AC Tungsten - Experience and Multimix?

[Germanmachinist]

Hi Folks,

something for the Tungsten Nerds here.

What do you think about the E3 (Purple up to 3% Oxides, should be the same as CK LayZr) and Multimix (Grey-pink up to 4% oxides)?

On DC i never did notice much, the E3 and Multimix seem to start a little bit crisper and last a little longer.

But as we all know, AC shows the tungsten properties.

I like to run 2.4mm to 190 Amps, at 100Hz and 32% EP Balance. Sharp ground with a little blunt and with a very small Ball which can Build itself while Welding.

I tried the E3 in AC and it works good, the Multimix even better without getting cooked.

Before that i allways used the blue, 2% Lathanoxide. The work really Good up to 190 Amps, can hold their shape Good.

The Gold 1.5% Lathanoxide i allways hate on AC because the tend to form to a tip that looks like cauliflower.. But i don’t even like these on DC, they did Not last Long.


How are your experiences with tungsten on AC and DC, especially these new Multimix and E3 Stuff?

greetings,
Chris

 

[Munkul]

I've used thoriated, 1.5% and 2% lanthanated, E3, and also ceriated briefly.

Thoriated is definitely the "best" DC electrode in terms of staying sharp, but 2% lathanated and E3 are so close in performance that it makes no real world difference.

Like you say, 2% works better on AC than 1.5%.

I use 2% lanthanated almost exclusively now, just to make life simple it works equally well on DC and AC, rounds off well.

I've been using an E3 electrode alongside the 2%lanth over the last couple of months. I can't really tell the difference. It might be better on AC but I haven't spent enough time on AC to really tell them apart.

Bottom line - I'm happy with 2% lanthanated.

 

[John Hale]

I'm not the most experienced, but have settled on Huntingdon Fusion Multistrike electrodes and 1.6mm does me on most jobs up to 110-120 amps 2.4mm for anything else

 

[northwest]

I'm not the most experienced, but have settled on Huntingdon Fusion Multistrike electrodes and 1.6mm does me on most jobs up to 110-120 amps 2.4mm for anything else

No disrespect to yourself John, but these electrodes seem to be vapourware. Every time I try to buy some - No Stock, we don't sell them etc.etc. I have just settled on 2% lanthanated from Starparts and they are in plentiful supply nearly everywhere so I buy them. Frankly my welding isn't good enough to know the difference.

 

[Ruffian]

2.4mm pink multimix.
Everything from silly low amps playing welding razor blades together right up to 200amps ac.

 

[morssdn]

I’ve got my HFT tungstens in the past from https://www.weld-tec.co.uk in Glasgow

 

[Shox Dr]

No disrespect to yourself John, but these electrodes seem to be vapourware. Every time I try to buy some - No Stock, we don't sell them etc.etc. I have just settled on 2% lanthanated from Starparts and they are in plentiful supply nearly everywhere so I buy them. Frankly my welding isn't good enough to know the difference.

1.6mm come up on eBay regularly enough @15quid. The 2.4s are a lot more

 

[jonclancy]

I picked up my 1.6mm Multistrikes on eBay. Seem to work well, but I’ll get some 2% Lathanated. Would like to compare the two - though my welding is not up to much!

 

[Radar 3]

I am a bit of the old school. 2% Thoriated (Red Tip) and Lanthanated for Al.orks better than all these new fanged Muli Stikes.

 

[Germanmachinist]

I made some pretty heavy Aluminium Tig today... the E3 was so different in results, some of them just cracked

i will sell all of the tungstens in Gold and Purple i have, will Stick with blue

 

[Mullet52]

CK Layzr are real nice

 

[Germanmachinist]

They seem to be the same Compositing like Binzel e3, maybe better quality?

i will send the bad ones to Binzel, See what they say. The Good Ines are Good But Not better then 2% lanthanated and way more expensive