M Monty_jon Member Messages 40 Jul 18, 2023 #1 Someone gave me a load of 6.4mm rods which I thought were stainless steel, but someone has told me they look like tig electrodes. How can I tell the difference between stainless and tungsten? I only do mig welding, so I don't know what they look like!
Someone gave me a load of 6.4mm rods which I thought were stainless steel, but someone has told me they look like tig electrodes. How can I tell the difference between stainless and tungsten? I only do mig welding, so I don't know what they look like!
H hotponyshoes Member Messages 6,421 Location Somerset. Uk Jul 18, 2023 #2 Tig electrodes normally have a coloured band painted around one end. Hit one with a hammer. If it's stainless it will dent, tungstan will shatter. Or weigh & measure them.
Tig electrodes normally have a coloured band painted around one end. Hit one with a hammer. If it's stainless it will dent, tungstan will shatter. Or weigh & measure them.
T tigdlo Member Messages 870 Location UK Jul 18, 2023 #3 Being over twice as dense, tungsten would be noticeably heavier for a similar sized piece of any stainless steel/steel
Being over twice as dense, tungsten would be noticeably heavier for a similar sized piece of any stainless steel/steel
M Monty_jon Member Messages 40 Jul 18, 2023 #4 I've just tried bending one, and it bent quite easily. So I'm guessing it's stainless?
H hotponyshoes Member Messages 6,421 Location Somerset. Uk Jul 18, 2023 #5 If it bends without snapping then it's not a tig electrode
M Monty_jon Member Messages 40 Jul 18, 2023 #6 Thank you Tigdlo If I have done my math correctly, 215mm long so it should weigh 134g (tungsten), it weighs 55.6g so it's Stainless
Thank you Tigdlo If I have done my math correctly, 215mm long so it should weigh 134g (tungsten), it weighs 55.6g so it's Stainless
Shox Dr Chief Engineer to Carlos Fandango Messages 17,986 Location East Yorkshire Jul 18, 2023 #7 Biggest give away is they are only 150mm long
H hotponyshoes Member Messages 6,421 Location Somerset. Uk Jul 18, 2023 #8 Shox Dr said: Biggest give away is they are only 150mm long Click to expand... 6.4mm tungstens are normally 250mm
Shox Dr said: Biggest give away is they are only 150mm long Click to expand... 6.4mm tungstens are normally 250mm
Shox Dr Chief Engineer to Carlos Fandango Messages 17,986 Location East Yorkshire Jul 18, 2023 #9 hotponyshoes said: 6.4mm tungstens are normally 250mm Click to expand... Every day is a learning day.
hotponyshoes said: 6.4mm tungstens are normally 250mm Click to expand... Every day is a learning day.
H hotponyshoes Member Messages 6,421 Location Somerset. Uk Jul 18, 2023 #10 Shox Dr said: Every day is a learning day. Click to expand... I'm a bad teacher. Just had a look at some packets and the 6.4 ones are available in both 150mm and 250mm. The 250mm have "extended ceramic" written on the box so 150mm might well be the normal size
Shox Dr said: Every day is a learning day. Click to expand... I'm a bad teacher. Just had a look at some packets and the 6.4 ones are available in both 150mm and 250mm. The 250mm have "extended ceramic" written on the box so 150mm might well be the normal size