hope you're joking..

[davedarragh]

"Made In The USA"

I would bet that its Chinese tunsten. There are alot of companies, big and small, that peddle low quality tungsten. If you are not buying GTC brand (formally Osram Sylvania) then you are most likely buying low quality tungsten.

I service a factory in China that specializes in the tig welding. Even they don't buy Chinese tungsten. They import GTC from the US.

Sylvania are the ONLY tungstens made in AMERICA

Arc-Zone.com has an entire inventory

Dave

[SundownIII]

crawler,

The bad thing about it, he's not (joking I mean).

Next thing you know, he'll be telling everyone that the Dynasty 350 is just a lot of smoke and mirrors and that a 330 A/BP welds much better.

I personally don't give a **** what tungsten he, himself chooses to use. Just wish he'd stop putting out bad info for the new guys who don't really know any difference.

[Leefy]

Thanks for the info. I will lower the ep and see if that helps. Also, I will lower the amps as I am on the high side of a 1/16" tungsten. As I have said before, being new to tig, it is more than a probability that it is operator error. Thanks for putting up with my stupid questions.