TIG Welding & Thoriated Tungsten
- Thread starter Ch3No2
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Av8r_Sed
Member
2% Lanthanated works well on both for me.
txvwnut
Well-known member
jake342
Active member
-2% Thoriated for DC steel
-Pure tungsten for AC aluminum (Transformer Machine)
-Pure tungsten for AC aluminum (Transformer Machine)
kazlx
Well-known member
Nobody uses pure for AC anymore. Even on transformer machines.
Why? I thought no one use Thoriated cause of the radioactive and replaced with that purple one....
Superbec
Well-known member
Lanthanated for everything
Ceriated is not bad either but doesn't hold too much current in AC. about 20%less than Lanth
There is no reason to use pure , it's actually **** even on transformers, it balls up at very low amps than explodes and contaminates everything ,absolutely useless on inverter machines.
Ceriated is not bad either but doesn't hold too much current in AC. about 20%less than Lanth
There is no reason to use pure , it's actually **** even on transformers, it balls up at very low amps than explodes and contaminates everything ,absolutely useless on inverter machines.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
I use ceriated for everything, even on the old transformers. 1/8" ceriated will handle right around 250 amps on AC, and that's all my torch will handle.
If I need to go bigger, I switch to zirconated, its designed to handle higher amps on AC.
Pure tungsten is pretty much useless now, and I don't buy thoriated anymore, simply because I would rather have 1 tungsten that does it all, and thoriated doesn't like AC all that well. It will do it, but it gets kind of jacked up and splits.
If I need to go bigger, I switch to zirconated, its designed to handle higher amps on AC.
Pure tungsten is pretty much useless now, and I don't buy thoriated anymore, simply because I would rather have 1 tungsten that does it all, and thoriated doesn't like AC all that well. It will do it, but it gets kind of jacked up and splits.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Back when I was transformer TIG machines both at home and work I was using 2% Thoriated for carbon steel and pure for non-ferrous metals (aluminum, magnesium, etc). I then tried some 2% Ceriated on the transformer machines and it worked well for all materials so that became my new "go to" tungsten.
After switching over to an inverter machine in my home shop about 8 or so years ago I had started experimenting with various tungstens and settled in on the 2% Ceriated for quite some time for all TIG (GTAW) welding. However, I tried some 1.5% Lanthanated about 4 years ago in which I wasn't too fond of. I was then given a 2% Lanthanated tungsten as a trial while at an industrial seminar. I fell in love with the 2% Lanthanated and have been using if for the past 3-4 years now with great results.
Mike.
After switching over to an inverter machine in my home shop about 8 or so years ago I had started experimenting with various tungstens and settled in on the 2% Ceriated for quite some time for all TIG (GTAW) welding. However, I tried some 1.5% Lanthanated about 4 years ago in which I wasn't too fond of. I was then given a 2% Lanthanated tungsten as a trial while at an industrial seminar. I fell in love with the 2% Lanthanated and have been using if for the past 3-4 years now with great results.
Mike.
kazlx
Well-known member
Like mentioned, there are just more stable tungstens. Everyone has personal preferences, but they basically all out perform the pure.
The thoriated is a bit of an exaggeration. You are basically exposed to more radiation via just existing on the planet. The exposures are so small, even more so for non full-time welders, that the risk is minuscule. However, other options exist, so most companies don't use it anymore. Ceriated works great. There's also some blends that are good. Plus, now, you can basically just use one type of tungsten in different sizes, even for transformer machines.
http://www.twi-global.com/technical...faq-the-use-of-thoriated-tungsten-electrodes/
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welder4956
Well-known member
I still use 2% thoriated for most everything. I haven't see a problem with it splitting on AC with aluminum, except at high amperage.
Most people don't know, but thoria was added to tungsten filaments in incandescent light bulbs to make them last longer. The thoria pins the grain boundaries to slow grain growth under the high temperatures seen by the filaments. Once the grain size grows to the diameter of the filament, it becomes weak and fails easily.
The same concept applies to tungsten used for welding. The thoria, ceria, lanthana, zirconia, etc. is there to slow grain growth and make the tungsten last longer without it flaking off. It does not have a significant affect on weldability or weld quality.
Most people don't know, but thoria was added to tungsten filaments in incandescent light bulbs to make them last longer. The thoria pins the grain boundaries to slow grain growth under the high temperatures seen by the filaments. Once the grain size grows to the diameter of the filament, it becomes weak and fails easily.
The same concept applies to tungsten used for welding. The thoria, ceria, lanthana, zirconia, etc. is there to slow grain growth and make the tungsten last longer without it flaking off. It does not have a significant affect on weldability or weld quality.
Superbec
Well-known member
did you ever welded something with a light bulb?
i always believed it's called thorium .. but I may be wrong.
thoria is the ore that dwarfs dig in Moria mines?
sry couldn't help myself, didn't take my "be nice" pills today
Is this a transformer machine?
If the picture doesn't work...
http://s33.photobucket.com/user/skips3988/media/imagejpeg_0_zps937e6576.jpg.html
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Is this a transformer machine?
If the picture doesn't work...
http://s33.photobucket.com/user/skips3988/media/imagejpeg_0_zps937e6576.jpg.html
Yes it is
Crazyjake8493
Well-known member
2% lanthanated is the best all-around tungsten if you're looking to buy just one, or something to get started. I also have ceriated, thoriated, and 1.5 lanthanated, but 2% lanthanated will handle just about any typical work.
R.Anderson
Well-known member
2% lanthanated gets my vote. 3/32" and 1/8" are the two main sizes I use, it will pend on the size of the material you weld tho. Also if you plan on doing a bunch of aluminum I recommended getting a liquid cooled torch setup.
racingtadpole
Well-known member
I use Lanthanated for everything, but its been a while since I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express
I do.
kazlx
Well-known member
Well, then. You would be in the minority.
I don't know why everyone hates it. It always has plenty of power for what I need and then some!!!
kazlx
Well-known member
Who hates a Sync 250?
Other then old welders I get that thing is huge and probably can't handle much or do much. I had a buddy bring some 1/4" aluminum over. He was sold on it and tried to buy it from me... Most people think it's big, bulky, and don't think it can do much...
kazlx
Well-known member
Most people are idiots.
rockinacummins
Well-known member
I personally use thoriated for carbon steel. Always.
For aluminum I use pure on a transformer, but 2% lanthanated on an inverter.
Lanthanated will also work fine on carbon steel with an inverter.
Never used any other types - never had a reason to. Lincoln sent me a couple electrodes of that E3 stuff, I'm gonna play with it and see what it does.
For aluminum I use pure on a transformer, but 2% lanthanated on an inverter.
Lanthanated will also work fine on carbon steel with an inverter.
Never used any other types - never had a reason to. Lincoln sent me a couple electrodes of that E3 stuff, I'm gonna play with it and see what it does.
rockinacummins
Well-known member
Is this a transformer machine?
If the picture doesn't work...
http://s33.photobucket.com/user/skips3988/media/imagejpeg_0_zps937e6576.jpg.html
Yes this is a transformer machine. And a damn good one at that. I would bet that it's a power hog, but it's also a reliable and consistent welder. Wish I had one.
CGT80
Well-known member
Is this a transformer machine?
If the picture doesn't work...
http://s33.photobucket.com/user/skips3988/media/imagejpeg_0_zps937e6576.jpg.html
Yes, this is a transformer machine, but it is also a square wave machine, as far as I know. It is what I learned on in college, but it is far different from my transformer machine.
Transformer vs. inverter is not nearly as important as the waveform. Most people ignore the waveform.
This is a sinewave transformer machine. Notice the lack of all the fancy dials?
Yeah....it only needs up to 104 amps at 230 volts single phase input, but it will put out 460 amps on the other end.
For steel and stainless, I use thoriated. I got a bunch of it for free, from my neighbor. Pure for aluminum is how I started, but then I tried 2% lanth and I like it better. It seems to work fine for steel, but it is a waste when I have boxes and boxes of thoriated for that.
I'm pretty sure we used thoriated on ac for welding aluminum, at the college, with the syncrowave. It worked better than pure on a sinewave machine because it held a better point, but it did like to split. The 2% lanthanated seems to hold a better point than pure and it will handle more amperage. It isn't hard to roast an 1/8" tungsten with that Miller 330.
Edward_Anderson
New member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2011
- Messages
- 3
1.5% Lanthanated for almost everything from .065 stainless steel to 1/2" Aluminum plate on a transformer machine. I'd get 2% but my LWS and McMaster don't stock it.
I keep some thoriated around in the smaller diameters for really thin jobs where the improved arc starting is important. Otherwise I really like how long the lanthanated electrodes last.
Pure tungsten if it's a job where I know I'm going to be sticking the tip a lot, because I'm not made of money.
I keep some thoriated around in the smaller diameters for really thin jobs where the improved arc starting is important. Otherwise I really like how long the lanthanated electrodes last.
Pure tungsten if it's a job where I know I'm going to be sticking the tip a lot, because I'm not made of money.
matt_i
Well-known member
Sync 250 here, very good machine albeit forklift material 
, I tried the ceria and they seem pretty good. Have a few pures left around that slowly get used.
, I tried the ceria and they seem pretty good. Have a few pures left around that slowly get used.We run a Sync 350 everyday. Along with multiple Dynastys. They are excellent machines. Don't know anyone who owns one that hates them. They are big and draw more power but they are workhorses and a lot less finicky than the newer machines.
R.Anderson
Well-known member
Really? Where here on this thread has anyone said they hate a transformer machine let alone a Syncrowave 250?
I run a Syncrowave 250 at work, not a darn thing wrong with em. There is a reason I picked it when we needed a new welder at work.
That might change when I run out of pure. But considering that I bought a giant pack about 8 years ago, and I don't weld all day every day, that might happen some time near rapture.