welding alum with poweritig250

[performance]

Yes,

Generally, the tig torch will never leave the negative lug for any reason.

Even in ac, your balance control depends upon polarity to function correctly.

[Mad-Dax]

also the AC balance if I understand correctly is more cleaning action if turned to the left 10% on the knob and more penetration 90% on the knob when turned to the right.?? Right?

FWIW I think it is impossible to get the electrode closer then 1/8 of an inch to the puddle...the aluminum wants to jump up when it melts onto the electrode on me when closer than a 1/4 inch.

[performance]

No,

It should be the opposite way around.

Left more negative right more positive.

If Aluminum is jumping up, the that is a sure sign you are using too much positive or it is possible that you have too high of rate of gas flow and the flow is drawing the aluminum up via a venturi effect. Too much gas flow can, interestingly enough, be the cause of air contamination being drawn into the weld. The venturi that is created is from the turbulence that is caused by too much gas hitting the weld area.

A 35% setting is a good place to start.



The operator's manual has an error in it. It says that DCEN is responsible for cleaning...which it is not. Even after proof reading, that part escaped my attention. It will be fixed in the new revision coming soon.

[BurningMetal]

DCEP is what does the "cleaning" and also causes the balling of the end of the tungsten.