Specifics about tungsten electrodes for TIG welding

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Hello,I have been doing a bit of research on a topic that seems to have little information available about.  I am trying to understand the specific differences between each type of tungsten and when and where to use them.  Thanks to http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...calculator.php this I understand when to use which thickness of a tungsten but I don't understand the real differences and reasons as to why we use thoriated, ceriated, lanthanated, and the percentages of each.The only understanding I have is that lanthanated is not radioactive so when it is being grinded the dust will not be harmful to the individual grinding.  I have also been doing research on 'sodium nitrite' which is when chem sharp is.  My feeling is that you probably don't need to worry about the radioactive dust that comes off of thoriated tungstens when you are using a non-grinding method for sharpening an electrode.  Personally I have a miller 330 a/bp which is a transformer style welder, I have read some things that imply that there is a specific kind of tungsten to use for a different sort of machine.  Inverters may use one kind where transformers may use another, or so it is suggested.Miller 330 a/bp water cooledI believe in gun control, I hold my gun with two hands.  If you want to know why, click here.Buy American or bye America.
Reply:http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=13220...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:The only tungsten that's radioactive is thoriated.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Maybe I was unclear in my post or it was too long to read.  I understand that the thoriated tungsten electrodes are mildly radioactive, and that the dust is slightly less than appealing to breath, but what I am trying to understand is what the difference between each percentage is and what it does or means.  2% versus 1% thoriated or lanthanated and so on, what is the difference and what does it mean?  Which to use in certain circumstances.Miller 330 a/bp water cooledI believe in gun control, I hold my gun with two hands.  If you want to know why, click here.Buy American or bye America.
Reply:There is some info on the Miller site and i think Carmen Electrode have good info too.I think you may be looking into it a little to hard.  1%, 2% in some electrodes make some difference but not a lot.I use Gold Lant. electrodes ( i think they are 1.5%) on everything.  Al, SS, Mild Steel and all sharpened to a point.
Reply:Originally Posted by LarryOThere is some info on the Miller site and i think Carmen Electrode have good info too.I think you may be looking into it a little to hard.  1%, 2% in some electrodes make some difference but not a lot.I use Gold Lant. electrodes ( i think they are 1.5%) on everything.  Al, SS, Mild Steel and all sharpened to a point.
Reply:-great that the world has people like you to "internet research" the hell out of things. I have three different types of electrode.  if you stuck any one of them in my torch without me looking, I wouldn't know the difference.maybe you need to spend a few days behinds the hood.  the practice would doubtless better serve you than some drivel from the internet about special tungstens.you could even buy one of each and give us a big report.-the apathertic remark touched a nerve.
Reply:Hello pinjas, I believe you are correct when you say that you could have a difficult time in finding specifics to explain the real differences in the various grades of tungstens. Not a lot of years ago there were basically just a few and in recent years they have come up with a whole lot more. As some of the folks have eluded to, you likely wouldn't be able to tell the difference between many of them, at least not if you were hand-welding. Many of those "newer'" grades are suited to machine welding applications and have very specific and narrow parameters which would go unnoticed in a manual application. In most cases though the alloying elements will apply to arc stability, current carrying capability, DC vs. AC applications, safety(thoriated being radioactive), and as you mentioned, machine type(transformer/rectifier, inverter, variable hertz, etc.). Lincoln used to have a really nice chart that explained the pro's and con's of the various types and gave a rundown on the alloys involved, haven't been able to find a copy of it lately, used to have one tacked to my office wall. Just a bit more for you to consider. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:I have read as much as I can find here and there, but the details seem vague at best.  I have been welding with thorium for a few weeks, the reason why I wanted to look more deeply into these details was because I wanted to see if any other types of tungsten would work as well or better.  I have a small number of electrodes that I got, pretty much for free and I know they won't last forever.  So I am planning on buying in bulk for various tungsten electrodes.  I have read here that some people and businesses use nothing but 2% thoriated tungstens for three reasons I imagine, buying in bulk is cheaper, it is simple to keep track of what tungsten goes for who and what, and consistency.I was reading about a tungsten called 'arctime', they guarantee superiority or your money back, sounds pretty promising to me, but they don't really say how or why.I don't spend all of my days researching things on the internet, but I always have questions that I feel often go unasked simply because of some version of fear (looking stupid, breaking something, et cetera).Miller 330 a/bp water cooledI believe in gun control, I hold my gun with two hands.  If you want to know why, click here.Buy American or bye America.
Reply:Everything you ever wanted to know about tungsten (and a lot you probably didn't!) That link covers pretty much everything although it's more relevant to automated/orbital TIG where differences in tungsten/tungsten prep are more important than for manual welding. If you find yourself regrinding tungsten because you've contaminated it (rather than because the tip has gradually eroded through normal use) then it's very unlikely you'll notice any difference whatsoever
Reply:Originally Posted by dsergison-great that the world has people like you to "internet research" the hell out of things. I have three different types of electrode.  if you stuck any one of them in my torch without me looking, I wouldn't know the difference.maybe you need to spend a few days behinds the hood.  the practice would doubtless better serve you than some drivel from the internet about special tungstens.you could even buy one of each and give us a big report.-the apathertic remark touched a nerve.
Reply:I use 2% Thoriated (red stripe) for steel, and pure (green stripe) for aluminum.  Haven't tried any of the others.Work HARDER, not smarter! ------------------------ Miller Bobcat 250Millermatic 251Lincoln Precision TIG 185Hypertherm PM 600Hobart 135 HandlerOxweld 400 FlameMaster