Tweco 160 S Arcmaster - Manual (Page 38)

ARCMASTER ® 160 S
March 31, 2006 10-2
Description Possible Cause Remedy
8. Electrode melts or oxidizes when
an arc is struck. A. No gas fl owing to welding region. A. Check the gas lines for kinks or
breaks and gas cylinder contents.
B. Torch is clogged with dust. B. Clean torch
C. Gas hose is cut. C. Replace gas hose.
D. Gas passage contains impurities. D. Disconnect gas hose from torch
then raise gas pressure and blow
out impurities.
E. Gas regulator turned off. E. Turn on.
F. Torch valve is turned off. F. Turn on.
G. The electrode is too small for the
welding current.
G. Increase electrode diameter or
reduce the welding current.
9. Poor weld fi nish. Inadequate shielding gas. Increase gas fl ow or check gas line
for gas fl ow problems.
10. Arc fl utters during TIG welding. A. Tungsten electrode is too large for
the welding current.
A. Select the right size electrode. Refer
to Basic TIG Welding guide.
B. Absence of oxides in the weld pool. B. Refer Basic TIG Welding Guide for
ways to reduce arc fl utter.
11. Welding arc can not be
established.
A. Work clamp is not connected to
the work piece or the work/torch
leads are not connected to the right
welding terminals.
A. Connect the work clamp to the work
piece or connect the work/torch leads
to the right welding terminals.
B. Torch lead is disconnected. B. Connect it to the ‘−‘ terminal.
C. Gas flow incorrectly set, cylinder
empty or the torch valve is off.
C. Select the right fl ow rate, change
cylinders or turn torch valve on.
12. Arc start is not smooth. A. Tungsten electrode is too large for
the welding current.
A. Select the right size electrode.
Refer to Section 7, Basic TIG
Welding Guide.
B. The wrong electrode is being used
for the welding job
B. Select the right electrode type.
Refer to Section 7, Basic TIG
Welding Guide.
C. Gas fl ow rate is too high. C. Select the correct rate for the
welding job.
Refer to Section 7, Basic TIG
Welding Guide.
D. Incorrect shielding gas is being
used.
D. Select the right shielding gas.
Refer to Section 7, Basic TIG
Welding Guide.
E. Poor work clamp connection to work
piece.
E. Improve connection to work piece.