Hey everyone, just checking to see what your methods are for grinding tungsten.

I think a lot of the problems with consistency I'm having are due to the way I'm sharpening the tungsten.

So how do you guys do it?

Pictures would be good too

Apparently there are specific tungsten sharpeners out there, kind of like a pencil sharpener, but they're supposedly like $300 or something.

 

i just use a cheap simple bench grinder. but you can never use it on anything else but the tungsten's. about sharpening, i have heard not to make it into a sharp point and to grind a little of the point off.

 

Ehh...that's a little overrated in my opinion. I use a grinder that's used on other things. I use the side of the wheel though, so nothing really touches there.

I've used a blunt tip, I just don't like it personally. I think there are certain applications for the blunted tip, but from doing stainless, mild, and cromemoly i don't see it.

 

I use a belt sander or bosch tungsten grinder. They both work fine. I go for a very low angle, sharp tip for steel and a slightly blunted tip for aluminum with an inverter machine. For AC on old machines i just ball it up.

 

Cheap *** harbor freight grinder.

After a while, you form a little groove and it gets way easy to sharpen.


If you want consistency and a perfect tip get one of these:

 

Over rated. I know im no pro welder. But all my buddies that do alot of tigging on big jobs, Use the side of a grinding weel and i forget the angle but sort of sharp but not a point like 2mm point length. And i always wipe it off with acetone when i put the torch head back together.

Oh and i forget why but always wear a mask when you grind down tungsten

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MADMAX_zero &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Cheap *** harbor freight grinder.

After a while, you form a little groove and it gets way easy to sharpen.


If you want consistency and a perfect tip get one of these:

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have this same thing. It works great. I have had it for a year and it works great. I think it was around $180 I paid at the local welding shop on an impulse buy.

 

Dedicated harbor freight 6" bench grinder, $25.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDMCRX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Over rated. I know im no pro welder. But all my buddies that do alot of tigging on big jobs, Use the side of a grinding weel and i forget the angle but sort of sharp but not a point like 2mm point length. And i always wipe it off with acetone when i put the torch head back together.

Oh and i forget why but always wear a mask when you grind down tungsten</TD></TR></TABLE>

have you ever used one? overrated? that was one of the best investments i've made, it takes 5 seconds to have a perfect point everytime.

 

I use a disk sander. Never used an actual tungsten sharpener, they really worth the money? Can you tell a difference in the arc between one sharpened on a grinder, sander, or dedicated tungsten sharpener?

 

bench grinder, always sharpening with the grain of the tungsten, never against which causes spiraling

 

Some people wear a mask over there mouth when grinding. I never have. Not really sure if it is needed. thoriated tungsten is slightly radioactive.

 

Those TechSouth Power Point sharpeners look nice..


http://www.techsouthinc.com/grinders/pp.html

 

dedicated harbor freight bench grinder for a couple years now. i use a fine grinding wheel.

 

Anyone ever use this thing with a grinder?

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Tig-We...wItem

 

i use a bench grinder and a cordless drill

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cua0 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i use a bench grinder and a cordless drill</TD></TR></TABLE>

i was gonna say the same. i'm no welder, but the guy who does a lot of welding for me just uses a bench grinder or angle grinder and puts the tungsten in a cordless drill on low speed.

-drew

 

I can't see a cordless drill being practical for small pieces. Plus the bulkiness of a drill just doesn't seem like it'd allow the control to really make an even, controlled tip.

 

I haven't sharpened a tungsten without a drill in at least 3 years. lol Get a cheepo small drill and keep it by the grinder or sander, you'll never do one by hand again.

 

Angle grinder with a flap disc FTW. I've used a bench grinder for about 8 months, and after trying the angle grinder, I will never need to use anything else.

Just try it

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cua0 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i use a bench grinder and a cordless drill</TD></TR></TABLE>

Everyone here as well.

 

Damn, I hate holding the tungsten with my hands. Never thought about using a cordless drill. Great Idea!

Justin

 

Cordless drill and belt sander, can't go wrong.

 

cordless drill ftw! I havn't done one by hand in a LONG time as well.

 

sure beats slowly burning your hand until the tungsten gets sharp enough