[cobrawanabe1699]

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

It cannot hurt to perform the setp again as per the book, as a double-check.

Remember, an arc needs voltage to form (as in "jump across the gap"), not current. Current only comes into play once the plasma arc is formed.

Having no experience with TIG I really can't answer the question directly, but I hope what I wrote helps.

Don

It does help, as you brought up a good point. Thanks!

Originally Posted by Greg Needel

sounds to me like you are not getting gas flow. Are you sure you have your regulator set high enough and that you have the correct flow nozzle on your gun for the size of the material. Also check to see if your gas ports on your gun are clogged.

Also how fine of a point do you have ground on your tungsten?

I had originally suspected such a problem, and was told over and over by peers that the gun was getting gas. I'm not so sure if they know what they are talking about, since I can't hear the afterflow. I thought it may have just been a quiet gun Stupid me...

I had ground the tungsten to a sharp point, but isn't the tip supposed to ball up while welding aluminum?