I would guess insufficient gas flow. You are using the correct gas
(argon) and DCEN (straight polarity), right? I also recall that
snapping off the tungsten can generate internal cracks that don't show
and affect the arc stability. Either grind off back over the bad
stuff, or grind the tungsten off where you would have snapped it, or
cut it with an appropriate BigFatSnipper.
Old clean metal should be very much like the new stuff, only older.
Try running beads without filler on test coupons to get the feel.
It's much like running oxy-acetylene, but with control of the heat and
much brighter.
HTH.
Donald.
> Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 21:03:15 -0700
> From: Steven Shipley <shiples@home.com>
>
>
> I'm teaching myself how to use a Lincoln Square Wave 175 welder and
> I've encountered a problem. I keep seeing a build-up of spatter
> that sticks to the electrode and the ceramic cup. As this spatter
> builds up the arc becomes harder to control. I'm spending a lot of
> time putting new points on the electrodes.
>
> The welding books say that a TIG electrode isn't used up in the
> welding process but in my case I'm always stopping, snapping off
> the electode where the spatter has been deposited and regrinding.
>
> I'm welding on an old pickup truck so I have my suspicions of the
> problem. But shouldn't old metal weld like new if it's been
> ground to bare metal? And if it isn't the pickup truck's fault,
> what is the operator doing wrong?
>
> Steve Shipley
> Seattle, WA
>
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