TIG Tungsten Diameters - What Are Your Limits - Tips and Tricks

In this episode of the Longevity Learning Lab, Bruce explains the tungsten diameters, their upper amp limits, and the differences between sizes such as 1/16th" to 1/8th" thick.

Please keep in mind, inverters and transformers use different electrodes.

[jarivalkeapaa]

Very important when trying pipe certification 6g. When experience 1.6 or 2.4 millimeter don´t make difference. Current on thin pipe 70-80 amps. Big tungsten makes too big heat easily and break the metal around weld. Too small filler rod easily goes too fast and too big won´t melt. Tested with 1.6 and too fast so hole and heat is for beginner too large when trying to keep weld under control. Went to 2.0 filler rod and better. On Thicker pipe not so relevant when heat is not so big issue +6millimeters with root and hotpass. Your video helped me to change electrode and today tested thicker filler rod to keep root cooler and to avoid undercut because of heat thanx appreciated. Need more videos like this.

[mrmidnight]

Who the hell sharpens the color side first? 🤣

[Sparky-wwre]

I have seen video of a TIG machine running at 1000 amps using 1/4 tungsten electrode, it was a automated mechanized process. As to why, I would guess that, because of the precision and clean weld properties TIG provides, there are some very exotic metals and alloys used in very specialized and/or critical applications, TIG welding them is the only acceptable process, regardless of material size or thickness. Obviously in ordinary circumstances, if you have a very thick material even several inches thick, you bevel it, then weld multiple passes, using stick or MIG welding, in that case your typical 250 to 300 amp machine has plenty of power. Of course with very thick plates or castings you should always preheat them, using a rosebud tip.

[triggeral]

Love this!! Thankyou for sharing your knowledge and experience!!

[MasterFlotolk]

Wait, when you grind tungsten electroids, you grind the colored side?
What if you grind the other side? Is there a problem with doing that?

[dillwiggle]

Whats roughly material thickness for each size electrode ?

[tunintunin]

Why not grind the non colored side to know what electrode (tungsten) is what all the time?

[joshp]

How about crazy big electrodes, I’ve seen plenty of 5/32 and 3/16 and even quarter inch rods, who uses arcs that high?

[TheObserver]

But for dc or ac? For ac at 180amps to 200 the 3/32 just melts away.

[ClownWhisper]

I am having buyer's remorse I just ordered a combo machine I'm sure you're cringing at the thought of someone that's new to Tig buying a plasma cutter that is also would take machine especially since it's made in China but I am poor I am poor than a shithouse rat right now and I have some things that I have to deal with a plasma torch and I thought what the hell I may as well at least get my feet wet with TIG I mean I am I would say an expert brazor I can breathe and silver solder with the best of them I've been doing it for 40 years I do professional repairs with brazing I'm fine cast iron instrumentation as well as silver soldering and it's taking me a good many years to get highly proficient so I'm not just some dumb kid. Of course I have a caulking gun welder is what I call them MIG welder LOL, a Hobart handler 210 amp system it seems to do a pretty damn good job I can weld some pretty hefty materials with that guy. My shop is so small and I need to get a good bandsaw along with the plasma cutter and get some of the other cutting equipment the hell out of it that way I will save quite a bit of space in my shop that's one of the reasons why I opted to get a plasma cutter.

I spent far too much money today I'm cringing at the amount of money that I spent and I haven't even got another argon tank yet I guess I'm going to go do that tomorrow my credit cards are going to start on fire. I just bought a bunch of consumables for the tig side of my setup and now I'm going to buy some tungsten and some filler rod and that's what I'm doing right now is poking around the internet trying to gain some knowledge I don't know what to buy as far as tungsten goes are there mix combo packs of different size tungstens I can get? I haven't seen anything like that! Any advice that you could give me would be greatly appreciated

[Tigdude]

Made it about 2 mind and had to leave it...