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Tungsten Sharpening

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Al Napier, May 27, 2008.

  1. Al Napier
    Joined: Feb 6, 2007
    Posts: 400

    Al Napier
    Member
    from Central CT

  2. punkabilly1306
    Joined: Aug 22, 2005
    Posts: 2,655

    punkabilly1306
    Member
    from ohio

    i've only ever used a bench grinder when grinding my tungsten...i wonder how that would work???
     
  3. I have a wheel dedicated to Tungsten,on my small bench grinder.
     
  4. Rootie Kazoootie
    Joined: Nov 27, 2006
    Posts: 8,134

    Rootie Kazoootie
    Member
    from Colorado

    If a weldor can't sharpen his tungsten on a grinder stone, he has no business owning a welder!
     

  5. Lucky77
    Joined: Mar 27, 2006
    Posts: 2,495

    Lucky77
    Member

    We used a grinding stone in school. The teacher had us just touch the tip of the sharpened tungsten to the wheel when we were finished grinding. A super sharp, needle point has the chance of breaking off and contaminating the weld versus a SLIGHTLY blunted one.
     
  6. Littleman
    Joined: Aug 25, 2004
    Posts: 2,617

    Littleman
    Alliance Member
    from OHIO, USA

    This is what I do as well......and I hold my Tungsten in a small hand held pin vise/ tiny drill holder...that stuff gets hot to hold and it gives me great control and nice point everytime.....Littleman
     
  7. I've used one and loved everything about it but the price, and thus, I don't actually own one.
     
  8. fordcpe
    Joined: Nov 4, 2005
    Posts: 646

    fordcpe
    Member

    Had a friend that was having problems with his welder changed his tank he thought he had bad gas hahaha. Cleaned everything ground a new tungsten still the same . He called me and I tolled him to grind it on its own new wheel still the same. So I go over with my grinder use it and welder works great his idea of its own grinding wheel is the one he is grinding everything with plastic aluminium and rusty metal witch just grinds it into the tungsten. Darrell
     
  9. Retrorod
    Joined: Jan 25, 2006
    Posts: 2,034

    Retrorod
    Member

    I have a dedicated wheel on my small bench grinder with a BIG SIGN above it that says "TUNGSTEN ONLY"......................just in case my neighbor drops by.
     
  10. JohnEvans
    Joined: Apr 13, 2008
    Posts: 4,883

    JohnEvans
    Member
    from Phoenix AZ

    Yep use my bench grinder ,got one with a fine stone I use for sharping lathe tools.
     

  11. Who are the "Gentle folks of the HAMB"? Must be another HAMB board out there somewhere!:D:D:D


    What does that fancy contraption go for anyway? I didn't see a price on the link to it. Just curious, it looks like it could be a part on the space shuttle.
     
  12. Robert gilbert
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 927

    Robert gilbert
    Member
    from boston

    this is the deal A+
     
  13. HOTTRODZZ
    Joined: Aug 21, 2006
    Posts: 335

    HOTTRODZZ
    Member

    Electric drill - Belt sander & vacume.

    120G 3M BELT 707E OR 777F
     
  14. saltflatmatt
    Joined: Aug 12, 2001
    Posts: 634

    saltflatmatt
    Alliance Vendor

    That little tool will cost ya about $250- Toll welding has one on display it is cool as hell but for that kind of money I can but lots of stone wheels and have money left over for more tungstens@
     
  15. pool
    Joined: Jun 24, 2005
    Posts: 318

    pool
    Member

    My boss bought one, it's handy and saves a dedicated wheel. I found myself bringing in my tungstens from home to do on breaks.
     
  16. Bilko-1949
    Joined: Feb 24, 2007
    Posts: 124

    Bilko-1949
    Member
    1. GMB

    Everyone use to just use the bench grinder at work to sharpen their tungsten! But now for the last couple of years they have been using the tool that Al has posted. I know we have more tig welders at work then I can count and it was work that purchased the tool but everyone that uses them likes them. And haven't had any problems with them. But if you have that cash go for it. :)
     
  17. As a clueless bumbling TIG rookie, tell me if you can tell the difference, between the two: When grinding your tungsten, the welding books I'm reading say to grind it lengthways to the point instead of turning (spinning it in the drill) it when you grind it.....it's much easier to do it the latter way but since I'm such a shitty TIG welder I can't tell the difference in my welds. I waste a lot of tungsten trying to grind it the first way that the books describe.
     
  18. jj mack
    Joined: Mar 22, 2007
    Posts: 735

    jj mack
    Member

    To avoid getting contamination in the tungsten is what I was taught.
     
  19. Rossco
    Joined: Apr 21, 2008
    Posts: 289

    Rossco
    Member
    from SinCal

  20. My $.02 - I have sharpened tungstens on a dedicated stone wheel the whole time I've been welding and never had a problem. That said, I teach a Fab class at Sierra Comm. College and they bought a Tungsten grinder similar to this one except larger and when ever I use it I have less problem with arc wander and the arc starting seems much cleaner with Transformer TIG Machines. Do my welds benefit, I can't say that they look any better. Now, when I use the inverter powered TIG machines (Miller Dynasty Series) I see a big difference in the arc characteristics, these machines run much better with a precision ground tungsten. It really seems like night and day there, easier starting, much less arc wander, and the arc is much crisper. So if I ever buy a Inverter TIG then I will add a Tungsten sharpener to my tool box, until then it's the grinding wheel for me.
     
  21. Wouldn't it get equally contaminated either way (if you had a contaminated grinding stone or sanding belt)? I thought the grinding or sanding scratches screwed up the pattern of the arc if it was turned when sharpening it?
     
  22. Del Swanson
    Joined: Mar 27, 2008
    Posts: 708

    Del Swanson
    Member
    from Racine, WI

    I've done a lot of T.I.G. welding. The best way I've found to sharpen my tungsten is with it chucked into a drill motor( at low speed ) and sharpening them on both sides to a fine point. It's important to sharpen them on a dedicated wheel or sander to not contaminate the tungsten. I usually cut new tungstens in half and sharpen a bunch on both sides. This way I can flip the tungsten when one side gets crudded up. The finer the point the more control you have and the less time you need in one area. The less time and heat, the less warpage. I know alot of this is common knowledge, but thta's what works for me.
     
  23. VonMoldy
    Joined: May 23, 2005
    Posts: 1,562

    VonMoldy
    Member
    from UTARRGH!

    you punks and your fancy TIG!
     
  24. Bort62
    Joined: Jan 11, 2007
    Posts: 594

    Bort62
    BANNED

    I Just use a dedicated grinding wheel.
     
  25. leon renaud
    Joined: Nov 12, 2005
    Posts: 1,937

    leon renaud
    Member
    from N.E. Ct.

    ask your welding supplier about the tungsten sharpening gel.Actually it looks like a jar of tip dip you would use on your mig weld cups.Strike an arc get your tungsten red hot and dip it in the gel and remove it quickly it gives you a sharp tungsten without any grinding !We just got some in my shop so it is new to me but I have used it out on the road and it seems to work pretty good I was welding SS with a miller 110 pocket tig.
     
  26. Goob333
    Joined: Dec 3, 2006
    Posts: 86

    Goob333
    Member

    I was told that you have to grind the tip lenghtways with the wheel because if you do it the other way, perpendicular, or w/e you want to call it, it messes with they way the arc comes off the tungsten. I also have a welding book that tells you everything and more than you want to know about welding and it says to grind them lengthways and with a grinding stone, basically a bench grinder.
     
  27. Del Swanson
    Joined: Mar 27, 2008
    Posts: 708

    Del Swanson
    Member
    from Racine, WI

    Sorry, I forgot to say that the grind marks have to be in the same direction as the length of the tungsten. Point the tungsten up while the wheel is spinning down. If you grind it 90 degrees to that, the path of the arc will go all over the place.
     
  28. Al Napier
    Joined: Feb 6, 2007
    Posts: 400

    Al Napier
    Member
    from Central CT

    This deal started because I needed a couple new grinding wheels and after going to every Home Depot, Lowe's, Sears, etc within 5 towns of me over the weekend I couldn't find a fine grit 8 inch grinding wheel so I went Googling for Tungsten Grinders last night and ran across that tool.

    I thought that if I bought one I could put a wire wheel on the other (left) side of my bench grinder instead of keeping it dedicated to Tungstens.

    It looks like those who have used one seem to like it. I think maybe I'll go ahead and spring for one......

    Al in CT
     
  29. Robert gilbert
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 927

    Robert gilbert
    Member
    from boston

    Its not that fancy this is people taking somthing why to fare, sorry but come on . This is for somthing that is really importen if somthing is X rayed after you weld it, Nuke tank for a reactor or medical , not the rocker panel on you rod . just sharpen it with a blunt end so it dont melt or break off in your into your weld thats worse .alummum its importin it can cause a problem if you dont use a dedicated wheel. I weld for a living and every place ive ever worked with all the welders ive work with never did any off this shit . most is true for hardcore welding .HIgh pressure tanks stuff like that
     
  30. Deuce Daddy Don
    Joined: Apr 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,544

    Deuce Daddy Don
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Use a bench grinder with fine grit wheel, sharpen to fine point (not needle point)
     

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