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I am running 3/32" 2% thoriated tungsten and am welding with a sqaure wave 175 on dc- welding mild steel (building headers). My tungsten acts as though Im running on ac, the tip wants to round off. Its not a constant thing but 6 out of 10 times it will do this. I dont think this is normal! Any suggestions?
Reply:Originally Posted by 19662I am running 3/32" 2% thoriated tungsten......
Reply:[QUOTEIs the ID of the tubing clean? Mandrel benders use very nasty lube that can take a bit of work to remove.[/QUOTE]Thats a great point. There is this spray foam lookin crap in side the tubes and until now I didnt pick up on that. The prob only started when I was welding the tube to the flange where i would meet the cyl. head.  Plus thoriated is all I have other than pure. But I'll b pickin some up Lanthanated or Ceriated up soon thanks!!!
Reply:Thoriated is perfect for what you are trying to do, I'm positive you wont see any difference switching to lanth or ceriated in this application.The problem you are having is because when you contaminate the tungsten is gets covered in molten steel.  If you are not careful to make sure you grind all of it off, the tungsten will seem to ball or distort while welding.  So when you dunk it really bad either make sure that you grind enough off to get rid of all the contamination, or break off the bad part and start over.This also explains why it does not happen all the time, if it was a constant problem then it MIGHT be caused by your machine or tungsten selection, but its not because you are using 2% thoriated.Last edited by sn0border88; 08-05-2009 at 08:38 PM.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:[QUOTE=rode2rouen;306146]Why? Lanthanated or Ceriated are much nicer to work with.I have never had a problem with thoriated tungsten for welding mild steel. snOboarder88 nailed it.Last edited by papabear; 08-05-2009 at 10:34 PM."SOUTHPAW" A wise person learns from another persons mistakes;A smart person learns from their own mistakes;But, a stupid person.............never learns.
Reply:I read that thoriated is radioactive, and not really good to breathe while grinding points; maybe pass that on. Who knew?
Reply:Originally Posted by papabearI have never had a problem with thoriated tungsten for welding mild steel.
Reply:semi sarcastic or sarcastic. Geuss I'll pay attention to who replys to my threads b4 I reply back. Thanks to all for helpin with suggestions. Over and out