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 10amps of weld current.
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
Porosity - poor weld
appearance and
colour
Wrong gas / poor gas flow /gas
leak
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 et
Remove moisture and materials like
paint, grease, oil, and dirt from base
metal
Remove all grease, oil, or moisture
from filler metal
Check the filler wire and change if
necessary
Yellowish residue /
smoke on the
alumina nozzle &
discoloured
tungsten
Set the gas flow between 10 - 15
l/min flow rate
Alumina gas nozzle too small
Increase the size of the alumina gas
nozzle
Unstable Arc
during DC welding
Connect the torch to the DC- output
terminal
Remove materials like paint, grease,
oil, and dirt, including mill scale from
base metal.
Remove 10mm of contaminated
tungsten and re grind the tungsten
Lower torch so that the tungsten is off
of the work piece 2 - 5mm
Arc wanders during
DC welding
Check and set the gas flow between
10 - 15 l/min flow rate
Lower torch so that the tungsten is off
of the work piece 2 - 5mm