Tungsten question...

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I'm just starting some projects with my new to me Syncrowave 250 and set myself up with pure tungstens like we were using in school. Just playing around with the machine on some 3/16" scrap, I notice that the 1/8" tungsten balls up very easy at 150A, too easy actually, and develops a large ball on the end making it really hard to focus the arc.   Most of the aluminum work we did at school was on 1/8" and thinner material so I didn't have to run quite this high on the amps.  My question, would ceriated be a better choice for thicker aluminum? Or is there a different setup I should be using?
Reply:Ceriated will work fine.  Lanthanated would take a few more amps than Ceriated and thus might be a better choice if you need to run the amps up past say 200. With either one I'll grind a dull point on the tungsten and just the tip will ball slightly using a Syncrowave..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Thanks DSW, I'll pick some up.
Reply:I recently started using E3 (purple) tungsten with my Synchrowave with good results for both aluminum and steel. Have not tried it on stainless steel yet.
Reply:Picked up some 1/8" lanthanated today, it worked much better! I ground a dull point but it didn't last, as soon as I punched up to about 160A, it started to ball up. I was concerned it was going to keep balling, but it settled in just barely over the diameter of the tungsten. Thanks again DSW.
Reply:if you turn adjust the balance knob to less cleaning it will not ball up as bad but leave it set to where you have enough cleaning on alum on ac +1 to what dsw suggestedMiller Xmt 350Lincoln Ln-25Ahp 200xSmith Gas Mixer AR/HTig is my Kung FuThrowing down dimes and weaving aboutInstagram http://instagram.com/[email protected]
Reply:Thanks Wookie, I'll play with the balance in the morning.
Reply:Ok, Wookie wins this one! Those lanthanated tungstens didn't ball up, but they absolutely cannot handle ANY impurities. I was working with aluminum that had been powder coated. I took a lot of care to clean it off, but you would have thought I was trying to run a bead in topsoil! I thought my balance was about middle of the road but I pushed it back a little further and it worked fine with the pure tungsten. Thanks for the help guys, I learned something today.
Reply:Learn some more. Pretty much standard for AC welding with a syncro type machine.. Brown stripe zirconiated tungsten. I used 4 percent Thoriated with great success too. Good luck finding any. As far as Purple tungsten's. You could not give me any for free.  Try the real ones from Diamond Ground (TriMix from Germany) Not the crude China rip off stuff. (Radnor etc,,) Diamond Ground will send you some free samples, and then you will see for yourself what works best.Esab/Lorch ET-220iEsab 160i caddyThermal LM-200 Lincoln feedersThermal Pee-Wee 85sThermal 60i- 3phase /RPC powered (Beast)Thermal Drag-gun 35CINE 1500 Klutch 140i
Reply:Thanks X, I just submitted a request for some 1/8" tri-mix.
Reply:Originally Posted by AKmudThanks X, I just submitted a request for some 1/8" tri-mix.
Reply:The brown wasn't that great on a newer transformer. The purple aren't bad. I can't get blue from my supplier, but the gold 1.5% lanthanated hold a point fairly well. The green can still give the cleanest weld, but sometimes I need a bit of accuracy.Less balance for sure, I can get over 240 amps AC with 3/32" Gold, but it balls up to a half domeLast edited by Brazin; 05-18-2013 at 01:41 PM.SqWave 200Millermatic 190Airco 200 ACHypertherm PM45Boice-Crane Band SawVictor O/A
Reply:Originally Posted by BrazinThe brown wasn't that great on a newer transformer. The purple aren't bad. I can't get blue from my supplier, but the gold 1.5% lanthanated hold a point fairly well. The green can still give the cleanest weld, but sometimes I need a bit of accuracy.Less balance for sure, I can get over 240 amps AC with 3/32" Gold, but it balls up to a half dome