Tig Welder Stays Stuck Open Unless I Press Pedal Again

I went to my local welding supply to get some 3/32 ceraited tungsten Argon tank and some filler rods for aluminum and steel. I put it all together, sharpened the tungsten and set out to try DC on some mild steel. I tried the gas between 9 and 30 and the amps from 65 to 130. All I got was cleaning action no puddle. So I tried AC with some 1/4 aluminum and a new tungsten sharpened to a dull point. Same cleaning action no puddle balled the end of the tungsten and blackened it. I tried different gas settings and cranked up the amps to 190. Still no puddle even holding the torch in one spot for 20 sec. What am I doing wrong? I have the pulse set flat but have played with all the other settings and I have argon coming out the torch with no leaks that I can find.

I'm betting you have the AC balance turned the wrong way. Set it at about 8 o clock position. You don't have cleaning action at all on DC. The cleaning only comes from the alternating current flow hence AC balance.

08:37 AM

Quote Originally Posted by zippymbr View Post

I went to my local welding supply to get some 3/32 ceraited tungsten Argon tank and some filler rods for aluminum and steel. I put it all together, sharpened the tungsten and set out to try DC on some mild steel. I tried the gas between 9 and 30 and the amps from 65 to 130. All I got was cleaning action no puddle. So I tried AC with some 1/4 aluminum and a new tungsten sharpened to a dull point. Same cleaning action no puddle balled the end of the tungsten and blackened it. I tried different gas settings and cranked up the amps to 190. Still no puddle even holding the torch in one spot for 20 sec. What am I doing wrong? I have the pulse set flat but have played with all the other settings and I have argon coming out the torch with no leaks that I can find.

How to setup your AHP tig welder:

"DO NOT" plug the welder in until you have properly hooked everything up to the welder.

Install your flow meter to a bottle of 100% argon
with the adjustment knob closed, slowly open the argon bottle valve all the way
open the adjusting knob slowly till the ball is floating at 15 cfh, then shut off argon bottle valve
install the hose from the flow meter to the back of the welder snug using 2 wrenches ( do not over tighten them )

set up your touch with a collet body, cup, collet, tungsten and back cap
the collet goes in with the split end into the collet body
adjust tungsten so about 1/4" to 3/8" is sticking out past the cup
snug the back cap this will tighten the collet against the tungsten to keep it in place

install your torch to the welder with the connector in the negative port (this is the port on the left)
plug in the argon gas hose from the torch into the QD connector

install your ground cable connector to the positive port (this is the port on the right)

Install your foot pedal plug to the port on the front of the welder

NOTE: " DO NOT" plug welder in at this time.

Now you should have everything hooked to the welder for tig welding

Setup for DC tig (this is for welding steel)

open front cover

set all the knobs to the left or off

set the rocker switches as follows

top left set to O tig
top right set to O DC
bottom left set to __ 2T
bottom right set to O __

set the main amps knob to 12 o'clock or straight up
set the post flow knob to 12 o'clock or straight up

At this time plug the welder into the power 120 or 240
open the valve to the argon bottle
turn on the welder with the on/off switch on the rear of the welder
make sure both fan are running
if all is ok the display should read about 100 or so amps

NOTE: before trying to weld press foot pedal once fast and watch the ball in the flow meter to make sure it floats at 15 cfh for a few seconds, you should hear gas flow from the torch.

Ok get a piece of metal and clean it
hook your ground clamp to the metal
adjust amps knob to the amps you think it will need to weld the metal (about 120 amps for 1/8" metal)
put on your safety gear and helmet
put the tungsten about 1/4" above the metal and press the foot pedal all the way down
the arc should start and the metal will start to melt
add filler rod to the puddle
your tig welding

Setup for AC welding on aluminum

open front cover

set all the knobs to the left or off

set the rocker switches as follows

top left set to O tig
top right set to __ AC
bottom left set to __ 2T
bottom right set to O __

set the main amps knob to 12 o'clock or straight up (ajust amps as needed when you start to weld)
set the AC frequency knob at about 100 or 10 o'clock
set the AC balance knob to 35% or 9 o'clock
set the post flow knob to 12 o'clock or straight up 5 seconds

The rest is like welding steel, but aluminum will take more amps to weld.

NOTE: unlike when welding steel the High Frequency will stay on all the time

I hope this will help you get started

Sounds like he is getting high frequency, but no actual arc. I would double check that you have an adequate ground connection. Maybe run the grinder over where you want the ground clamp to go, to ensure a good clean connection.

Quote Originally Posted by mechanic416 View Post

How to setup your AHP tig welder:

"DO NOT" plug the welder in until you have properly hooked everything up to the welder.

Install your flow meter to a bottle of 100% argon
with the adjustment knob closed, slowly open the argon bottle valve all the way
open the adjusting knob slowly till the ball is floating at 15 cfh, then shut off argon bottle valve
install the hose from the flow meter to the back of the welder snug using 2 wrenches ( do not over tighten them )

set up your touch with a collet body, cup, collet, tungsten and back cap
the collet goes in with the split end into the collet body
adjust tungsten so about 1/4" to 3/8" is sticking out past the cup
snug the back cap this will tighten the collet against the tungsten to keep it in place

install your torch to the welder with the connector in the negative port (this is the port on the left)
plug in the argon gas hose from the torch into the QD connector

install your ground cable connector to the positive port (this is the port on the right)

Install your foot pedal plug to the port on the front of the welder

NOTE: " DO NOT" plug welder in at this time.

Now you should have everything hooked to the welder for tig welding

Setup for DC tig (this is for welding steel)

open front cover

set all the knobs to the left or off

set the rocker switches as follows

top left set to O tig
top right set to O DC
bottom left set to __ 2T
bottom right set to O __

set the main amps knob to 12 o'clock or straight up
set the post flow knob to 12 o'clock or straight up

At this time plug the welder into the power 120 or 240
open the valve to the argon bottle
turn on the welder with the on/off switch on the rear of the welder
make sure both fan are running
if all is ok the display should read about 100 or so amps

NOTE: before trying to weld press foot pedal once fast and watch the ball in the flow meter to make sure it floats at 15 cfh for a few seconds, you should hear gas flow from the torch.

Ok get a piece of metal and clean it
hook your ground clamp to the metal
adjust amps knob to the amps you think it will need to weld the metal (about 120 amps for 1/8" metal)
put on your safety gear and helmet
put the tungsten about 1/4" above the metal and press the foot pedal all the way down
the arc should start and the metal will start to melt
add filler rod to the puddle
your tig welding

Setup for AC welding on aluminum

open front cover

set all the knobs to the left or off

set the rocker switches as follows

top left set to O tig
top right set to __ AC
bottom left set to __ 2T
bottom right set to O __

set the main amps knob to 12 o'clock or straight up (ajust amps as needed when you start to weld)
set the AC frequency knob at about 100 or 10 o'clock
set the AC balance knob to 35% or 9 o'clock
set the post flow knob to 12 o'clock or straight up 5 seconds

The rest is like welding steel, but aluminum will take more amps to weld.

NOTE: unlike when welding steel the High Frequency will stay on all the time

I hope this will help you get started

Thanks for the detailed response it's great. Well except for my machine which now is not striking an arc. If I turn the machine off and try again I get one chance, then it will flow gas when the pedal is pressed but no arc. I will double check everything again in a few when my patience returns.

Matt

Quote Originally Posted by Louie1961 View Post

Sounds like he is getting high frequency, but no actual arc. I would double check that you have an adequate ground connection. Maybe run the grinder over where you want the ground clamp to go, to ensure a good clean connection.

I checked the connections they are tight and the metal is cleaned.

Try it with the foot pedal and the trigger switch, the pedal may be bad.

Just tried the finger switch and I got an arc to strike on the first try be the second try I had to use a scratch start, no arc when trigger pressed and held. Is my HF dead?

I don't think so. Why don't you call me my number is on my web site. Call me now and I will go over everything that could be going on.

Thanks George. I did your exact set up weak arc no puddle regardless of main amp setting. I tried DC. I can hear the HF for a sec then the arc changes to a weak arc that will not make a puddle on 1/8 steel at 150 amps.

Sorry to say this but I think you will have to send it back for a replacement.

Quote Originally Posted by mechanic416 View Post

Sorry to say this but I think you will have to send it back for a replacement.

Yep that's what I am thinking

It's working! I ran several beads on DC. I thought my stick welding would help me learn tig welding but it did not. I was holding the torch too far from the material and My tungsten was sticking too far out. Thank you George for your help let the learning begin. I need to get used to keeping my head down right on the work, in my stick life I never got so close. I called AHP service changed my gas setting and my tungsten boom I'm welding inDC

Quote Originally Posted by zippymbr View Post

It's working! I ran several beads on DC. I thought my stick welding would help me learn tig welding but it did not. I was holding the torch too far from the material and My tungsten was sticking too far out. Thank you George for your help let the learning begin. I need to get used to keeping my head down right on the work, in my stick life I never got so close. I called AHP service changed my gas setting and my tungsten boom I'm welding inDC

George helped me getting started. NOW......... look at every vid you can fine. Tig welding is very different. You should not feel uncomfortable being only inches away from the arc. Many times the arc length can be less than 1/8" and at times maybe 1/16". Because of this, AND MANY VIDS PREACH, the secret to tigging is resting you arm on "ANYTHING" that will allow arm support so when you move, the distance between the arc and the work doesn't change.
ALSO..........as I've learned, I good technique is to move the torch back a tad or raise it just a little as you add filler, since the puddle will grow and touch the puddle.
Good Luck

A few things I have learned is most people trying to learn tig have a hard time with holding the tungsten close to the work piece and really don't know what a 1/4" is. I said this to someone I was teaching to tig and was watching the 1/4" was more like a inch or more. You have to keep the tungsten in close to the metal, but as you add filler as said the puddle will grow right into the tungsten if you are to close.

I also see new tig welders try and weld to thick of metal with the welder they have or no were near the amps it takes to weld the metal they are trying to weld. I always try and point out to a new welder that if you can't run a good bead on steel you will never run a good bead on aluminum.

I am always willing to help anyone that wants to call me and ask.

Quote Originally Posted by mechanic416 View Post

A few things I have learned is most people trying to learn tig have a hard time with holding the tungsten close to the work piece and really don't know what a 1/4" is. I said this to someone I was teaching to tig and was watching the 1/4" was more like a inch or more. You have to keep the tungsten in close to the metal, but as you add filler as said the puddle will grow right into the tungsten if you are to close.

I also see new tig welders try and weld to thick of metal with the welder they have or no were near the amps it takes to weld the metal they are trying to weld. I always try and point out to a new welder that if you can't run a good bead on steel you will never run a good bead on aluminum.

I am always willing to help anyone that wants to call me and ask.

Yes this was my big problem, in stick once I scratch an arc I keep my spacing by feel and never get my face soo close to the arc. In tig I have to be right up in it and keep my spacing perfect! It's going to take some getting used too. Thanks George thanks fps. Now let me see if I can AC some thin aluminum.

Zippymbr what did the AHP service tell you for gas setting

Quote Originally Posted by ClayC View Post

Zippymbr what did the AHP service tell you for gas setting

They were no help look at George's post and go from there

Quote Originally Posted by zippymbr View Post

Yes this was my big problem, in stick once I scratch an arc I keep my spacing by feel and never get my face soo close to the arc. In tig I have to be right up in it and keep my spacing perfect! It's going to take some getting used too. Thanks George thanks fps. Now let me see if I can AC some thin aluminum.

Cheater lens. Or cheap reading glasses...

I thought I'd bump this thread rather than start a new one. I have a 2016 AHP Alpha TiG200x and it won't strike an arc at all in DC and a weak one in AC, which I thought made this more odd.

I followed all the instructions in post #3 and nothing. I have the unit connected to a 20 AMP circuit that I use for my washer and dryer. It isn't GFCI that I can tell and there are no other lines on the circuit when running through my panel this morning. I have an 8/3 extension cord rated for 40A / 250V from the unit to the outlet. It's this exact unit:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here is a picture of the front of my welder. I don't seem to get many amps on DC and the drop is tremendous, that's why I'm thinking it's an electrical problem and not necessarily an issue with the welder. Although in reading they seem to have a fair number that can't strike an arc that have to be returned for service.

Here is a picture of the cord, it's 20 feet:

Here is a pic of the front of the unit while running:

I've checked it over multiple times and everything seems fine. I have Argon flow, I can hear it when I press the pedal, but absulotely no sign of arc in DC mode, and one that won't puddle in AC mode (I assume it's cleaning or something).

I hate putting up the SOS on my second post but I don't want to have to send back the unit unnecessarily. Happy to provide any additional information that may help someone make a guess at what the issue is. Thanks and happy new year.

Turn the pulse switch off, down and try it.

Thank you for the reply. I put the pulse switch in the 0 position and set the dials down. The AC arc seemed a bit better but still wouldn't puddle. DC there is nothing. If I scratch the tungsten on the metal there are some sparks, more than just metal to metal, but no arc. I turned the amperage up, it seemed to maintain this time but still no arc. I'm thinking I may just have a bad one.

Unplug the pedal and try it with the switch. When your on ac you have to set the balance to 9 o'clock and frequency to 10 o'clock, you need post flow at 4 or 5

Those setting seem to make the AC work a bit better than before, arc looks better and I get some puddle. DC nothing unless I scratch the tungsten on the metal and I'll get some sparking but no arc. I tried with pedal and the finger control.
Thanks again for looking at this.

Well I bought a Lincoln Square Wave 200 from a local store on sale yesterday for 1250 bucks and it works--I wish I had just done this in the first place. Although I just got around to opening this AHP it's now older than 30 days so I have to pay two way shipping. I guess I'll get this one fixed and then try and sell it.

Thanks for trying to help, it is appreciated. Happy New Year.

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