[themadreefer]

recently started tig welding about a month ago. been having problems with my tungstens becoming contaminated every time i lay a bead down. sounds and looks i am mig welding. using a lincoln precision 225 machine with straight argon.
mostly been welding chrome moly and mild steel. pretty sure my metal prep is in par, as i used a flapper wheel, scotch brite. i wipe metal, tungsten, and filler rod with acetone prior to welding. tried different tungstens, different argon flow, ground positions.not sure what i am doing wrong here. it seems to me that it appears to be some form of contamination.
one thing i have noticed is my arcs just do not look right.
thanks

[WILD BILL]

Are you grinding on a dedicated grinder?

I also found when I started that I was grinding the angle all wrong. It does make a difference.

[themadreefer]

yes, dedicated grinder with a 100 grit stone. one side for steel, the other side for aluminum

[rickbreezy]

What makes a grinder "dedicated"?

[Rugar]

What makes a grinder "dedicated"?

Using it for grinding tungsten only. If used for grinding other materials, the other material will embed itself into the grinding stone, and then embed itself into the tungsten from the stone the next time you grind tungsten.

[kermdawg]

Is it kinda sputtering or spitting with alot of black soot? If its somethin like that then you either have to low gas flow or bad gas.

[jason.hwnd]

Any chance at a hole(s) in the gas line?

[themadreefer]

no black soot. thought an indication of lack of gas, was inside of nozzle turning yellow, which i experienced earlier along.
one thing i do notice, every time i tack weld, i have a ring of what appears to be rust color around every tack.

[jason.hwnd]

photos mate, lets see 'em.