TIG Electrodes

Rod

As a result of Mark mentioning DGP electrodes, I found their web site. It has some good info on the various types of tungstens and how to prepare them. Also good to know that the tri-mix, unlike the 2% Th, contains no radioactive products :o).

I was able to get a pack of 3/32 pure tungstens today at a third welding supply house. They never heard of the tri-mix ones but did say they did not have much call for the pure variety. I should be good for another 10-15 years now. My use is pretty much limited to 1/32 to 1/8 thk as far as the aluminum goes. I am not in the business, so to speak, and do stuff on an odd job basis for family and friends.

Rod

• DGP Electrodes

Once again this old dog has learned something new. I never knew thoriated tungsten was radioactive. I surely would have not recomended it had I known. Sorry!

Gees I should be dead by now as I started back when cadium was used heavly in DC electrodes and now the radioactive tungsten plus all the other gases I breathed in while welding, cutting and grinding. I always joked about having one foot on a banana peal and the other one on the grave!

Something else I should mention while talking about harmful side effects of the welding field.
When I first started welding at 14yrs old my vision was 50/85 and at 20yrs old 125/130 welding 2000hrs plus a year and at 35yrs old it was 475/450 running close too 3000hrs/yr welding and teaching. At that time I cut my welding time to about 400 hrs per year and was mostly in management/teaching until 45 when I was injured and couldn't work any more. At 45 my vision was minus 575/550 or just about coke bottles as eyeglass lens are 1/4" thick and has remained that for the past ten years with slight improvement to minus 480/475.

The reason for the personal history is it's plain too see that welding had a very bad effect on my vision. I didn't realize until it was too late in my life what was happening to my vision and health and maybe someone can learn from my mistakes.

T_Bone

The AWS statement encourages alternatives if satisfactory electrodes are available. DGP has apparently made one such alternative available with their tri-mix. There is no warning message or even any indication of "special" precautions on the box of 2% that I have...course it is many years old too. Maybe there is some type of warning on the newer labels...don�t know.

It is not a new issue. Some years ago I was involved in the design of industrial ventilation systems for the Navy. One of the things in the welding arena that received notable attention, other than the obvious welding fumes, was the grinding machines used by TIG welders to prepare their electrodes. The concern, at least at that time, was that the minute dust particles generated by the grinding process were of a respirable size and could be inhaled by the user. The radioactive nature of the 2% was sufficient to emphasize the need for exhaust ventilation and collection systems for the grinders but was not considered (by the regulatory types) important enough to require any specialized radiological use controls normally associated with "radioactive materials". It would seem to me that the prudent user should not overreact and throw away his 2% stuff but would simply be aware of the potential problem involved and try to minimize exposure to any grinding dust. For those who do a lot of grinding on such materials, consideration of the DGP alternative or of an exhaust ventilation system on the grinder might be in order.

Rod

For those readers that want a direct link to the "official" statements on the matter, go here:

• Thoriated Tungsten Warning

I'm usally pretty up on whats really bad for health but this just slipped by me. I know it's not all that bad as I'm still kicking.

One other problem was guys getting poked with red hot 2% TH tungsten, dropped there Tig torch etc. Some people had a severe reaction to the burn, alot of pain and swelling then infection set in. It never bothered me but over the years I've seen fingers, forearms and tighs that swelled to twice there normal size.

T_Bone

For Tig AL I do like 1/8" diameter pure tungsten with a short sharp taper point then balled on CU with HF.

The 2% works ok in larger electrodes from one of my 1960's refference books specs 2% thorinated tungsten 1/8" or better for AL, but I've never tried it. I didn't see this note until a couple years ago when I was looking up something else.

For all other Tig welding I like 3/32" 2% thorinated sharpen to a fine long point of 5/16" long. I use the side of the wheel to get them to this fine long point and ya I know it's a no no :)

I haven't bought tungsten in years so I can't say about the supply.

T_Bone