Tig tungsten question

[Kaizen]

Progressing on my tig practice sessions. When I dip too much I try to break off the tungsten in the slot on my sharpener. Every once in a while one splinters like the picture and sometimes bends. Is the tungsten supposed to snap at any point I want or what causes this? Also two additional pictures of sharpened tungsten. Should I be snapping off past the darkened part? Or just leave it and it’s fine?





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[txvwnut]

Tungsten should be cut and not bent to break as you have found out it green stick breaks. When I make a touchdown I cut the blob off and grind the tungsten not caring about the color change. This may not be the correct procedure but that’s how I do it.

 

[Robbie B]

Tungsten breaks like that because it’s incredibly hard. I always grind off the blob and shape it sideways to the wheel and then turn it with the wheel and grind it so the grind marks run from the tip instead of across the top. It’s supposed to help the gas flow more smoothly.

 

[Kaizen]

So one vote for grinding it off and one for cutting. Either will be better then this way. Thanks.


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[jeepinerdeep]

I had the same issue, I hit em with a death wheel now.

 

[sstec]

At least score them and snap them off.
I use my Arc-zone sharpie to score snap and re-sharpen, one for s.s. and steel and one for aluminum.
sstec

 

[thejimmy]

Do not cut (with pliers) or snap off the end, grinding on a bench grinder is the typical method.
The 2nd photo of the darken area does not need to be ground off, however you may need to increase the post flow to prevent the discoloration. Also when the arc is extinguished do not snap or jerk your hand away, this will expose the tungsten to atmosphere before it can cool causing the contamination. Keep your hand still until the post flow is done.

 

[slowtwitch73]

I always clean it off. It's contaminated.. enough to matter? Don't want to find out/roll the dice. It's also easier to see what's going on as far as gas, etc if you have a clean slate so to speak.

 

[Kaizen]

Thanks for the tips. Getting there.


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[gjohnson]

As said do not snap the tungsten, it will splinter farther back past the snap point internally and cause arc wander.

 

[joe49]

I have had good luck with snapping them, by laying the on the bench with the end to be removed over the edge, and hit like your mad at it, that will give a clean break.

 

[Slackerzinc]

Dont over think it, its not that delicate. Cut the tungston with grinder and
when you screw up the end just resharpen the end past the contamination dont worry about the heat marks wont effect anything

 

[American Locomotive]

I never snapped or cut off the tungsten. I just grind away the bad and then re-shape. Never had an issue.

I'm also not doing TIG welds that need to pass an x-ray, but still...

 

[StevenMorgan]

I always grind it off, not worrying about any discoloration. I’m no pro but I’ve yet to have an issue with it.

 

[king nero]

A vote for pushing it against a belt grinder until you completely remove the blob at the front, and then again grinding a point on it.

 

[MoonRise]

I always grind off the blob and shape it sideways to the wheel and then turn it with the wheel and grind it so the grind marks run from the tip instead of across the top. It’s supposed to help the gas flow more smoothly.

Not the gas flow, but the arc itself WILL wander if the grind lines on the tungsten run around instead of in-line with the tip point.

https://www.thefabricator.com/thefabricator/article/arcwelding/guidelines-for-tungsten-electrodes

 

[Kaizen]

The arguments against grinding it off is that you then contaminate the diamond used for the sharpening.
Seems there is a wide variation on this as well as anything else tig related.
I know the snap is not working for me enough to keep doing it so I will be grinding perhaps in a dedicated diamond wheel.


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[Robbie B]

Not the gas flow, but the arc itself WILL wander if the grind lines on the tungsten run around instead of in-line with the tip point.

https://www.thefabricator.com/thefabricator/article/arcwelding/guidelines-for-tungsten-electrodes

Ahh, ok. Thanks for clearing that up for me. It was explained that way by the guy who half *** taught me, a real self proclaimed expert. Never did quite make sense. Now at least I’ll know why I’m doing it like that.

 

[American Locomotive]

The arguments against grinding it off is that you then contaminate the diamond used for the sharpening.
Seems there is a wide variation on this as well as anything else tig related.
I know the snap is not working for me enough to keep doing it so I will be grinding perhaps in a dedicated diamond wheel.


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..diamond wheel? I just sharpen my tungsten on a plain 'ol bench grinder. If the belt sander is nearby, sometimes I'll use that.

Probably won't do for welds that need to pass x-ray and/or for critical life & safety applications, but nothing I've TIG'd up in the past few years has ripped apart, so....

 

[Kaizen]

..diamond wheel? I just sharpen my tungsten on a plain 'ol bench grinder. If the belt sander is nearby, sometimes I'll use that.

Probably won't do for welds that need to pass x-ray and/or for critical life & safety applications, but nothing I've TIG'd up in the past few years has ripped apart, so....

Yea I really **** at tig. I had another post on sharpening that was the same diverse amount of answers. I was using a stone in the grinder and just not getting much better. So I got a specific device for sharpening. Just part of my self teaching. I rule out everything one at a time to find my issue. So after this post I know my tungsten is good.
I did notice a difference using the tool. I’m able to get a very fine arc until I dip. Before it was not as precise


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[rlitman]

..diamond wheel? I just sharpen my tungsten on a plain 'ol bench grinder. If the belt sander is nearby, sometimes I'll use that.

Probably won't do for welds that need to pass x-ray and/or for critical life & safety applications, but nothing I've TIG'd up in the past few years has ripped apart, so....

I use $4 diamond discs for sharpening my tungstens, because they turn good aluminum oxide wheels into a stupidly unnecessary amount of dust as they eat them up.

 

[BD1]

Here's what I use to sharpen tungsten, the harbor freight diamond wheel . I just placed it next to the grinding wheel on bench grinder. Works great.
https://www.harborfreight.com/repla...-volt-circular-saw-blade-sharpener-98862.html

 

[BD1]

https://shop.harborfreight.com/medi...b33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_12187.jpg

 

[gjohnson]

Yea I really **** at tig. I had another post on sharpening that was the same diverse amount of answers. I was using a stone in the grinder and just not getting much better. So I got a specific device for sharpening. Just part of my self teaching. I rule out everything one at a time to find my issue. So after this post I know my tungsten is good.
I did notice a difference using the tool. I’m able to get a very fine arc until I dip. Before it was not as precise


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https://www.arc-zone.com/cordless-sharpie-grinder-a-ptgk-dxcl

You said you have a device, not sure what you have but I can tell you this is an awesome tool. It improved my weld quality in a major way.

 

[steel 35]

Not the gas flow, but the arc itself WILL wander if the grind lines on the tungsten run around instead of in-line with the tip point.

https://www.thefabricator.com/thefabricator/article/arcwelding/guidelines-for-tungsten-electrodes

Thanks again wise one

 

[Bradc1989]

Not the gas flow, but the arc itself WILL wander if the grind lines on the tungsten run around instead of in-line with the tip point.

https://www.thefabricator.com/thefabricator/article/arcwelding/guidelines-for-tungsten-electrodes

This. You can actually see it if you do a side by side comparison with different methods.

And damn some of you guys take it to the extreme with the detail. I get it for critical applications but for 99.9% of home shop welding, I’m not interested in taking the time

 

[Bodj Built]

This. You can actually see it if you do a side by side comparison with different methods.

And damn some of you guys take it to the extreme with the detail. I get it for critical applications but for 99.9% of home shop welding, I’m not interested in taking the time

Agreed. I chuck the tungsten in a drill and use the same ol' disc sander I use for everything else. Works fine, I never have arc wandering issues or contamination issues, especially since I'm just working in my garage and nothing is getting x-rayed haha.

I will say, spin the drill slowly. You do want the lines as straight as you can, but having a little curve isn't the end of the world.