I'm wondering what type of electrodes to use when welding alum. thin sheets (.040-.0620) and detail welds on larger blocks (mold repair) of aluminum. I'm looking at .04 and 1/16 sizes, but should I get pure or ceriated? We use ceriated at work, but only down to 3/32. I want to get some gas lenses (and collets, etc) for our miller aerowave at work. Managment doesn't want to spring for these, so I'm getting a set for myself.
John
Buy Zirconiated tungstens for heavy AC welds. Lanthanated or Ceriated for the light stuff.
Lanthanated is the best all around AC/DC tungsten.
Ceriated is better for really low amperage welds. It can initiate and arc at lower amperages than any other tungsten, but at high amperages disintegrates rapidly.
What...are we the only company left using 2% thorolated? Man, we need to get with the times.
We don't even use pure tungsten for aluminum anymore! anyone?
Unfortunately a lot of shops still use Thoriated tungstens. The risk health may be minimal, but the dust from grinding them is radioactive.
Try Lanthanted or even better Zirconiated tungstens for aluminum and you will wonder why anybody buys pure tungstens. Pures simply suck eggs.
What do you consider "heavy" aluminum welding? plain old big welds on big pieces?
There are times when there is need to build up small details on large blocks (lots of heat absorbation), without melting other nearby details or blowing through holes drilled on the backside of the mold (vacuum holes, usually within .100-.08 of surface).
John
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