tungsten's

[Richard Stowe]

what's the best tungsten's for welding 5mm stainless rod without filler rod i've got good result's with grey's but i'm wondering if any others would be better?

 

[Munkul]

It's... a tungsten As long as it stays sharp and you don't put too much amperage through it for it's size, it doesn't really matter, it's not going to affect the weld quality in the slightest.

Having said that, I've always used thoriated on DC, and over the last few years switched to lanthanated for AC and DC. It keeps a point well on DC, and rounds off nicely on AC.

2.4mm does everything I ever need/want, 10-300 amps on whatever machine, so one pack of 2% lanthanated is all I ever need to keep!

 

[Richard Stowe]

Ok Thanks mate just wasn't sure if it made much difference

 

[Shox Dr]

Whatever you use, it would be far better with the addition of rod. You are burning a lot of properties out, adding rod puts them back in. Most important for something like Stainless

 

[Richard Stowe]

I'll have to try some small filler just to bulk it up a little, It's a bit of a pig with lift TIG maybe hf start?

 

[Munkul]

Autogenous stainless is fine, but don't expect it to work structurally!

You want some filler on that.

Yes lift tig is a pain on tiny little things like that especially, but it can be done

 

[Richard Stowe]

that one in the pick was the first stainless i've ever done, i laid it on a pallet and dropped a 7'5lb hammer head on it twice from about 3ft and it only bend on the second drop

 

[Shox Dr]

Sorry I miss read the OP.

You’re joining 5mm rod? If so then as Munkul says any tungsten will do, just mke sure its sharp 15*

 

[Ped]

I started using Thoriated on dc but turned to ceriated when I became aware of the H&S issues of Thoriated. But I now use 1.5% Lanthanated for everything (ac and dc) and they've been great.

 

[Richard Stowe]

yeah mate it's for bbq rack's, 5mm is a bit thicker then most people use but I want it to last

 

[Ped]

I never bother with filler on the grills I make. Just clamp it together and blast a tack from each side. Not had one fall apart yet.

 

[Richard Stowe]

That's the sort of jig i'm thinking! is that hf start?

 

[MoreWellie]

why not stick stainless wire in your migmaker and do it with that? that would be easy

 

[Ped]

That's the sort of jig i'm thinking! is that hf start?

Yes but I don't see why you couldn't do it with lift start.

The Allen heads get in the way a bit but it didn't take long to make and cost very little. I guess it's similar to how grills are made in production except they probably whack some serious power through the whole lot and weld all the joins at once.

 

[Richard Stowe]

To be honest I am struggling a little with lift start coz I've got nerve damage in my right hand so my brain is telling it to do one thing and the hand's have a bit of a delay