I've always used 2% thoriated tungsten for my TIG torch, generally 3/32". A very good buddy, who is a real professional welder (who makes the big bucks welding suspended from a bosun's chair over freeways) told me many guys have switched to lanthanated tungsten because they are better and not radioactive. He says it's a more stable arc. Anybody familiar with these? Thinking I'm gonna get some and a Jazzy cup.
I have never heard of lanthanated tungsten, but I am more confused with the Nik-L-Nip in your avatar. What the heck is Nik-L-Nip?
Only the coolest candy from my generation! It’s wax coke bottles that have the flavored syrup/ water in them.
Nik-L-Nip was sold for a nickel when I was a kid, the four wax bottles contained sickeningly sweet flavored water. Some chewed the wax after consuming the drinks You know you’re old when you remember paying 5 cents for a Hershey bar, what are they now two bucks, or maybe more?
I use lanthanated on everything AC and DC alike. I don’t have a water cooled torch and it doesn’t split on the end like the thoriated did after welding pretty hot for a while. I have a Miller 180 SD.
I like and still use 2% thoriated. Usually 3/32. The thing I like about them instead of the lanthanated is they break off clean for a regrind and the lanthanated will split and break uneven. They both work well however. Never have worried about the radioactive part.
I use both, however the new machine, an inverter Lincoln, doesn’t work with thoriated or pure tungstens. They recommend using the rare earth tungstens.
Nah, it’s not that. I’m colorblind so I’d make a mess with that for a system. I actually read the manual! I know, I’m in violation of the man code. Besides both of my machines are Lincoln, Square Wave 175 for the older model with the copper wound HEAVY transformer, Square Wave 205 for the newer model with inverter technology. That was the first I knew about which tungstens to use for either machine. I’m getting used to it now and I’m slowly getting to where I’m not making dime, dime nickel, quarter, dime, nickel beads. I’m getting down to dime, dime, nickel, dime etc, welds. When I get to dime, dime, penny, dime, dime etc, then I’ll get back to fabricating stuff for the whatever project… That should be good enough
I've never welded dimes or quarters but have welded a lot of mild steel, stainless steel and aluminum. I won't be impressed until someone claims to weld dollar bills.
I`m curious on wtf he would be welding with tig on bridge work... I`ve tried lanthanated stuff, don`t like it, I prefer the thoriated.
That's what I meant to say Marty, I haven't been to a fair since the Tillamook Pig-N-Ford races years ago.
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