- Thread starter J_K
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shenion
Tool Pack Rat
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- 7,586
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- Stone Mountain, GA USA
Thoriated will work on a transformer TIG on AC. That is what I am using now. They can handle a bit more heat than pure tungsten. Have seen several posts where people recommend them.
In inverter machines, supposedly they tend to crack.
I think Lanthiated are good for AC/DC.
Yeah lanthanated work well with AC and DC. The problem with thoriated is that they don't ball well, while the other flavours tend to melt smoothly and either ball up (pure) or round off neatly thoriated tend to form multiple facets or other irregular shapes (erratic arc) and are more prone to splitting. Some get on with 'em but they are best avoided for AC imo regardless of machine. Not an issue for most here but they are more likely to spit little bits of themselves into the weld too. Don't really see pure tungsten in the UK but it's one to avoid with inverter machines
Experimentation is always the best way. Most of the published charts disagree some, especially for AC as balance settings and even tungsten flavour alter things but with the exception of pure tungsten most sources state around to a bit over 200A AC as the upper limit for 2.4mm. Doubt i've needed to go bigger than a 2.4 more than a handfull of times in the last 10 years
3.2 tungstens are generally at least twice the price of 2.4 so while learning and constantly dipping/contaminating 'em...
Experimentation is always the best way. Most of the published charts disagree some, especially for AC as balance settings and even tungsten flavour alter things but with the exception of pure tungsten most sources state around to a bit over 200A AC as the upper limit for 2.4mm. Doubt i've needed to go bigger than a 2.4 more than a handfull of times in the last 10 years
3.2 tungstens are generally at least twice the price of 2.4 so while learning and constantly dipping/contaminating 'em...
