First time gas user questions...

[eddie]

Well, I got hooked-up over the weekend with my HH140...just got a few questions:

My instructions says not to use teflon tape on the fittings yet I still have a tiny-mini-leak (one or two bubbles of soapy water) when I connect the regulator to the bottle...I've wrenched it down pretty good...do any of you use tape? I've always heard when you go brass-to-brass you shouldn't use tape.

When I use the "purge" setting to set gas level, should I be able to hear or feel the gas coming from the nozzle? Dumb one I know.

Before now, I had removed the nozzle while using FCAW..I used the spray to try to cut down on build up...is there a chance the 4 pinholes for gas could have become clogged? Will I know when I try to use it...porosity, etc.?

And just in general, how do I know the gas is flowing sufficiently...will the bead tell the tale?

thx
Eddie

[TexHand]

Well, I got hooked-up over the weekend with my HH140...just got a few questions:

My instructions says not to use teflon tape on the fittings yet I still have a tiny-mini-leak (one or two bubbles of soapy water) when I connect the regulator to the bottle...I've wrenched it down pretty good...do any of you use tape? I've always heard when you go brass-to-brass you shouldn't use tape.

I've never used tape, and never had any leak issues.


When I use the "purge" setting to set gas level, should I be able to hear or feel the gas coming from the nozzle? Dumb one I know.

Yup (Yup to the gas, not to the dumb question :D)


Before now, I had removed the nozzle while using FCAW..I used the spray to try to cut down on build up...is there a chance the 4 pinholes for gas could have become clogged? Will I know when I try to use it...porosity, etc.?

Yeah, there's a chance. You should be able to hear and feel the gas. If not, it is possible that the outlets are clogged or maybe the liner isn't seated all the way into the drive roller assembly. W/O the gas, your bead will be very porous.


And just in general, how do I know the gas is flowing sufficiently...will the bead tell the tale?

In general, if indoors or out of the wind, I can get my with 10/12 CFM. If there is a bit of a breeze, I bump it up to 20. As you do more, you'll learn what "looks good" and what "ain't right."


thx

No Problem.

[eddie]

Thanks, Tex..when I tried it Saturday nite indoors, I set it at 20 but I wasn't getting that "frying bacon" sound I was expecting..rather, it was fairly loud popping...guess it could have been the volt/wire settings but I was using recommendations.

I'll check out the liner and maybe use a sewing needle to rod-out the gas outlet holes?

Ed

[Zrexxer]

Do not use teflon tape or any other thread sealant on CGA fittings. Thread sealants are just that - they make tapered pipe threads seal. CGA fittings do not seal at the threads, they seal at the mating surfaces. Despite causing problems you don't want, thread sealant won't help your leak anyway.

Inspect the mating surfaces for any dings or scratches that might cause a leak. Tighten it down... really tighten it... and re-check. There have been cases where a cylinder has a bunged-up valve seat, but mostly a little extra attention with a wrench will make them seal.

[FarmallMan]

Thanks, Tex..when I tried it Saturday nite indoors, I set it at 20 but I wasn't getting that "frying bacon" sound I was expecting..rather, it was fairly loud popping...guess it could have been the volt/wire settings but I was using recommendations.

Ed


Did you reverse the polarity when going from flux core to the solid wire? The electrode should be (+) for solid wire.

The manual for the HH187 mentions purging the gun with compressed air before its first use. Maybe this might be of help to you.

Nick :cool:

[TexHand]

Well, I'm no expert - but I think the "popping" sound is more wire issue. I don't think it would be related the the gas. Either a setting, (although you said you were going by the chart), too fast travel speed, too far stand off, or wrong polarity as Nick mentioned.

The "frying bacon" sounds is a result of constant wire burning, the popping sound indicates that your burn isn't constant. I notice it mostly when my WFS is too slow or I'm standing off too much.

Welding inside, you probably don't need the gas set at 20, and might be able to get by with 10 or so. While running 20 won't hurt anything, is just won't last as long. On some coupons, you can turn it down, run a bead, turn it down, run a bead, until the low flow starts to affect your bead - then just turn it back up a bit.

[eddie]

I've never used tape, and never had any leak issues.



Yup (Yup to the gas, not to the dumb question :D)



Yeah, there's a chance. You should be able to hear and feel the gas. If not, it is possible that the outlets are clogged or maybe the liner isn't seated all the way into the drive roller assembly. W/O the gas, your bead will be very porous.



In general, if indoors or out of the wind, I can get my with 10/12 CFM. If there is a bit of a breeze, I bump it up to 20. As you do more, you'll learn what "looks good" and what "ain't right."



No Problem.

Well, that was it...the gun assembly wasn't pushed far enough into the unit. :o Once I did that, I could hear/feel the gas. Sometimes I wonder if I didn't get a reconditioned unit slipped in on me as a new one. The thumb screw hole holding the gun unit in seemed to be stripped from the git-go. I've tried using another one I had on hand but the unit seems to work loose. I'll get that fixed.

Anyway, I set it on 20cf (I'll try 10 or so eventually) and for the first time, I laid down a really nice bead...at least by my standards...didn't get the erratic experience as before...and no porosity...didn't know what I'd been missing with just FCAW. GMAW is nice! :cool:

I also unscrewed the regulator and re-attached it by really wrenching it down...no leak now.

pree-shate it, all

Eddie

[TexHand]

Well, that was it...the gun assembly wasn't pushed far enough into the unit. :o Once I did that, I could hear/feel the gas.

Don't feel too bad about it... and definately don't ask me how I knew to tell you to check that :rolleyes:....

[FormerTankSarge]

I did the same thing after switching from Flux core,:eek: thought the machine was messed up, only operator error.....:o