10 Eastwood Technical Assistance: 800.544.5118 >> techelp@eastwood.com
TROuBLESHOOTING
IncompleteCircuit
CheckGroundconnection.Makesurethatthegroundisona
freshlycleanedsurfaceandclosetotheweldingarea.Itis
suggestedtoweldtowardsthegroundconnection.
IncorrectTungsten
Consultchartforpropertungstenforthebasemetalbeing
welded.InmostcasesPureTungstenwillbeforaluminum
andThoriatedwillbeforsteel.
Noshieldinggas
Makesuretheshieldinggascylinderisturnedalltheway
openandsetatthecorrectflowrate.
WrongPolarity
Makesurepolarityissetforthecorrectmaterial.ACshould
beusedforaluminumwhileDCshouldbeusedforsteel.
Poorlypreppedtungsten Followguidelinesforpreppingtungsten.
Adjusttheflowrateoftheshieldinggas(refertosettings
chart).Checkforloosefittingswheregascouldbeleaking.
Removetungstenfromtorchandbreakoffcontaminated
sectionandresharpen.
Makesurethetungstenisheld1/8to1/4inchoffthework
piece.
CheckGroundconnection.Makesurethatthegroundisona
freshlycleanedsurfaceandclosetotheweldingarea.Itis
suggestedtoweldtowardsthegroundconnection.
Cleanbasemetalmakingsuretoremoveanyoil,debris,
coatings,ormoisture.Ifbasemetalisaluminummakesureall
oftheoxideisremovedusingeitheradedicatedstainless
brushorflapwheel.
IncorrectClearanceEffect(AC)
ShiftmorenegativeontheClearanceEffectknobsolessheat
isgoingintothetungsten.
Adjusttheflowrateoftheshieldinggas(refertosettings
chart).Checkforloosefittingswheregascouldbeleaking.
Contaminatedfillermetal
Cleanfillermetalmakingsuretoremoveanyoil,debris,or
moisture.
Cleanbasemetalmakingsuretoremoveanyoil,debris,
coatings,ormoisture.
Makesuretobeinanareawithnowindandwithanyfans
turnedoff.Windorfanswillblowtheshieldinggasawayfrom
theweldcausingporosity.
IncorrectTungstenStickOut
Adjustthetungstensothat1/8to1/4inisstickingoutofthe
collet.
Removetungstenfromtorchandbreakoffcontaminated
sectionandresharpen.
ContaminatedFillerMetal
Cleanfillermetalmakingsuretoremoveanyoil,debris,or
moisture.
Cleanbasemetalmakingsuretoremoveanyoil,debris,
coatings,ormoisture.Ifbasemetalisaluminummakesureall
oftheoxideisremovedusingeitheradedicatedstainless
brushorflapwheel.
Adjusttheflowrateoftheshieldinggas(refertosettings
chart).Checkforloosefittingswheregascouldbeleaking.
ImproperClearanceEffect(AC)
ShiftmorenegativeontheClearanceEffectknobsolessheat
isgoingintothetungsten.
WrongSizeTungsten Increasetungstendiameter.Refertochartforpropersizing.
Notenoughpostflow Increasepostflowtimetoallowthegastocoolthetungsten.
IncorrectShieldingGas Onlyuse100%ArgonwhenTIGWelding.
Voltagesettingistoolowformaterial/thickness.Increaseas
neededandreferencechartonwelder.
IncorrectClearanceEffect(AC)
Shifttheclearanceeffectmoretothenegativesideasthiswill
transfermoreheattothematerialbeingwelded.
Voltagesettingistoolowformaterial/thickness.Increaseas
neededandreferencechartonwelder.
ContactofTungstenwithBase
Metal
Keeptungsten1/8to1/4inchfromthebasemetal.If
tungstencomesincontactbreakoffendandresharpen
immediately.
Theanglebetweenthefillermetalandthetorchmustbeless
than90degreesotherwisethefillermetalwillprematurely
meltandgloboffcausingpoorweldappearance.
Keepthetorchonthebasemetalwhilethepostflow
shieldinggasflowstoprotectandcoolthemetaland
tungsten.
NotEnoughFillerMaterial
Reducecurrentwithpedelandaddmorefilleratendofweld.
Itmayalsobebenficaltobacksteptoensurenocraterwill
form.
Toomuchheatinmaterial Reduceheatandallowmoretimebetweenpasses.
BaseMetalisabsorbingtoomuch
heat
Preheatbasemetal(consultweldingcodesforrequirments)
IncorrectFillerWire Reducefillerwiresize.
InsufficentClamping Clampworkpiecetightlyandweldwhileclampsareinplace.
InsufficentTackWelds Addmoretackweldsuntilrigidityandstiffnessisdeveloped.
TooMuchHeatinMaterial
Toreduceheatitisbesttospreadtheweldingoutaroundthe
area.Thiscanbedonebyusingstitchweldingtechniques,
alternatingsides,and/ortakingyourtimeandallowingthe
piecestocoolbetweenpasses.
Arcistriggeredbutwillnotstart
CraterintheEndoftheWeldBead
PoorPenetration(Aluminum)
Arcwandersanditishardtoconcentrate
heatinaspecificarea
Contaminationinweldbead
CheckGroundconnection.Makesurethatthegroundisona
freshlycleanedsurfaceandclosetotheweldingarea.Itis
suggestedtoweldtowardsthegroundconnection.
Consultchartforpropertungstenforthebasemetalbeing
welded.InmostcasesPureTungstenwillbeforaluminum
andThoriatedwillbeforsteel.
Makesuretheshieldinggascylinderisturnedalltheway
openandsetatthecorrectflowrate.
Makesurepolarityissetforthecorrectmaterial.ACshould
beusedforaluminumwhileDCshouldbeusedforsteel.
Poorlypreppedtungsten Followguidelinesforpreppingtungsten.
PoorGasFlow
Adjusttheflowrateoftheshieldinggas(refertosettings
chart).Checkforloosefittingswheregascouldbeleaking.
ContaminatedTungsten
Removetungstenfromtorchandbreakoffcontaminated
sectionandresharpen.
Incorrectarclength
Makesurethetungstenisheld1/8to1/4inchoffthework
piece.
Incompletecircuit
CheckGroundconnection.Makesurethatthegroundisona
freshlycleanedsurfaceandclosetotheweldingarea.Itis
suggestedtoweldtowardsthegroundconnection.
Contaminatedbasemetal
Cleanbasemetalmakingsuretoremoveanyoil,debris,
coatings,ormoisture.Ifbasemetalisaluminummakesureall
oftheoxideisremovedusingeitheradedicatedstainless
IncorrectClearanceEffect(AC)
ShiftmorenegativeontheClearanceEffectknobsolessheat
isgoingintothetungsten.
Adjusttheflowrateoftheshieldinggas(refertosettings
chart).Checkforloosefittingswheregascouldbeleaking.
Contaminatedfillermetal
Cleanfillermetalmakingsuretoremoveanyoil,debris,or
moisture.
Cleanbasemetalmakingsuretoremoveanyoil,debris,
coatings,ormoisture.
Makesuretobeinanareawithnowindandwithanyfans
turnedoff.Windorfanswillblowtheshieldinggasawayfrom
theweldcausingporosity.
IncorrectTungstenStickOut
Adjustthetungstensothat1/8to1/4inisstickingoutofthe
collet.
Removetungstenfromtorchandbreakoffcontaminated
sectionandresharpen.
ContaminatedFillerMetal
Cleanfillermetalmakingsuretoremoveanyoil,debris,or
moisture.
Cleanbasemetalmakingsuretoremoveanyoil,debris,
coatings,ormoisture.Ifbasemetalisaluminummakesureall
oftheoxideisremovedusingeitheradedicatedstainless
brushorflapwheel.
Adjusttheflowrateoftheshieldinggas(refertosettings
chart).Checkforloosefittingswheregascouldbeleaking.
ImproperClearanceEffect(AC)
ShiftmorenegativeontheClearanceEffectknobsolessheat
isgoingintothetungsten.
WrongSizeTungsten Increasetungstendiameter.Refertochartforpropersizing.
Notenoughpostflow Increasepostflowtimetoallowthegastocoolthetungsten.
IncorrectShieldingGas Onlyuse100%ArgonwhenTIGWelding.
Voltagesettingistoolowformaterial/thickness.Increaseas
neededandreferencechartonwelder.
IncorrectClearanceEffect(AC)
Shifttheclearanceeffectmoretothenegativesideasthiswill
transfermoreheattothematerialbeingwelded.
Voltagesettingistoolowformaterial/thickness.Increaseas
neededandreferencechartonwelder.
ContactofTungstenwithBase
Metal
Keeptungsten1/8to1/4inchfromthebasemetal.If
tungstencomesincontactbreakoffendandresharpen
immediately.
Theanglebetweenthefillermetalandthetorchmustbeless
than90degreesotherwisethefillermetalwillprematurely
meltandgloboffcausingpoorweldappearance.
Keepthetorchonthebasemetalwhilethepostflow
shieldinggasflowstoprotectandcoolthemetaland
tungsten.
NotEnoughFillerMaterial
Reducecurrentwithpedelandaddmorefilleratendofweld.
Itmayalsobebenficaltobacksteptoensurenocraterwill
form.
Toomuchheatinmaterial Reduceheatandallowmoretimebetweenpasses.
BaseMetalisabsorbingtoomuch
heat
Preheatbasemetal(consultweldingcodesforrequirments)
IncorrectFillerWire Reducefillerwiresize.
InsufficentClamping Clampworkpiecetightlyandweldwhileclampsareinplace.
InsufficentTackWelds Addmoretackweldsuntilrigidityandstiffnessisdeveloped.
TooMuchHeatinMaterial
Toreduceheatitisbesttospreadtheweldingoutaroundthe
area.Thiscanbedonebyusingstitchweldingtechniques,
alternatingsides,and/ortakingyourtimeandallowingthe
piecestocoolbetweenpasses.
Arcistriggeredbutwillnotstart
CraterintheEndoftheWeldBead
PoorPenetration(Aluminum)
Arcwandersanditishardtoconcentrate
heatinaspecificarea
Contaminationinweldbead
CheckGroundconnection.Makesurethatthegroundisona
freshlycleanedsurfaceandclosetotheweldingarea.Itis
suggestedtoweldtowardsthegroundconnection.
Consultchartforpropertungstenforthebasemetalbeing
welded.InmostcasesPureTungstenwillbeforaluminum
andThoriatedwillbeforsteel.
Makesuretheshieldinggascylinderisturnedalltheway
openandsetatthecorrectflowrate.
Makesurepolarityissetforthecorrectmaterial.ACshould
beusedforaluminumwhileDCshouldbeusedforsteel.
Poorlypreppedtungsten Followguidelinesforpreppingtungsten.
Adjusttheflowrateoftheshieldinggas(refertosettings
chart).Checkforloosefittingswheregascouldbeleaking.
Removetungstenfromtorchandbreakoffcontaminated
sectionandresharpen.
Makesurethetungstenisheld1/8to1/4inchoffthework
piece.
CheckGroundconnection.Makesurethatthegroundisona
freshlycleanedsurfaceandclosetotheweldingarea.Itis
suggestedtoweldtowardsthegroundconnection.
Cleanbasemetalmakingsuretoremoveanyoil,debris,
coatings,ormoisture.Ifbasemetalisaluminummakesureall
oftheoxideisremovedusingeitheradedicatedstainless
brushorflapwheel.
IncorrectClearanceEffect(AC)
ShiftmorenegativeontheClearanceEffectknobsolessheat
isgoingintothetungsten.
PoorGasFlow
Adjusttheflowrateoftheshieldinggas(refertosettings
chart).Checkforloosefittingswheregascouldbeleaking.
Contaminatedfillermetal
Cleanfillermetalmakingsuretoremoveanyoil,debris,or
moisture.
Contaminatedbasemetal
Cleanbasemetalmakingsuretoremoveanyoil,debris,
coatings,ormoisture.
PoorShielding
Makesuretobeinanareawithnowindandwithanyfans
turnedoff.Windorfanswillblowtheshieldinggasawayfrom
theweldcausingporosity.
IncorrectTungstenStickOut
Adjustthetungstensothat1/8to1/4inisstickingoutofthe
collet.
Removetungstenfromtorchandbreakoffcontaminated
sectionandresharpen.
ContaminatedFillerMetal
Cleanfillermetalmakingsuretoremoveanyoil,debris,or
moisture.
Cleanbasemetalmakingsuretoremoveanyoil,debris,
coatings,ormoisture.Ifbasemetalisaluminummakesureall
oftheoxideisremovedusingeitheradedicatedstainless
brushorflapwheel.
Adjusttheflowrateoftheshieldinggas(refertosettings
chart).Checkforloosefittingswheregascouldbeleaking.
ImproperClearanceEffect(AC)
ShiftmorenegativeontheClearanceEffectknobsolessheat
isgoingintothetungsten.
WrongSizeTungsten Increasetungstendiameter.Refertochartforpropersizing.
Notenoughpostflow Increasepostflowtimetoallowthegastocoolthetungsten.
IncorrectShieldingGas Onlyuse100%ArgonwhenTIGWelding.
Voltagesettingistoolowformaterial/thickness.Increaseas
neededandreferencechartonwelder.
IncorrectClearanceEffect(AC)
Shifttheclearanceeffectmoretothenegativesideasthiswill
transfermoreheattothematerialbeingwelded.
Voltagesettingistoolowformaterial/thickness.Increaseas
neededandreferencechartonwelder.
ContactofTungstenwithBase
Metal
Keeptungsten1/8to1/4inchfromthebasemetal.If
tungstencomesincontactbreakoffendandresharpen
immediately.
Theanglebetweenthefillermetalandthetorchmustbeless
than90degreesotherwisethefillermetalwillprematurely
meltandgloboffcausingpoorweldappearance.
Keepthetorchonthebasemetalwhilethepostflow
shieldinggasflowstoprotectandcoolthemetaland
tungsten.
NotEnoughFillerMaterial
Reducecurrentwithpedelandaddmorefilleratendofweld.
Itmayalsobebenficaltobacksteptoensurenocraterwill
form.
Toomuchheatinmaterial Reduceheatandallowmoretimebetweenpasses.
BaseMetalisabsorbingtoomuch
heat
Preheatbasemetal(consultweldingcodesforrequirments)
IncorrectFillerWire Reducefillerwiresize.
InsufficentClamping Clampworkpiecetightlyandweldwhileclampsareinplace.
InsufficentTackWelds Addmoretackweldsuntilrigidityandstiffnessisdeveloped.
TooMuchHeatinMaterial
Toreduceheatitisbesttospreadtheweldingoutaroundthe
area.Thiscanbedonebyusingstitchweldingtechniques,
alternatingsides,and/ortakingyourtimeandallowingthe
piecestocoolbetweenpasses.
Arcistriggeredbutwillnotstart
Porosityinweldbead
CraterintheEndoftheWeldBead
PoorPenetration(Aluminum)
Arcwandersanditishardtoconcentrate
heatinaspecificarea
Contaminationinweldbead