Tungsten sharpening

[tasslehawf]

Anyone ever use chemsharp? I have been using it since I was in the Navy
(89-93) and it gives you a great point.

Not only does it sounds dangerous (although likely no worse than breathing tungsten dust), but it doesn't sound like it will work on the newer tungsten allows... unless I'm wrong?

[1974nova]

Not dangerous at all, all you do is ground the tungsten til it turns red and then dip the tip of it in the chemsharp powder until you have the desired tip you want. Trust me if the Navy thought it was dangerous they would not have it.

[Bert]

Trust me if the Navy thought it was dangerous they would not have it.

lol !!!!! Good one!!!! Ever read the paint they use for the bottom coat of the ships?! I'd hate to be the guys painting that!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chemsharp is ok, works good, twirl it around the bottle, sharpens it fast, but somehow we just didn't like it. Seemed to take too much off. Maybe we just did it too long!

[weldthis]

SHARP? WHO NEEDS SHARP, I'M WELDING ALUMINUM

[Engloid]

lol !!!!! Good one!!!! Ever read the paint they use for the bottom coat of the ships?! I'd hate to be the guys painting that!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They use a really wicked powdercoating on tank trucks, tanks, and stuff like that. The MSDS was like reading an encyclopedia.

[Bert]

They use a really wicked powdercoating on tank trucks, tanks, and stuff like that. The MSDS was like reading an encyclopedia.

Thanks!!!!!!! My point exactly!!!!!

[MrRXL]

I am new to TIG and got this tip from an old timer using Chem Sharp.
Extend the tungsten about an inch out of the torch
Start an arc to heat up the tip
Dip in Chem Sharp a few times and you get a nice sharp point
Slide the tungsten back in to the correct stick out and your on your way.

This can be done right where you are welding without having to take the tungsten out and walk over to the grinder.
Chem Share under $20
Tungsten grinder over $500

[ASKANDY]

Chem sharp works fine. It takes a bit of getting used to in order to get consistant points. You can easily get too much of a taper or even have part of the tungsten get thinner and thicker before the point. Dipping and letting the Chem sharp roll on the tip and dipping again and again just enough to keep the reaction going. When done, brush off with your dedicated SS brush and weld on. There will be hard crust deposits that form in the chem sharp. You can crush these up or just pull them out and toss them. Try not to breath the fumes generated by the sharpening reaction.

Have fun!
A

[arc]

that stuff works great, but tricky to use at first but no contamination, which is great.

[platypus20]

Am I the only one who runs the tungsten, on the grinding wheel, in a cordless drill to get a real quick and very well shaped point?

Jack

[Frank865]

Am I the only one who runs the tungsten, on the grinding wheel, in a cordless drill to get a real quick and very well shaped point?

Jack

No you're not... That's one place where a cheap underpowered drill does a good job!

[arc]

i use the a old drill and bench grinder too but i also have a jar of chem sharp too, but it takes a little longer.

[FusionKing]

Am I the only one who runs the tungsten, on the grinding wheel, in a cordless drill to get a real quick and very well shaped point?

Jack

Not hardly

I also use cordless and 21" belt sander as well and love the results that it gives too

[Steve]

Just below the carbide grinder is another grinder with a 6 in x 3/4 stone on it that has off center a groove from twirling tungsten. I just use at least the diameter to diameter and a half the size. I have broken the tip off, used a belt sander, the front side of side grinders, Hmmm, never rubbed on a point on the concrete yet nor tried chem sharp. What other methods have we all used and still got good results to our surprise?

[fun4now]

i use a little 1" diamond wheel from HF in a dremmel tool to sharpen my Tung. cuts fast and clean. i suspect its the same or smilier to the sharpie, without the head to line up the tung..mine is probly not a perfect point but close enough. also cuts the tung in no time. i generally point about 10 tung at a time and blunt the tip if I'm doing aluminum. take about 20 sec. to do a tip, less if i don't blunt the tip.
HF has the 1" wheels in a 5 pack with holder for dremel tool for like $10 i think it was. its listed as a cut off tool i think.

i'm planing to make a mount to hold the dremmel with a rest for the tung. should make sharpening even faster.