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How to select tungsten for TIG welding

11/8/2018

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Weldmark Tungsten
When it comes to TIG welding, the most commonly asked question is “What tungsten do I use?” As we know, welding equipment is constantly evolving. At one point in history, the most commonly used power source was known as a rectifier machine. Today, equipment is more commonly inverter based, which gives the welder more control of the arc.

There are a few things you must determine before selecting a tungsten electrode such as:
  • Type of material being welded
  • Type of weld
  • Welding output (AC or DC)
  • Material thickness
  • Amperage range
  • Type of welding power source, transformer/rectifier or inverter

Metals such as carbon steel, stainless steel, titanium, chromoly, brass, and copper will be welded using Direct Current with the electrode negative.  Generally, aluminum alloys are welded using Alternating Current (AC).

Pure tungsten (green stripe), for years was the best choice for AC welding, but with the industry shift to invert based machines, with advanced squarewave technology, rare earth tungsten such as Ceriated (gray stripe) and Zirconiated (brown stripe) are an option.

The most commonly used electrodes today are 2% Thoriated (red stripe).  Thorium has great arc start characteristics and allows for higher current carrying capacity. Although, if thoriated tungsten is used in the AC mode, the tungsten tends to split and get nodules around the electrode instead of a nice round ball. In return, this gives you an unstable arc and inconsistent heat input. It can also cause tungsten spitting giving you impurities in your weld. 

Also, choosing the proper grind angle, constant current range or pulsed current range will affect the electrode current range. Example .040 has range from 2 to 60 amps, .093 has range from 12 to 250 amps and .125 has range from 20 to 350 amps.

tungsten selection chart

Type of Tungsten
Pure

Ceriated


Thoriated 1.7 to 2.2%


Lanthanated 1.3 to 1.7%
​

​Zirconiated  .15 to .40%   
Color Code
Green

Gray



Red
, Yellow


Gold
, Black, Blue
​

​Brown
Remarks
Good arc stability for AC.  Least expensive.

Easy arc starts, and long life.  Replacement for thoriated.

​Higher current capacity, greater arc stability, difficult to maintain balled end on AC.  

Easy arc starts, high current carrying capacity, similar to thoriated.
​
Excellent for AC, good arc starting, limited contamination of weld.

Daryl Kehr

Account Manager at Earlbeck Gases & Technologies

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  • Home
  • Products & Services
    • Welding & Cutting Equipment >
      • Free Welding Productivity Analysis
    • Gases >
      • Free Gas Application Analysis
      • Industrial & Welding Gases
      • Medical Gases
      • Bulk & Microbulk Gas
      • Specialty Gases
    • Rentals & Repairs
    • Engineering
    • Machine Tools
    • Welding & Cutting Automation
    • Used Welding Equipment
  • Welder Training
    • Classes We Offer >
      • Fundamentals of Welding
      • Intermediate Welding >
        • Intermediate Stick
        • Intermediate TIG
        • Intermediate MIG
      • Advanced Welding >
        • Advanced Stick
        • Advanced TIG
        • Advanced MIG
      • Welding Basics
      • Symbols for Blueprint Reading
      • Visual Weld Inspection
      • Custom Classes & Open Practice Time
    • Pricing and Class Schedule
    • How to Register
    • Tour Our Facility
    • On Site Training
    • Frequently Asked Questions >
      • Are student loans, financial aid, or scholarships available?
      • How long does it take to complete the program?
      • Do you offer job placement?
      • How Much Money does a Welder Make?
      • What is the Job Outlook for Welders?
      • What should I bring for my first day of class?
  • Weld Testing
    • Welder Certification
    • Send In Weld Testing
    • AWS D1.1 Send in Test Kits
    • Frequently Asked Questions >
      • How much does a welding certification cost?
      • How do I become qualified for bridge work?
      • Does a Welding Certification Expire?
      • What is an ATF Test?
      • What Welding Certification Do I Need?
      • Why Should I Become a Certified Welder?
  • Welding 101 Blog
  • More...
    • Locations & Contacts
    • About Us
    • Photo Gallery
    • Resources
    • Testimonials
    • Our Policies