Types of Tungsten Tig Electrode
Tungsten Tig Electrodes are colour coded, making them easy to identify.
- Gold = 1.5% Lanthanated Multi Type Tungsten Tig Electrode. Can be used pretty much any material in AC or DC output. These are the only Tungsten Tig Electrodes we stock as they are the most versatile.
- Red = 2% Thoriated. Use for Tig Welding Mild Steel and Stainless Steel.
- White = Zirconiated. Use for Tig Welding Aluminium.
- Grey = Ceriated. Use on most metals AC or DC output (I prefer Gold type).
- Green = Pure. Use for Aluminium & Magnesium
There are a few other types of Tungsten, but the above covers most.
Sharpening
Tungsten Tig Electrodes only need to be sharpened when used in DC output Tig Welding applications.
How the Tungsten Tig Electrode is sharpened is important.
There are different opinions on the exact shape of the point, but my preferred profile is to have a point that’s sharpened to a sharp point that looks a bit like a sharpened pencil.
A good guide is to make the length of the point 2½ times the diameter of the Tungsten. So a 1.6mm diameter Tungsten should have a point around 4.0mm long (1.6 x 2.5 = 4.0). A 2.4mm Tungsten should have a point around 6.0mm long (2.4 x 2.5 = 6.0).
It’s important that grinding lines run along the length of the Tungsten NEVER around the point as this can cause arc instability.
NB – Always wear suitable respiratory protection when grinding.
AC Welding and Tig Tungsten Electrodes
If you’re intending to Tig weld with an AC output, Aluminium for example, there’s no need to sharpen the Tungsten.
Having said that, it’s a good idea to put a small chamfer on the end of the Tungsten.
Once you start welding the end of the Tungsten will form into a dome.
IMPORTANT – If the dome on the end becomes a ball that is larger in diameter than the Tungsten itself, you need to use a larger Tungsten!
How much of a Tig Tungsten Electrode should stick out
There’s no straightforward answer to this one as it depends on a number of factors.
As a general rule, I would have around 5-6mm of the Tungsten sticking out of the Ceramic Gas Shroud.
The important thing is that gas shield integrity around the arc is maintained. So if, for example, you’re welding into a corner, or into a blind hole, good gas shield integrity is easy to maintain, so a greater Tungsten stick out is possible.
If you need to increase Tungsten stick out, to be able to see easily for example, but this increases the risk of poor gas shield integrity, it would be necessary to increase the gas flow to compensate.
Conclusion
The correct choice of Tungsten Tig Electrode is important and will affect the possible results of Tig Welding, as will the way a Tungsten is sharpened if being used for DC applications.
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