5 Types of TIG Welding Tungsten Compared

[@tedbastwock3810]

It takes someone who truly understands to explain so clearly. Excellent video. Thanks Tim

[@eddiedee58]

Great info as always, Tim! I'm still a beginner, compared with most of the welders I know. But I've found that the cereated seems to work best on AC at medium amps (60-110) and lantanated works best for me on DC at amps under 180. It just may be my technique, but that's what I've found. I'm now interested in the mixed style, and might pick up some Blue Demon pink (wouldn't that be pink Demon?!) and experiment with it.

[@chevyinlinesix]

Great video, I'm going to try some ceriated since I'm welding very thin metal. I've been using red because that's what I've always had, but time to change it up.

[@moyescobar4387]

Gracias por compartir tus conocimientos ...saludos de Mo. Desde Hidalgo México. Te escribi en espanish ...but l understand You. Very clear . Thankyou. Have a good day

[@TimWelds]

Thank you!

[@donaldhalls2189]

Great information, excellently explained, thanks for sharing, all the best to you and your loved ones

[@sonnycuriazza6135]

I have a Miller 330A/BP and use 2% lanthanated. It holds up really well to the 50/50 AC balance and keeps a small ball on the end that never really changes.

[@TimWelds]

Thanks for the info!

[@russelllowe]

Fantastic to see someone else is getting those nodules, I knew I couldnt have been alone but no one else Ive seen mentions them, much less why they happen. Thanks! I use 2% Ceriated on Aluminium and have nodules forming well below 200 amps. I think the quality can differ between manufacturers too, I'm sure when i first tried the Ceriated they held up better than I am getting with my current batch. My welder wants to know what diameter my tungsten is which might be affecting the low amp start ... i get better start ups if i tell it I'm using smaller diameter than Im actually using.

[@laiky71]

I've been all in on 2% Lanthanated since i got my dynasty in 2005. That said i have run Ceriated, and had poor results on aluminum. I have never tried it at very low amps. Those low amp arc starts were eye opening to me. I think I will give the "LAYZER" (in Doctor Evil voice) a try. Good info!

[@TimWelds]

Thanks! Lanthanated is one of the best all around options and I'd take it over the Ceriated if I had to pick one of the two. I've had pretty good luck with the blends lately.

[@weldingempire]

Nice work mate.

[@TimWelds]

Thanks!

[@jakemasterson4344]

I have found the high speed pulse pretty quickly erodes the tip on ceriated. (More so than 2% Lanth or Layzr) I like using Layzr now, seems to be the best of both worlds.

[@muhammetarifarpaci4728]

I used grey tungsten for dc voltage HF impulse stainless steel around 70Amps for a automation system but ıt contamınated pretty quickly.I use red tungsten ınstead now and ıt last maybe 10 times longer with stable arc.I dıdnt try Layzr can u tell if Layzr is better than red,blue or not.

[@tomnassar5884]

Thanks, Tim. I need to practice more for sure. I need a rod that gives me more time each day!😂

[@TimWelds]

I could use one of those as well :)

[@riverflyswatter]

Thanks

[@ChristopherKing-y6e]

Have you tried the cryo-T pink yet? That’s a great tungsten.

[@quattrolabs_3383]

Ive had a lot of good results with purple E3 tungsten for both dc and ac. As for the ck worldwide lazyr I use that only on dc.

[@mikeburton7077]

Very interesting!

[@azpcox]

Do you have to dedicate a sharpener for each style of tungstun? That way it doesn’t “mix” thoriated and ceriated for instance, on your tip?

[@TimWelds]

I just use the same one for all of it. I don't think it's so sensitive that cross contamination between them will create any functional issue. Honestly, before I had a tungsten grinder, I used a bench grinder to sharpen them with the same wheel I used for everything else, which I'm not claiming to be a best practice, but it worked fine for me.

[@4speed3pedals]

It would be good to see a video on the laser welding process and the other feature they offer. Maybe some manufactrer would like exposure and possibly send one to you. They also have models that feed the filler wire aka a mig welder. Penetration is supposed to be better than any previous type of welding machine along with lower heat. I hope the prices come down, way down.

[@thomasking2081]

HI TIM, WILL THE NEWER STYLE TUNGSTEN WORK IN THE OLD TRANSFORMER UNITS?

[@TimWelds]

On DC, any of them should work. On AC, it depends a little on the specific transformer (whether it's straight unbalanced sine with continuous HF or has some amount of waveform shaping). Blue Lanthanated or a blend would be the best bet for an all around electrode. For a dedicated AC electrode that's a little better than pure on transformers, white Zirconiated is a good option.

[@ZILAwelds]

The blue also has poor low amperage arc stability especially on ac….

[@TimWelds]

Thanks Peter!

[@bowlrick]

You don’t mention anything about the %. I’ve tried the 1.5% ceriated and was not impressed. Even the 1.5% Lanthanated don’t seem to hold up. You had the Blue ones which are 2%, which seem to be very good to me. But your video doesn’t comment about the differences. It does seem to make a difference. I used 2% Thoriated forever when I was working in aircraft hardware. Not much AL though. Just a comment.

[@TimWelds]

Great point! These were all 2%, except the multi-mix which I believe has a bit more in total.