I haven't used that particular brand and type, either, I use ceriated. More to point is, why are we still using thoriated?
Why not? Unless you're breathing the dust in while grinding the risk is minimal...
There are a few thoriated flavours not accounted for, 1%, 3% and the UK used 4%.
2% was a worldwide standard agreed on ages ago, it works well, for DC, so why change...
4% is/was used in the UK to allow better/improve arc starting and maintaining an arc on the low current end of a range for a given electrode size.
If you are interested in an alternative to 2% Thoriated tungsten for any reason, call us at 1-805-498-3837 for a FREE sample of TriMix™ tungsten. This blend of rare earth tungsten has been shown to outperform 2% Thoriated tungsten in many applications. We’ve offered it for over 15 years and will gladly put it up against E3™ Tungsten, Multi-Strike™ tungsten, or any other tungsten on the market.
"which can only be a plus point from a welder wellbeing point of view."
Thoriated tungsten has been in the news a lot lately. You’ve probably seen our ads in a number of publications such as Welding Journal and The Fabricator making it clear that 2% Thoriated tungsten is not going anywhere and is readily available from Diamond Ground Products. Anybody telling you anything different is not telling the truth. Plain & simple. Diamond Ground Products has been “The Tungsten Electrode Experts” since 1992 and we didn’t get there by telling stories
If you read the link, they're not discontinued:
I didn't state they were discontinued, Om.
I lost interest in that vid when a geiger counter appeared... gets right on my pecs that everyone keeps banging on about that instead of simpling stating that thoriated tungsten dust is carcinogenic.
That said i've used HFT multistrike tungsten for years now*. Not because of theradiationcarcinogenic stuff but because they outperform 2% thoriated (at least cheapnese thoriated which is all most places stock) and work great on AC too... they'll stay sharper than just about any other flavour or round off as well as zirconiated depending on preferences/machine settings.
Compared to thoriated they strike better at stupidly low amperages, restrike better and last longer between touch ups which is more noticable with pulsed TIG
* stumbled over them by accident after getting some zirconiated from my usual place which kept splitting. HFT multistrike was the only other brand choice from them so i tried 'em and never went back
Apologies, I thought your post was referring to thoriated tungstens discontinuation being a good thing for welders?
Did you mean keeping thoriated was a good thing to stop difficulty adjusting to a new product?
Edit: Or something else?
It could, but, would every TIG welder everywhere chuck the old out, and use new at the same time?
A lot of old processes were defined/certified with specific electrodes, everything would have to be redefined/certified for the new, could prove quite demanding?
Considering a lot of countries have their own regs, and what gets made in one country might not be agreed in another?
Replace with another brand when last electrode leaves the pack.
While proper tungsten spec is required if doing high spec coded work is important, I'm sure equivalent tungsten type would not have a huge impact on weld quality, as you will know, the skill and art is in the hands of the competent welder at the business end.
You make a valid point, though!