Syncro 200 tig problem I think

[monte55]

I havent used my tig for a while and thought I would get some practice in on aluminum. I ran a few short beads with no problem...hf start ok etc. On the fourth the hf start would not arc so I let my foot off the pedal and the post
purge was on for about 10 seconds more. I'm set on 175 amps/AC/clean metal with good ground close to weld area. I tried again,same thing, no hf start. Third try it just blew a nice blackish hole in the material all the way through at start. alum is .060. This rarely happens but it does at times. Next bead went fine. No, the tungsten never touched the weld.
Any Ideas........The material is 1.5 x 3/8 extruded box channel.
Nick

[fun4now]

did the Tung. frost ??
try striking it like a match to clear the frost then HF it, might help.

[monte55]

Doesn't that just contaminate the tungsten.......this has HF start

[fun4now]

you would think so, but its just what i have heard the other guys do with frosted problems. if its cold i don't think the Tung. will pick up any aluminum from a small scratch to clear the frost. may not work, but cant hurt anything. if it doesn't work you still needed to resharpen the tungsten any way right.

[Craig in Denver]

My 250 does that once in awhile. Pedal off, touch tip to work. Begin again normally. I had been doing this for a long time, but I didn't know why it worked.

FWIW: I've been reading past posts, somewhere in the last 96 pages, someone mentioned that a capacitor discharges when 'tip touching'. Allowing the HF to start right on your next try.

[pthunberg]

yup Craig is right, my 180 would do that every so often. i just tuched Tung to the work with the power off. somtimes a small arc would jump to the work somtimes not.

Paul

[shorerider16]

The Lincoln Prescision Tig at school would do this sometimes. If you touched the tungsten to the metal, occasionally you would see a small spark, it would work after. I was working with low carbon steel, if that makes any difference.

[Fortyfords]

I had this problem with my sync 200.
I found that the tugnsten was carboned back up inside the torch where it makes contact.dirty ,bad connection .
I cleaned it ,problem went away.

Rich

[monte55]

Thanks for all the responses.
Fun...at first I thought you meant scratch with pedal depressed. Then I reread your post.

How often do you guys resharpen your tungsten? Seems like I need a six shooter torch. I'm using the red band 3/32". I hear they will handle most procedures. Thoughts.
Nick

[mikesparks]

Thanks for all the responses.
Fun...at first I thought you meant scratch with pedal depressed. Then I reread your post.

How often do you guys resharpen your tungsten? Seems like I need a six shooter torch. I'm using the red band 3/32". I hear they will handle most procedures. Thoughts.
Nick

i also use red 3/32. i use it up to 200 amps then go to green but it allows you to lay a 1/8'' bead on aluminum........