Tungsten contamination

[Troll]

Hi all, I have been using my new TA 185 and I must say I am really having fun. I do have a question about grinding the tungsten though. I have this horrible habit of dipping the electrode into the weld pool and messing up the tip. So it's off to the grinder a lot.

I have noticed a significant difference when starting out with a freshly ground tip vs. a contaminated one; but will the grinding of the contaminated electrode contaminate the grinding wheel? I have 2 grinders one for general purpose and one for "tungsten only".

Should one side of the "tungsten only" grinder be for Al and the other for steel, so as not to cross contaminate the tips.

[rasommer]

Hi all, I have been using my new TA 185 and I must say I am really having fun. I do have a question about grinding the tungsten though. I have this horrible habit of dipping the electrode into the weld pool and messing up the tip. So it's off to the grinder a lot.

I have noticed a significant difference when starting out with a freshly ground tip vs. a contaminated one; but will the grinding of the contaminated electrode contaminate the grinding wheel? I have 2 grinders one for general purpose and one for "tungsten only".

Should one side of the "tungsten only" grinder be for Al and the other for steel, so as not to cross contaminate the tips.

You bet -- I haven't worked professionally in years, but I remember getting many a good "tongue lashing" as a young apprentice when I would grind a tungsten on a wheel that was not specifically designated for aluminum or ferrous work. The shop I worked in even went so far as to seperate the grinders so that they wouldn't sit side-by-side and take a chance of the wheels picking up grinder contaminants from one to the other. I always thought they were a bit overboard on that one, but that was the written policy.

[Speed Raycer]

Go one step further and break the tip off of the contaminated section. A pair of pliers and the edge of your work bench will work. One good whack and the contaminated section will be gone and you can sharpen away on the dedicated stone.

[fun4now]

i always cut the tip off first then hit the grinder, although i was using a belt sander. got a nice smooth grind that way.

[JAFR]

Yep I use my dremel with a diamond cutting wheel and cut the tips off and then grind them!

[Troll]

Thanks for the great tips(no pun intended). I had not thought about snapping the contaminated part off then grinding.

[imported_frank865]

I know many guys do it, but "scoring & snapping it off" is not recommended.
The way I was taught is to use a diamond cutoff wheel, or something similar, and actually cut it. When you score & snap, there's a chance you may put a crack,too small to be seen, the length of that piece of tungsten.
That split can cause all manner of weird stuff to happen.
If anyone else wants to score & snap, that's OK with me. I've got enough variables already, without possibly adding another one into the mix. I'll continue to cut mine...To each his own.
HTH

[fun4now]

i was always woried about cracking or bending the main tung. trying to snap it iff so i just cut it off then grind the point.