Tungston question?

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With so many different style of tungstons on the market, is there a good general purpose tungston that will work well on steel and stainless as well as aluminum? One that will work equally as well on DC straight pol. as on AC? I dont really want to have to buy a bunch of different grades of tungston. I mainly work on steel, rarely stainless and a little aluminum.
Reply:What sort of machine do you have? We used ceriated (orange) or Lanthanated (gold) for all our work steel and alum at the school. From what I understand these are the prefered tungstons for inverters but seem to work ok in my transformer machine for all that I have needed to do so far. I don't do critcal welds however.
Reply:I have been using a Miller inverter style at school. I have a dry rig set up to go with my Lincoln 10000 portable and I have a new inverter style stick/tig/plasma ac/dc combo that will be here on thursday. I have been using the orange at school and we also have the green pure tungston for aluminum. I was told by an old instructor that they used to use the orange only for everything at one time.
Reply:I pretty much use red 2% Thoriated for everything I do.  Infact I think it's all I have.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:You guys are killing me....Tungsten not Tungston check out the links below...they will answer most any questions about what type of W should be used.great info here: (pdf doc) http://www.diamondground.com/Guidebook0105.pdfhow to prep W here: (pdf doc.)http://www.diamondground.com/HowtoPrepareElectrodes.pdfanother resource: (web page)http://www.welding-direct.com/tunel.html-Graham-Mechanical EngineerAutosport Mechanic/Fabricator
Reply:i agree with hammack, i use 2% thoriated for everything
Reply:Originally Posted by grahamtheengineerYou guys are killing me....Tungsten not Tungston
Reply:Another using 2% thoriated across the block.
Reply:I just run the red stuff too. Sometimes it cracks, if it does, I cut it and resharpen it, and go back to dipping it into my welds!!!!And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:2% thoriated for steel and stainless steel.Pure tungsten for aluminum. THATS IT - or read the box if you do not believe me.
Reply:Originally Posted by RojodiabloI just run the red stuff too. Sometimes it cracks, if it does, I cut it and resharpen it, and go back to dipping it into my welds!!!!
Reply:Originally Posted by Donald Branscom2% thoriated for steel and stainless steel.Pure tungsten for aluminum. THATS IT - or read the box if you do not believe me.
Reply:I tried em all.  It doesn't matter what type I use.  They all seem to be the same except pure which I don't use at all any more.  I bought some from harbor freight.... JUNK.I have red, orange and gold.  It doesn't matter how much I pay for them either because I dip em all too. DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:What box and where???I use Red end for everything..Allways have allways will...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:I settled on Lanthanated (gold) use it for everything.Me!
Reply:Bhardy, if you are running a transformer machine, you can get ayway with red on AC alot of times. The only time you really need the pure tung. is when you start running hotter. I usually get a box of red, then get 1or2 of the green. Its worth it to me. But keep them seperate in case you grind off the paint you can still know which is which. Or if you cut them in half or whatever.