Im interested in swtiching from the 2% thoriated. mainly due to the radioactive dust. Its not much of a problem just figured if its conductive properties are the same why not...you know. I was reading about it on global spec, they say through the testing its proven to be a compareable switch with out messing up your tig program (a.k.a, torch setup and gas and welding style) I just want to hear it from someone who actualy tried it. Im sure there are minor changes. I went ahead and ordered some 1/16" in both gold and grey anyway just wanted to get some input.
.40 1.5% Lanthanated (gold)


.40 2% ceriated (grey)





Modified by Syner-G-Racing LLC at 12:36 AM 12/27/2007

 

cool, I would love to know more also.

how much was the price difference and who carries it?

 

http://www.aglevtech.com
this place has the best price on tungsten i've seen!

if I dont get any feedback by the time it shows up I'll post up some pics and let you guys know what I think.

 

I don't understand the difference between colors, because I've seen like orange, and grey ceriated, and black and gold lanthanated. My syncrowave 200 came with tungsten that was either gold or orange, I can't tell, so I guess it's Lanthanated or Ceriated and it seems to work good for me on AC and DC. I haven't welded any SS yet, but plenty of mild and carbon steels, and aluminum.

 

I don't like lathanated for anything, ceriated is alright on steels and alright on Al, not really great on either. Zirconiated is the best on Al and pretty good on steel.

 

I use Multi-strike rods. they are colured a light blue and work just as well with ac as dc. and they are none radioactive.

http://www.huntingdonfusion.co...id=11

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dave@passenger &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I don't like lathanated for anything, ceriated is alright on steels and alright on Al, not really great on either. Zirconiated is the best on Al and pretty good on steel.</TD></TR></TABLE>



I bought both and used them for about 15 mins each one and now they just sit in my drawer collecting dust.

I use Thoriated (Red) on everything. I especially love it on Al.

 

You can definitely tell the difference when welding with a different tungsten. Sometimes, some friends of our shop will weld something, and leave a zirconiated tungsten in the torch, after having sharpened it and using it for steel (not knowing the difference), and I'll just sharpen it back up and start welding, and from the first strike, you can tell it's not a Thoriated tungsten.

I would like to find an alternative also, not too sure about the radioactivity.

 

I find ceriated is great for mild steel, but does not like aluminum much.
It doesn't like any contamination in eather use though, absolutely zero.

I have some lanthanated I have yet to try it.
2% thoriated for aluminum is ok, but it splits too easy on the hot stuff.
Zirconium is by for the best for aluminum in my experience.

 

Yeah I still use thoriated for steel, and zirconiated can't be beat for Al. I really don't give a rats *** about the thoriated stuff being radioactive. I've met guys that have been tig welding for 40 years they are fine, if you really care about your health, don't eat fast food, smoke, or drink too much, and get some exercise, those things you will see an affect in your health, your tungstens... not so much.

 

well, im not so concerned for myself. Im an aviation mech for the army, and I work with berylium, radium, a full laundry list of caustic chemicals.
I run both of my business's on the side from my house and I preffer not to have radioactive materials with in reach of my kid and pets. granted they're in the shop and I do a pretty good job of containing the dust...but why if its not necesary? as soon as we discovered asbestos was a potential risk we changed that up...

I already know Im gonna die from cancer thanks to the army, but theres realy not much that doesnt cause cancer now days. lol.

 

If you live in Cali, everything from Bleach to shoe polish is known to cause cancer. So expletive it, gotta die one day. I highly doubt dust from your garage will be a big problem to your kids in the house but like you said try and contain it and you should be fine.

 

I use 1.5% and 2% lanthanated on everything.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by snootworks &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I use 1.5% and 2% lanthanated on everything. </TD></TR></TABLE>
have you always used lanthanated? if not can you tell me the comparison to thoriated.

 

I haven't run enough thoriated on an inverter machine to offer a very qualified opinion, but the arc characteristics are pretty damn similar as far as I'm concerned. I don't think I've got any ceriated kicking around, so I can't comment there.

I did try some "Zirtung" blend that the LWS had once, and it sucked ****.

 

I have a dynasty and just switched to the orange ones for the same reason. i cant tell a difference??? I only use sylvania tungstens made in the usa BTW orange are 2% ceriated

http://www.sylvaniamaterials.c....html

 

Ive used 1.5% lanthanated for both AC and DC welding. Works so much better on AL then red does.