Tungstens

[Hitch]

Been using some blue tipped tungstens, supposedly universals. Not come across them before.
Something to do with them being better for your health than the red ones.
Gold is universal to me.

Welding SS, the grind doesnt seem to last as long as the traditional thoriated red tips, or seem to be quite as smooth.

Anone else tried the blue ones?

 

[dutchman]

Blue
Never heard of it. What material is added?
I use grey, 2% ceriated.
Can be used for anything DC

 

[Hitch]

Lanthanum oxide of something i beleive.

Apparently they are becoming the common substitute for thoriated ones, as they arn't radiactive.

To be honest, i beleive the radiactivity to be so minimal it wasnt an issue

 

[Weldingartisan]

Yep, from Huntington Fusion I think. According to thier blurb they last must longer on higher currents for ally, but like you I still prefere the old red tips for LCS and SS. W/A

 

[Hitch]

Must be a few distributors id expect. The ones i used were binzel.

 

[dutchman]

Nicked this from welding-direct.
Odd, they have Lanthanated with a black or gold tip.
Maybe yours has a higer % of Lanthansomething

1.) 2% Thoriated, Red AWS Class EWTH-2, DC welding applications. The most common type of electrode used today. Applications: carbon & stainless steel, nickel alloys and titanium.

2.) 1% Zirconiated, White, AC Welding applications. Better start up than Pure Tungsten, Balls up well and has a more stable arc than Pure Tungsten. Better current carrying capacity and high resistance to contamination during welding.

3.) Pure Tungsten, Green, AWS Class EWP, AC welding applications. Least expensive of all electrodes. Applications: aluminum and magnesium alloys.

4.) Lanthanated, 1% Black or 1.5% Gold, AWS Class EWLA-1.5, AC & DC welding applications. Non-Radioactive Good arc characteristics in ac/dc applications. Applications: carbon & stainless steel,nickel alloys and titanium.

5.) 2% Ceriated, Grey, An excellant alternative to Thoriated tungsten especially in low amperage welding. Takes 10% less current to start and has a very stable arc.

 

[JW240]

hmm i got some new tungstens last week and the sold me ones with pink tip, the latest stuff they told me, welds very nice (a big company specialized in welding, so i tend to believe them)

 

[MarkG]

Blue tipped tungstens are generally known as 'multistrike'. Mainly produced by Huntingdon Fusion.

Apparently, they are good for both steel & ali, similar to ceriated...

Not fully sure of the benefits though..

 

[dutchman]

I did some research and the blue tip tungstens contain 2% lanthanate indeed.
Am curious about what material they added to they pink tip ones though.