Tig Start Question

I am new to tig, and do not even have an Everlast yet...but looking. I have a Chiri UNT 3-in-1 unit. I would have asked on the WW forum, but expected I would get flamed for having a chinese unit. Everything works fine, except I have a question about initial startup.

I am using a WP-17 torch (no pedal), 1/16" 2% lanthanated sharp, Argon at 11cfh. Today welding 1/8" angle, with 1/16" 70S-6 filler, 65amps. This action has happened on other thicknesses of metal, and amp settings also.

When I first press the lever to initiate a weld, at once, the arc jumps and there is a POP. Like a small balloon being punctured. Then all settles down, and seems ok. Is this normal? It does not happen every time, random, as far as I can tell.

Not sure if it is argon, or only when I have too much distance from the work (long arc initially). The flowmeter could be incorrect, but I can get a good puddle and the weld looks fairly decent for a learner. So I think I have correct flow.

Any ideas I could check out further? I expect is probably operator induced if it is a problem.

Try pressing the trigger a few times off of the part to get the argon to purge out of the hoses, then immediately go to your workpiece and try an arc start.

This may not be the problem, but certainly worth a try.

You are welding in DC mode, correct ?

Is your Tig Torch hooked up to the negative terminal? Half the battle of Tig welding is learning how to use/set the machine!

zoama, yes, DC...only have DC.
Sean...yes, all is hooked up properly...tig connects to air port and the 7pin control, work clamp to positive.
Sportbike, I will try the purge action today.

thank you

Check your argon hoses, too... you may have a leak in your hose line.
open the argon bottle, and hit the pedal to purge the line. After the gas flow stops, then close the argon valve on the top of the bottle, and watch your argon meter. It should stay the same, if it slowly starts to go down, then you have a leak in your line and you need to check all your fittings and hoses to make sure they are tight and not leaking. If your argon line leaks bad enough, then it will start to do all sorts of weird things, and you'll be very frustrated trying to get a good weld going.

If the regulator came with the unit watch out a lot of them are liters per min instead of cubic feet per hour. I know that the Everlast regulators are in metric units. If it is you can look online for a conversion and them just write the conversion in magic marker on the glass.

Any chance you could post a video of the problem?