255ext HF Start

[WhitsonMetal]

I just received a 325ext and am pretty disappointed in the HF start. Lanthanated and ceriated tungsten sharpened to a point, pre-flow and post flow settings all over the place, foot pedal and 2T, more gas, less gas, it's just flat out inconsistent. My last welder, a hobart 165 with HF start, never had the issue. Reading some of these posts has me thinking I'm just stuck with it.

[Rambozo]

I just received a 325ext and am pretty disappointed in the HF start. Lanthanated and ceriated tungsten sharpened to a point, pre-flow and post flow settings all over the place, foot pedal and 2T, more gas, less gas, it's just flat out inconsistent. My last welder, a hobart 165 with HF start, never had the issue. Reading some of these posts has me thinking I'm just stuck with it.

With the air cooled or water cooled torch, or both? AC, DC, or both?

That is the flagship machine, you should have great starts.

[WhitsonMetal]

With the air cooled or water cooled torch, or both? AC, DC, or both?

That is the flagship machine, you should have great starts.

That's what I hoped as well. I was trying to purchase a 255 with quad fan, dual voltage, and solid state HF, but due to shipping delays was offered the 325 and assured it was the same machine (hadn't researched it at all, last minute change up), minus the dual voltage. I put it straight to use on work I was behind on, DC only so far with the #9. Last night I tried it with the 2T torch switch and had maybe a 50-60% success rate for good starts, same as with the foot pedal the night prior. Once it's lit it works great but those starts drive me nuts.

[Rambozo]

That's what I hoped as well. I was trying to purchase a 255 with quad fan, dual voltage, and solid state HF, but due to shipping delays was offered the 325 and assured it was the same machine (hadn't researched it at all, last minute change up), minus the dual voltage. I put it straight to use on work I was behind on, DC only so far with the #9. Last night I tried it with the 2T torch switch and had maybe a 50-60% success rate for good starts, same as with the foot pedal the night prior. Once it's lit it works great but those starts drive me nuts.

DC with air cooled, rules out the few things I can think of. I would call support about it. I don't recall if that machine has any hidden menu start settings, that can be tweaked.

[performance]

Check your work clamp connections. Are you trying to ground through the table or something or do you have the ground directly on the metal you are welding as well as ground down to the shiny?

Several things are possible. One thing comes to mind is that you are trying to possibly start too far off. Some welders allow you to initiate a spark further away than others. Put it about a penny's thickness off the metal and see if you can get consistent starts. Also is it creating the HF everytime but no arc initiation or is it not creating the HF spark?

There's no hidden menu settings. The 325EXT does not have as low of start on AC IIRC and the panels is the same as the 2014 255EXT but has not been updated with the 2015 version. The 2015 version of the 255EXT has the select button just below the easy start up menu and has the spot weld timer added along with a purge button.

[everlastsupport]

labmaster02,

Check you PM and give Oleg a call at 877-755-9353 ext 201

[WhitsonMetal]

Check your work clamp connections. Are you trying to ground through the table or something or do you have the ground directly on the metal you are welding as well as ground down to the shiny?

Several things are possible. One thing comes to mind is that you are trying to possibly start too far off. Some welders allow you to initiate a spark further away than others. Put it about a penny's thickness off the metal and see if you can get consistent starts. Also is it creating the HF everytime but no arc initiation or is it not creating the HF spark?

There's no hidden menu settings. The 325EXT does not have as low of start on AC IIRC and the panels is the same as the 2014 255EXT but has not been updated with the 2015 version. The 2015 version of the 255EXT has the select button just below the easy start up menu and has the spot weld timer added along with a purge button.

I ground through the table as I have for years. As far as I know it's creating the HF every time, I hear the buzz every time that is. I'm pretty good at keeping it within an 1/8" from the work on starts no matter the position. Also, all metal is shiny and clean.

[performance]

I ground through the table as I have for years. As far as I know it's creating the HF every time, I hear the buzz every time that is. I'm pretty good at keeping it within an 1/8" from the work on starts no matter the position. Also, all metal is shiny and clean.

Try grounding directly to work. TIG especially suffers by indirect grounding.

Are you seeing the HF spark? I know you are hearing it, but seeing it as well is part of figuring out what is wrong.