WTF? How does this happen?

admin

Went to grind up some 3/32 tungsten. I usually just snap them off in 3 pieces with a vice and pliers then grind both ends.Then this happens.I have never bent a piece of tungsten before. Not cold anyway. I ended up scoring them first then snapping them. Maybe the factory messed up and gave me tool steel or something. If you cant fix it with a hammer, it must be an electrical problem."Boy, everyone starts with a full bag of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the bag of experience before the bag of luck is empty."-Grandad circa 1990ish
Reply:Mmmm.  Never used Ceriated but I take it they're supposed to snap off just like Pure and Thoriated.Made from spent Chernobyl fuel rods? MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55Mmmm.  Never used Ceriated but I take it they're supposed to snap off just like Pure and Thoriated.Made from spent Chernobyl fuel rods?
Reply:Why do you break them down? Short end cap?
Reply:Originally Posted by TSCGG13Why do you break them down? Short end cap?
Reply:probably really crappy tungstens lolWelding/Fab Pics: www.UtahWeld.com
Reply:Maybe the manufacturer has been reading zapster's thread on bending tungsten? Bendable tungsten is the latest metallurgical break through. Must be old packaging because it doesn't say anything about being bendable.
Reply:Originally Posted by forhireMaybe the manufacturer has been reading zapster's thread on bending tungsten? Bendable tungsten is the latest metallurgical break through. Must be old packaging because it doesn't say anything about being bendable.
Reply:Probably not much tungsten in those crappy electrodes...Buy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterI only bend the tip..Not the whole thing!!...zap!
Reply:Might come in handy some day anyhow.
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterI only bend the tip..Not the whole thing!!...zap!
Reply:Originally Posted by WeldingMachineProbably not much tungsten in those crappy electrodes...
Reply:Originally Posted by MikeGyverlol they're probably just 3/32 stainless filler
Reply:I can't believe no one has commented about the fact that he snaps his tungsten off in a vice. It's way better if you cut them off using a cutoff wheel or something. Breaking them can cause hairline cracks to run up the tungsten and mess things up pretty good when you try to weld with it. Of course that's with a traditional tungsten. Since you appear to be running the 2% flubber tungsten's you may not have the same issue.Lincoln precision TIG 275Millermatic 140 MIG
Reply:Originally Posted by yoshimitsuspeed  2% flubber tungsten's
Reply:Ceriated, and lanthanated are more "bendy" than thoriated or pure. They're just not as brittle.  I've seen a good many only want to bend, so you just have to use an abrasive to cut them in half.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:wow, if you could bend it into a U you might have something pretty cool going on there  that's pretty wild...I wonder, with a little heat, and a supporting bender made for it... hmmm, a U just might be possible miller 330a bp TIGmiller dynasty 200DX TIGmillermatic 185 MIGthermal dynamics cutmaster 101 plasma cuttersnap-on YA5550 plasma cutterhypertherm powermax 30 plasma cutterbaileigh CS225 cold sawetc....
Reply:Make it into a ring.
Reply:Originally Posted by yoshimitsuspeedI can't believe no one has commented about the fact that he snaps his tungsten off in a vice. It's way better if you cut them off using a cutoff wheel or something. Breaking them can cause hairline cracks to run up the tungsten and mess things up pretty good when you try to weld with it.
Reply:Originally Posted by VPTMake it into a ring.