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During the grinding of the thoriated tungsten electrodes, radioactive dust is created, posing the potential hazard of internal radiation exposure by inhalation or ingestion unless care is taken to control the dust.
Can tungsten be ground?
Tungsten electrodes are the crucial electrical carrier in the welding process, and they must be ground and cut properly. Improperly prepared electrodes can lead to arc wander, splitting, shedding, welding inconsistencies, or expensive mistakes. Properly ground and cut electrodes can improve arc starting and stability.
Are all tungsten electrodes radioactive?
Lanthanum, cerium, yttrium and zirconium oxides can all be used with tungsten. While they are all marginally radioactive, the risk is even lower than with thoria, so no specific precautions are needed.
Why do you sharpen tungsten?
By sharpening the tungsten electrodes, these material rings can be removed again without any problems. Sharpening tungsten electrodes is therefore essential for the best welding results! When sharpening a tungsten electrode, however, a few essential things must be observed. We have put them together for you here.
When preparing your tungsten How far back do you grind?
For the best possible arc stability, diamond grinding of tungsten electrodes should be done with the length of the electrode at a 90° angle to the axis of the grinding wheel. The single most important aspect of proper electrode grinding is that the grind be done longitudinally.
How many amps can 1/16 tungsten handle?
Current Ranges for Tungsten Electrodes TIG Welding Current Ranges for Tungsten Electrodes – (Argon Shielding Gas) 1/16 70-150 30-120 3/32 150-250 60-180 1/8 250-400 100-250 5/32 400-500 160-320.
What color tungsten is for aluminum?
Pure Tungsten (Color Code: Green) Pure tungsten also provides good arc stability for AC sine wave welding, especially on aluminum and magnesium.
What is purple tip tungsten for?
Introducing the all new E3 Purple Tungsten from Binzel. This rare earth tungsten offers excellent ignition characteristics and consistent welding properties. Because of their great ignition properties they are also suitable for automated welding.
What is 2% tungsten used for?
2% lanthanated tungstens can also be used in the AC frequency to weld aluminum while providing a very nice arc and a low burn-off rate of the electrode. They are a mix of the best qualities between ceriated electrodes and thoriated tungsten for DC and zirconiated for AC.
What is 2% Lanthanated tungsten used for?
2% Lanthanated (Blue) Blue electrodes are effective for welding aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, nickel alloys, copper alloys, titanium alloys, low-alloyed steels, and non-corroding steels.
What is the best tungsten for stainless steel?
What color Tungsten should be used for stainless steel? The thoriated red electrode is ideal for stainless steel welds. It provides the optimal heat generation, bead formation, and weld penetration to give smoother welds.
How do you sharpen tungsten for aluminum?
How is Tungsten Balled for Aluminum Welding? Sharpen one side of the pure-tungsten electrode to a spiky tip using a bench grinder. Put the sharpened electrode aside for 10 minutes, letting it cool down. Sharpen the other edge of the electrode to a point too, exactly like the other end.
Can you sharpen tungsten with an angle grinder?
The 4 1/2†angle grinder with a 180 grit diamond blade was a total of $19.98. Not only will it sharpen tungsten quickly but it can make a nice clean square cut off through a piece of tungsten without splitting or otherwise fracturing the tungsten.
What do you grind tungsten with?
To grind the tungsten properly and to prevent contamination, it is preferable to use a grinding wheel especially designed for tungsten grinding, resistant to tungsten´s hardness. Grind the electrode straight on the direction of the wheel at a 90° angle and make sure that the grind marks are lengthwise.
What is tungsten for mild steel?
2% Thoriated Tungsten Electrode. The 2% thoriated (color code red) is an all-purpose tungsten electrode and it’s recommended for welding mild steel because they work well on lower temperatures, which is what you need if you don’t want the steel to warp.
What is the best tungsten for welding aluminum?
Use a pure tungsten or zirconiated tungsten electrode when AC welding aluminum. Don’t use a 2 percent thoriated tungsten electrode. Make sure you use a tungsten electrode large enough in diameter to carry the welding current you plan to use. Remember that AC welding requires larger–diameter tungsten electrodes.
What diameter tungsten should I use?
Tungsten Diameter Selection Alternating Current (Amps) Electrode Diameter Balanced Wave 0.020 0.5 5-20 0.040 1.0 20-60 0.060 1.6 60-120.
What is Zirconiated tungsten used for?
Zirconiated tungsten is most commonly used for AC welding because it balls up well in AC welding and has a more stable arc than pure tungsten. It also resists contamination well in AC welding.
How many amps does it take to weld 1/4 aluminum?
When you know those, you can easily determine how many amps you will need for your welder to weld aluminum perfectly. A common rule of thumb is that you will need 1 amp for every 0.001 inches of metal you are going to weld when other variables are constant.
What are the different types of tungsten?
Different Types of Tungsten Electrodes Rare-earth, Grey. Rare-earth tungsten material comes with various additives such as rare-earth or hybrid combinations of oxides. Pure, Green. For starters, pure tungsten is suitable for use with AC but not DC. Lanthanated, Gold. Ceriated, Orange. Thoriated, Red. Zirconiated, Brown.
How long do tungsten electrodes last?
A tungsten may fail in a single weld, or run 700+ cycles. One example of what can happen when an electrode goes bad is the ‘roll back’.
Is tungsten toxic?
Tungsten has been the subject of numerous in vivo experimental and in vitro studies in view of determining its metabolic and toxicity profile. However, tungsten and its compounds are not considered very toxic for humans. Most existing human toxicology information comes from chronic occupational exposure.
What tungsten colors mean?
Color code and what it means The main colors/varieties of TIG electrodes and their American Welding Society abbreviation are as follows: Green (EWP) = Pure Tungsten, Orange (EWCe-2) = 2% Ceriated, Red (EWTh-2) = 2% Thoriated, Gold (EWLa-1.5) = 1.5% Lanthanated, Brown (EWZr-1) = 1% Zirconiated.
