Weldcraft Tungsten Electrodes Package of 10 Tungsten Electrodes MFG # WC332X7 Type: 2% Ceriated Tungsten (EWCe-2) Performs well in DC welding and arc starting at low current settings, and can be used proficiently in AC processes. Size: 3/32" X 7" (2.4 mm X 175 mm) Applications: AC Alloying Element: None Composition: 97.3% tungsten 1.80-2.20% Cerium 0.5% Other Materials welded: Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel, Nickel Alloy, TitaniumWelding Electrodes Price: $36.30
Lincoln Electric ED010219 Features: -Fleetweld® 5P is a great choice for welding on dirty, rusty, greasy or painted steel -- especially in vertical or overhead applications..-LINCOLN FLEETWELD 5P.-Light slag with little slag interference for easy arc control Deep penetration with maximum admixture All-position, particularly good for vertical and overhead.. -UNSPC CODE: 23271810. -Stick Electrode - Carbon Steel Stick Electrode Carbon Steel filler metal metals electrodes (smaw) welding rod rods.-E6010 ELECT FW 5P 7/32 50HS.Welding Electrodes Price:
Hobart 400 Amp Electrode Screw Type Holder 770028Welding Electrodes Price:
Weldcraft Tungsten Electrodes Package of 10 Tungsten Electrodes MFG # WC116X7 Type: 2% Ceriated Tungsten (EWCe-2) Performs well in DC welding and arc starting at low current settings, and can be used proficiently in AC processes. Size: 1/16" X 7" (1.6 mm X 175 mm) Applications: AC Alloying Element: None Composition: 97.3% tungsten 1.80-2.20% Cerium 0.5% Other Materials welded: Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel, Nickel Alloy, Titanium Welding Electrodes Price:
Weldcraft 2% Thoriated Tungsten Electrode WT040X7 Package of 10 - 7 inch 2% thoriated tungsten electrode. Offers good arc starting and is ideal for high current requirements. Also good for low-amperage AC applications using a modified point. Materials Welded Carbon Steel Stainless Steel Nickel Alloy Titanium Copper Free standard ground shipping within contiguous U.S.Welding Electrodes Price:
The holding ovens are larger and designed to hold electrodes at moderate optimum temperatures to assure dryness. All models are mercury free. The diagonal shelving is designed for maximum capacity and energy efficiency. Welding Electrodes Price:
Weldcraft Tungsten Electrodes Package of 10 Tungsten Electrodes MFG # WL332X7 Type: 1.5% Lanthanated Tungsten (EWLa-1.5) Provides excellent arc starting, arc stability and re-ignition, and is less prone to tip wear Size: 3/32" X 7" (2.4 mm X 175 mm) Applications: DC Alloying Element: Lanthanum Composition: 97.80% Tungsten, 1.30-1.70% Lanthanum, 0.5% Other Materials welded: Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel, Nickel Alloy, Titanium Welding Electrodes Price:
Weldcraft Tungsten Electrodes Package of 10 Tungsten Electrodes MFG # WT116X7 Type: 2% Thoriated Tungsten (EWTh-2) Offers good arc starting and is ideal for high current requirements. Also good for low-amperage AC applications using a modified point. Size: 1/16" X 7" (1.6 mm X 175 mm) Applications: DC Alloying Element: Thorium Composition: 97.3% tungsten 1.70-2.20% Thorium 0.5% Other Materials welded: Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel, Nickel Alloy, Titanium, Cooper Welding Electrodes Price: $15.70
For 110 volt welding machines. With Easy Strike igniter tip to help eliminate problems a less experienced welder might encounter while starting the arc. Easy to use for homeowners, handymen, and hobbyists. Can be positioned flat, horizontal, vertical oroverhead. Coated with titania potassium for AC, DCEP or DCEN current. 60 tensile strength.Welding Electrodes Price:
Offers ease-of-use weldability and forgiving qualities that occasional welders need. Each rod is printed with its AWS classification for easy identification. For deep penetration of dirty and oil soaked material. Can be positioned flat, horizontal, vertical or overhead. Coated with cellulose potassium for AC or DCEP current. 60 CD tensile strength.Welding Electrodes Price:
Aluminum gas welding can be accomplished with gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) and it can also be used to weld steel, as well as other metals. GTAW is also called tungsten inert gas (tig) welding. Welding steel is one of the easier jobs when using rig welding, but there are a number of factors, which make it much harder to weld aluminum.
From cleanliness, arc length, machine settings, welding with a dirty tungsten electrode, filler rod angle, type of electrode, torch angle and size of electrode - you have to be extra-careful with all of these factors when you tig weld aluminum.
Here we go over these factors and how you have to be much more careful with aluminum than with steel.
- Make sure that the settings for your machine are correct. Set your machine to use alternating current and the high frequency switch should be at continuous mode otherwise it will make the arc stutter.
- A piece or object of aluminum left outside is likely to be highly oxidized after having come in contact with the elements. That should be weld only after thoroughly cleaning it - otherwise it will burn or weld extremely fast.
- Arc length - it is important to keep the arc at just the correct length. Arc lengths too long or too short, both should be avoided with aluminum. Too short the length, you your metal will jump on your electrode, damaging that and you. Too long a length and the heat will not be pinpointed enough to be of proper use.
- Keep your electrode clean. A dirty electrode will make the weld sooty - taking any fun out of the job you may have been having.
- Do not use pure tungsten electrodes with the new types of tig inverters to weld aluminum. The old types could use them, but not these new ones.
- You should keep the 1/16", 3/32" and 1/8" sized tungsten electrodes within easy reach when working with aluminum. With steel it is one size fits all policy, where you can go with a 3/32" tungsten for most of the jobs. But with aluminum, you need different electrodes depending on the thickness of the aluminum.
Aluminum gas welding just needs to be done with more care than other types of welding. Keep all these factors in mind and you will have your boat repaired or your ladder fixed in the best possible manner.
To those of us who may not be aware, tungsten is an uncommon metallic element that is used in the manufacturing of TIG (or GTAW) electrodes. The TIG electrodes demand the type of hardness and high temperature resistance that tungsten alone can provide. This is because tungsten electrodes are meant to carry the welding current to the arc. It is to be noted that tungsten has an inconceivably high melting point when compared with other metals.
These electrodes come in different sizes and lengths and are available either as pure tungsten or a hybrid of tungsten mixed with other rare earth elements and oxides. Choosing the right electrode depends on the type and thickness of the base material and whether you are going to weld with alternating or direct current.
Please know that pure tungsten electrodes are expected to contain nearly 100% tungsten and have the maximum consumption rate of all electrodes. Tungsten electrodes are strangely less costly than its alloyed counterparts. These electrodes form a balled tip when heated and provide great arc stability for AC welding with balanced wave. Pure tungsten also provides good arc stability for AC sine wave welding - for aluminum and magnesium welding.
Thoriated tungsten electrodes (Color Code: Red) contain a minimum of 97.30% tungsten and balance thorium. These electrodes are the most widely used electrodes and are known for longevity and easy use. Thorium is highly useful in increasing the electron emission qualities of the electrode. Thus, it improves arc starts and enables a higher current carrying capacity. It also results in a lower level of weld contamination than other electrodes.
Ceriated tungsten electrodes (Color Code: Orange) contain a minimum of 97.30% tungsten and balance cerium. These electrodes are known to perform remarkably well in DC welding at low current settings. With its excellent arc starts at low amperages, ceriated tungsten are widely used as orbital tube and pipe manufacturing, thin sheet metal work or jobs where small and delicate parts are welded.
Lanthanated tungsten electrodes (Color Code: Gold) contain a minimum of 97.80% tungsten and balance lanthanum. These electrodes are known for their excellent arc starting as well as arc stability, low-burn-off rate and quick re-ignition capabilities. The fact is, in select cases, lanthanated tungsten electrodes can replace 2% thoriated without having to make significant welding program changes.
Zirconiated tungsten electrodes (Color Code: Brown) contain a minimum of 99.10% tungsten and balance zirconium. Zirconiated tungsten electrode is capable of stable arc and it resists tungsten spitting. The added feature is its current carrying capability which is equal if not more than thoriated tungsten. Zirconiated electrodes are unsuited for DC welding.
Rare earth tungsten electrodes (Color Code: Gray) contain unspecified additions of rare earth oxides or a mixture of different oxides. However, manufacturers will indicate each additive and its percentage on the outer label. Depending on the additives, you can obtain a stable arc in both AC and DC processes as also more longevity.
Finally, it may be said that the arc quality and welding performance you achieve will largely depend on the type and shape of tungsten you use. Each of these six types of tungsten has its own merits and shortcomings. It is therefore critically important you choose the right tungsten appropriate for each application.
Welding aluminum is harder than welding steel. Why? Because everything that can go wrong on steel is magnified times 10 when you are Tig welding aluminum.
Cleanliness, machine settings, arc length, welding with a dirty tungsten electrode, torch angle, filler rod angle, type of electrode, and size of electrode . You name it, When you weld aluminum, its just more important to get all these things right,
If the aluminum you are welding has been left outside, like a boat dock ladder, or aluminum boat propeller, it is most likely heavily oxidized. It needs to be cleaned or it will weld like Fido's butt.
The machine settings have to be right too. Alternating current is the name of the game for tig welding aluminum and the high frequency switch needs to be on continuous...otherwise the arc will stutter.
Amperage is usually controlled with the foot pedal and with steel, you dont have to continually adjust amperage. At least not much. But since aluminum is such a good heat conductor, your foot pedal amperage control will get a workout. (Some tig welders even use the foot pedal to pulse the amperage to overcome heat buildup and to get the stack of dimes look.)
Arc length is important on steel, but on aluminum it is even more critical, too long an arc length and the heat will not be pinpointed enough casing your rod to ball up and contaminate, too short an arc length and metal will seem to jump on your electrode causing you to cuss like a sailor.
With steel, sometimes you can get away with a slightly dirty electrode... no big deal. But on aluminum, a dirty tungsten takes all the fun out of welding. The weld will be sooty and will prompt your buddies to make fun of you.
Too much torch angle will cause the heat to melt the tip of your filler rod and the filler wire will blob into the puddle,. This happens on steel too, just not as bad.
Type of tungsten electrode matters a lot too, especially if you are welding with a newer inverter type tig welder. Old timers used to insist on using pure tungsten for tig welding aluminum. With the new tig inverters, using pure tungsten to weld aluminum will make you ask for a refund on your welding machine.
And what about the size of your tungsten electrode? With steel, it is possible to use a 3/32" tungsten for almost everything except razor blades. With aluminum, you need to use the right size electrode for different thickness metal. You really need to keep some 1/16", 3/32", and 1/8" tungsten handy and be willing to change electrodes when the job calls for it...and sometimes even in the middle of doing the same job.
Do you get the picture yet? Welding aluminum is just plain harder because everything matters more.
