so i ****ed up all my tungsten since im a noob welder.

so i gotta go to the store in a bit to buy some more.

my question is which tungsten size and type is best for my application? im doing typical automotive stuff like aluminum charge piping and stainless exhaust ect.

 

Aside from using the infamous google searching apparatus to aid in answering your very basic questions. Get what you had before?

If you're as new to it as you claim. Then you don't need anything other than the traditional red (2% Thoriated), green (pure), set up.

I always try to keep two packs of 1/16th, 3/32nd/ and a pack of 1/8th just in case

 

I couldn't see needing 1/8 for any automotive applications. I use 1/16 for thinner steels and 3/32 for aluminum. I personally use Arctime Hybrid tungsten which works great but I dont think your local store will carry. Ceriated is a good overall for most materials.

 

I started with a 3/32 ceriated tungsten and have not moved away from it. I have welded 18 guage 321 stainless, 16 guage mild steel all the way up to 7/16" aluminum with no problems. It is a great all around tungsten. Buy a set of ten incase you mess up a lot so you dont have to constantly regrind.

 

I have always used 3/32" red (2% thoriated) tungsten. I don't recall ever using anything else.

 

heres why i had to ask, everyone has different opinions... google doesnt help me there.

so looks like most people are saying either 2% thoriated or ceriated tungsten... ill probobly be using 3/32, but now which of those 2 is best for my application?

 

I use pure or the green for Aluminum and 2% or the red for stainless and regular steel. That works for me.

 

+1 for serratted tungsten, can be used on steel and aluminum, no sense in getting two seperate kinds

 

tungsten is expensive. 3/32 red band will cover everything you need to do.

 

I don't mean to thread high jack.

I have always used the red style tungsten and when I weld aluminum the tip always melts kinda dull with multiple points were the arc is delivered (if that makes any sense) if I remember correctly isn't there supposed to be a nice round tip for aluminum ? or is that only if you use the green style? or I'am I doing something wrong?

 

red can be used on ss mild and alm. on a inverter welder. on the older style welders red for ss and mild and green for alm.

 

cool then looks like ill be getting some more red 3/32

 

I use 1/8" on thicker aluminium frequently, I make 3/16" thick skid plates for Subarus and end up with a lot of scrap to make other things out of. The 3/32" just blows apart when welding the thicker stuff. It may not be "proper", but I use 2% thoriated for everything I do, on an old transformer, without issue. I have noticed the ball on aluminium getting all chewed up, but only when pushing a lot of current on the 3/32" (hence the switch to 1/8"). I think I was taught to use red on aluminium actually, but I don't really remember now... just use the same for everything and it's less confusing.

 

How many amps are you using for the skid plates? Red/Thoriated doesnt work well for me on AC. It doesnt form a uniform ball but the tip turns into like tons of tiny little ***** making the arc unstable. This is on a dynasty 200. Check out the video below, seem like Lanthanated works well but I havent need to buy any tunsten to try it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpanERwagaU

 

I'm not really sure, I set the **** to max at 350 or so, but I've had people look at the meter on the front of the machine while I'm welding other things and the dial is way off from what it shows. It doesn't really matter I guess, I use *enough* to get good penetration. I figured I was blowing the tungsten up with the heat so I got a bigger one... maybe I should have got a different type instead. The 3/32 wasn't forming little *****, it was just blowing the tip off into the aluminium.

 

as of now I use red for everything, I use 1/16, 3/32, and 1/8 depending on thickness. takes like 10 seconds to change tungsten I dont see the issue there.

 

if you are using an inverter you do not want to ball the tungsten, you want to sharpen it. you only want to ball your tungsten on transformer machines. i was also told not to use pure tungsten on inverters. i weld everyday with a dynasty 350 & i use ceriated tungsten for both steel & al sharpened. this info came straight from my miller rep.

 

Sorry, the response about the red tungsten was to another user. It make sense to using the bigger tungsten, I was just curious at what type of amps you were using to weld that thicker stuff.

frostyrb: You weld aluminum everyday but do you not notice that the end ***** up?

 

I've used 2% / 1.5 lanthanated and ceriated on miller inverter and it doesn't ball that easy, actually the machine doesn't work that great with it balled. The miller inverter kits are sold with ceriated and miller recommends ceriated or the lanthanated on their inverters