Originally Posted by
Frank
hello everyone,
tried searching but didn't run into the answer that i was looking for, hopefully someone can help me or point me in the right direction . I would appreciate it in advance !
I just purchased my first tig welder and with it included a brass regulator that reads out SCFM
I was wondering what i should set this at ? I believe the increments are in 10 psi all the way up to 50.
also what are you guys setting your pre and post flow at ?
-Frank
Not PSI, Standard Cubic Feet per Minute. A measure of flow, not pressure. Are you sure about that? Most TIG flowmeters are either in CFH (cubic feet per hour) or LPM (liters per minute). CFM would be strange.
The flow you need depends on a few factors, cup size, tungsten stickout, joint type, position, etc. Generally a rate of around 10-20 CFH is a good starting point.
Preflow can be very low, just enough to let the initial blast settle before the arc starts. Post flow keeps both the weld and the tungsten protected while cooling. Again it will depend on the type of welding and how much power. A good rule of thumb is to have post flow for as long as the tungsten is red hot and just a little extra. Typically about 5 -15 seconds will usually do the job.
Long arc, short arc, heliarc and in-the-dark!