55
VIPER MIG 165
OPERATING MANUAL
22. TIG Troubleshooting
22.1 Tungsten burning away quickly
•
Incorrect gas or no gas:
Use pure argon. Check cylinder has gas is connected, turned on and torch valve is open.
•
Inadequate gas flow:
Check the gas is connected, check hoses, gas valve and torch are not restricted.
•
Back cap not fitted correctly:
Make sure the torch back cap is fitted so that the O-ring is inside the torch body.
•
Torch connected to DC+:
Connect the torch to the DC- output terminal.
•
Incorrect tungsten being used:
Check and change the tungsten type if necessary.
•
Tungsten being oxidised after weld is finished:
Keep shielding gas flowing 10-15 seconds after arc stoppage. 1 second
for each 10 amps of weld current.
22.2 Contaminated tungsten
•
Touching tungsten into the weld pool:
Keep tungsten from contacting weld puddle. Raise the torch so that the
tungsten is off of the work piece 2-5mm.
•
Touching the filler wire to the tungsten:
Keep the filler wire from touching the tungsten during welding, feed the filler
wire into the leading edge of the weld pool in front of the tungsten.
22.3 Porosity - Poor weld appearance and colour
•
Wrong gas / poor gas flow / gas leaks:
Use pure argon. Gas is connected, check hoses, gas valve and torch are not
restricted. Set the gas flow between 6-12 L/min. Check hoses and fittings for holes, leaks etc.
•
Contaminated base metal:
Remove moisture and materials like paint, grease, oil, and dirt from base metal.
•
Contaminated filler wire:
Remove all grease, oil, or moisture from filler metal.
•
Incorrect filler wire:
Check the filler wire and change if necessary.
22.4 Yellowish residue/smoke on the alumina nozzle & discoloured
tungsten
•
Incorrect gas:
Use pure argon gas.
•
Inadequate gas flow:
Set the gas flow between 6-12 L/min flow rate.
•
Alumina gas nozzle too small:
Increase the size of the alumina gas nozzle.
22.5 Unstable arc during DC welding
•
Torch connected to DC+:
Connect the torch to the DC- output terminal.
•
Contaminated base metal:
Remove materials like paint, grease, oil, and dirt, including mill scale from base metal.
•
Tungsten is contaminated:
Remove 10mm of contaminated tungsten and re-grind the tungsten.
•
Arc length too long:
Lower torch so that the tungsten is off of the work piece 2-5mm.
