I finally convinced my lab folk to retire the thoriated tungstens, replace with ceriated ones. Any suggestions for the mix of sizes? Miller
I would use 3/32 on all of it.
3/32" is the workhorse size in most shops. 1/16" has some benefits in arc control on thin stuff. 1/8" is good if maxing out your amperage on aluminum.
BTW I recommend Lanthanated for most AC/DC work, and Zirconiated for high amperage AC.
Will do. The unit does not get that much use, I want to keep things as simple as possible. If basic usage can be gotten with one size, it makes it so much easier.
I think I was confusing the ceriated with the lanthanated?? What %?
Ernie Leimkuhler wrote:
Percentage isn't all that important.
1% and 1.5% Lanthanated are fairly common. 2% Lanthanated are a bit harder to find, and the benefit is dubious, unless you are pushing a lot of amps.
Ernie, What do you consider high amperage? I'm just getting into the TIG stuff, I love it and I think some of the PTB are starting to think it might be worthwhile. I just spent about $100 on a box of 1/8' Lanth. tungstens for Aluminum. I'd be running them in the vicinity of 200-ish amps, water cooled torch, should I be getting zirconiated instead? I haven't ground them or anything yet, so I can probably swap if need be.
Stuart
1/8" Lanthanated can just handle about 220 - 250 amps. Above that I would switch to a Ziconiated. Zirconiated will outlast Lanthanated on AC.
I have pushed 1/8" Zirconiated to short bursts of 300 amps.
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