tungsten dangers

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What are the dangers of the different kinds of tungsten?
Reply:This has been discussed before.  Do a search for existing threads on thoriated tungsten.  That is really the only one with safety issues, and it is open to debate.  It would probably take years of heavy exposure to really be in danger, but people are now tending to error on the conservative side.  It is considered safe as long as you don't ingest a lot of the grinding dust.  We use special HEPA filters on our grinders to capture the mildly radioactive dust.  Just Google thoriated tungsten safety and you will probably find ample reports with the “safe” exposure limits according to OSHA.Last edited by obewan; 07-29-2009 at 03:39 PM.
Reply:i would be more worried about having an x-ray but i dont go eating the dust
Reply:Check it! In the Safety forum.....http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=13220http://all-a-cart.comWelding Cart Kits and accessories
Reply:Im more concerned about them being pointy and hot than radioactive.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:The thing is there are tungs available that are just as good and maybe better so there is no need to use the thoriated unless you have a huge supply you need to get rid of. The problem is there a lot of manufacturing concerns that use tig welders in making parts and the operators are not welders. They are not aware of the concerns about using the thoriated tungsten and the places where the tungs are ground are in open areas and have no vacuum system. The companies are either ignorant of the safety concerns or don't care.Who knows what will happen when they carry the dust home on their work boots and little children are crawling around on the floor - I sure don't.
Reply:if you use them you make $$$ if you dont you look for diff. line of work
Reply:Oh JeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzThis AGAIN??...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:For every article that minimizes the dangers of the thorium there is an article that cautions against their use, or at least list special precautions when using them. I read there is at least one Scandinavian country that has banned there use altogether. There are better tungs out there you can use in place of the thoriated, so why use them ?? I would like to ask this question of some of the older welders. Fifteen or twenty years ago when you were tig welding, did you know they were radioactive ??
Reply:so what is scandinavian doing importingstuff from china where they use them as chop sticks
Reply:Originally Posted by sn0border88Im more concerned about them being pointy and hot than radioactive.
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterOh JeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzThis AGAIN??...zap!
Reply:They sell them to people who have no clue how to use one.  Most dangerous aspect in my book!
Reply:It's probably just like the study that was done on Sweet N Low.  If you eat 50 boxes of it for 50 years it MAY cause cancer.  Too much of anything is bad.  Don't go out of your way to inhale the dust, just like anything else you'd grind.