Tungsten types....what do you use

[Ohmthis]

I have a Lincoln precision tig 225 (transformer machine) and have been using pure (green band) for aluminum and thoriated (red) or lanthanated (orange) for steel and stainless. I would like something else for aluminum and have read about zirconium (i think that is what it's called) used with good results. Anyone want to tell us what you use, with what machine, and how it works?

 

[zkling]

2% ceriated for everything on a syncrowave 250. Works great on all materials. I typicaly use 1/16" with a spare collet set for 0.040" in the air cooled torch and 3/32" in the water cooled . Try the lathanated you already have, that is an all current electrode as well. Be careful selecting on just color.

 

[Ohmthis]

I don't use based on color as I have seen some use a different color for the same tungsten type. I'll try the lanthanated and see how it goes. Thanks!

 

[Tig Master]

Thoriated can also be used anywhere.

 

[dr_clyde]

I used thoriated for everything for years, but it gets kind of jacked up on high amperage AC. This was on a syncrowave 351 and a tigwave 350.

When I got my dynasty I got ceriated, and use that for everything now. I use .040, 1/16", 3/32" and 1/8".

I feel like ceriated would work well for you on AC.

 

[logikal]

Ceriated is great for an all around rod but I enjoy keeping the zirconiated tungsten around for ac welding due to its low contamination properties. let's face it, obtaining clean metal as of late has become a chore.

 

[t100]

purple is junk, but that's all we have to use at the company shop. red for everything at my home shop.

 

[shawnspeed]

For really finicky aluminum work I use pure tung in 3/32 -1/8....every thing else is 3/32 thoriated...syncro 250...

 

[Guster]

200A inverter supply using zirconiated(white) for alloy and thoriated(red) for everything else I do in the home shop. Day to day electrode is 2.4mm though I have 1.6mm and 3.2mm and matching gas lenses for when the need arises.

 

[welder4956]

I use either 2% thoriated or 2% lanthanated for everything, including aluminum.

Pure tungsten is used because it is easier to create and maintain a ball on the end for welding aluminum. All of the others that end in "ated" have oxides added to allow higher current capacity and increase performance. The oxides pin the grain boundaries to limit grain growth under prolonged exposure to heat. The same principle was used in light bulb filaments. Adding thoria to the tungsten filaments makes them last longer. In tig welding, it helps keep the end of the tungsten from flaking, increases current capacity and increases tungsten life.

 

[TauntDevil]

My personal favorite is 2.0% Lanthanated for my inverter welder or Ceriated tungsten's for transistor welders (which I dont use as often since I dont own one but work with them).

Just my personal favorites.

 

[justme-]

I have no hands on Tig experience, but have been reading and watching everything I can lately to get ready to teach myself this winter (slow season at work and we have a nice Lincoln Tig just sitting there no one knows how to use).
Might want to check out this video on what tungsten. His results show ceriated outperforms all the others. Keep in mind I know little, and I realize this is only showing exactly what it's showing.

 

[racingtadpole]

I use the blue lanthanated for everything.

 

[kf4zht]

I use Ceriated for everything small, and pure and red for 1/8" since i was given 2 boxes of each and the price can't be beat.

 

[CGT80]

I use pure for aluminum and 2% thoriated for steel and stainless. I tried a blue tungsten (2% lanthanated?) on aluminum and it seemed to handle more current than pure and still welded well on AC HF. My machine is a transformer sine wave machine, Miller 330 abp from the 1960's.

How many people here are aware of the differences between sine wave, square wave, and inverter technology? My understanding is that only pure tungsten is supposed to work on sine wave for AC welding. When I did welding classes, I used a square wave machine and ran thoriated for aluminum as well. I was able to keep a decent point on the tungsten. Does anyone here use a tungsten other than pure, for since wave AC welding on aluminum?

 

[dr_clyde]

I use pure for aluminum and 2% thoriated for steel and stainless. I tried a blue tungsten (2% lanthanated?) on aluminum and it seemed to handle more current than pure and still welded well on AC HF. My machine is a transformer sine wave machine, Miller 330 abp from the 1960's.

How many people here are aware of the differences between sine wave, square wave, and inverter technology? My understanding is that only pure tungsten is supposed to work on sine wave for AC welding. When I did welding classes, I used a square wave machine and ran thoriated for aluminum as well. I was able to keep a decent point on the tungsten. Does anyone here use a tungsten other than pure, for since wave AC welding on aluminum?

By and large, the only reason for using pure tungsten is to get the little ball on the end easier. On high AC amperages, thoriated tungsten tends to split and splinter, sometimes adding tungsten to the weld. Pure tends not to. I never use it, I just run Ceriated. Will work on every machine I've welded on, including goldstars.

 

[Robert Hall]

Check out Jody at welding tips and tricks dot com. He has a cool vid there talking about the performance of the different types of tungsten.

I use Lanthanated as it works well and is not irradiated.

 

[that-guy]

blue lanthanated all around

 

[wagzilla]

I use the orange witch is now gray....on my miller 200dx

James

 

[bullnerd]

I use the hybrid stuff Arczone sells. Works on everything.

 

[Jason280]

I just bought a Square Wave 175, and most everyone I've spoken with suggested lanthanated tungsten. I've been using 2% thoriated (red band) with my Invertec, which is a DC based TIG, and its worked fine on steel. I've tried it on aluminum, but honestly, my TIG abilities are not high enough to make a suggestion. That being said, I did order a pack of lanthanated 3/32 to try out.