Tungsten grinding

[Heli-ark]

Hey everyone, I been reading this board for awhile and have found answers to all my questions so far. So now my first post;
What type of grinding wheel or sanding disk is everyone using to sharpen their tungsten? I've tried "green" wheels with no visual differences to my welds. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance
Carl

[Hobart Expert]

Hi, I found some information from the Miller GTAW training guide I think you will find useful. Hope this is what you are looking for.
Marie

GRINDING:
Grinding of electrodes is common practice and is sometimes used to remove contamination. Grinding techniques are important
and many times poor grinding techniques can cause problems. Grinding should be done on a fine grit, hard abrasive wheel.

Tungsten is harder than most grinding wheels, therefore, it is chipped away rather than cut away. The grinding marks should run
lengthwise with the point. If the grinding is done on a coarse stone and the grinding marks are concentric with the electrode, there
are a series of ridges on the surface of the ground area. There is a possibility of the small ridges melting off and floating across the
arc. If the stone used for grinding is not clean, contaminating particles can be lodged in the grinding crevices and dislodged during
welding, and end up in the deposit. The grinding wheel used on tungsten electrodes should be used for no other material.
A common practice in pointing electrodes is to grind the taper for a distance of 2 to 2-1/2 electrode diameters in length. Using this
rule for a 1/8” electrode the ground surface would be 1/4 to 5/16” long. In some applications a sharp needle point is preferred to aid
low amperage starting. Needle pointed electrodes are usually preferred also on very thin metals in the range of .005” to .040.” In
other applications a slightly blunted end is preferred because the extreme point may be melted off and end up in the deposit. In
many applications pointing is done where actually a smaller electrode should be used.

[Stu Bass]

tungsten grinding

heli-arc: Check out the Ryobi tools they have a tungsten sharpener also black&decker. Have a couple of each in my school they work real good and fairly inexpencive. Stu

[Jerry]

I am always very cautious as to not grind anything on my grinding wheel that could lodge onto the tungsten and contaminate the weld. Such as aluminum or other soft metals or dirty oily metals which will cover or adhere onto the wheel.

Tell you what I've ground them with a 4 1/2" 60 grit sander right at the work bench for years. One day I was a little lazy and I've done this time to time now for years.

But ideally follow rocks report with direction of lines for the correct way, but other ways will work to.

[Chuck U&R]

Tungsten Grinder

I couldn't find a tungsten grinder on either Ryobis site or Black and Deckers.
Can anybody send me link - TIA.

[Guest]

Re: Tungsten Grinder

Originally posted by Chuck U&R
I couldn't find a tungsten grinder on either Ryobis site or Black and Deckers.
Can anybody send me link - TIA.

https://www.arc-zone.com

...and this is the page it's on:

http://198.170.235.20/catalog/tungsten.cgi

[Stu Bass]

? for rock on tungsten sharpening

Rocky: You seem to have been around in this game . I was wondering if you have ever used the dip powder or ever sharpened with a oxy tortch? A grinder is better but in a bind these work pretty well. Stu

[Guest]

Re: ? for rock on tungsten sharpening

Originally posted by Stu Bass
Rocky: You seem to have been around in this game . I was wondering if you have ever used the dip powder or ever sharpened with a oxy tortch? A grinder is better but in a bind these work pretty well. Stu

No, I haven't seen dip powder, but we did try a chemical sharpening procedure...it took too long to sharpen a tungsten, so we abandoned that one. Oxy torch?....a new one on me.

[Stu Bass]

Rocky sharpening

Rocky: I agree about the chemical sharpening also I didn't like the long tip it leaves. With the oxy you hold the tungsten with a pair of pliers(naturally,heat da ) heat the end up until it almost melts then hit the high air and rotate the tungsten back and forth until you get the amount of sharpness that you want. It works Quite well if you are in a bind or a hurry and don't have a grinder handy. Some times working up in a boiler in a tight spot you don't have the luxury of enough tools handy. Try it once see what you think. Stu

[Chuck U&R]

Tungsten Grinder

Rocky - Thanx for the link.
$220. is way over my budget for a 'toy'
When Ryobi and B&D are mentioned I automatically think - cheap as in inexpensive.
A dremel (type) tool with a grinding wheel and an angle fixture.
I'm thinkin' $50. max.

[Guest]

Re: Tungsten Grinder

Originally posted by Chuck U&R
Rocky - Thanx for the link.
$220. is way over my budget for a 'toy'
When Ryobi and B&D are mentioned I automatically think - cheap as in inexpensive.
A dremel (type) tool with a grinding wheel and an angle fixture.
I'm thinkin' $50. max.

I saw that very same grinder at Home Depot for $35, so just add a diamond wheel, and you have it!

[Heli-ark]

Thanks everyone,
The information has made me devoted a grinder solely for my tungsten sharpening.
ROCKY, mentioned a "diamond" wheel. I also heard of "green" wheels, any correlation?
Thanks again
Carl

[Jeepin Welder]

I'm taking a welding class that covers GMAW, GTAW and arc welding now, and we have a belt sander in the lab that's ONLY for putting the final tip on tungstens for TIG, and it works pretty good. We use a bench grinder to put the rough shape/angle on, then finish it off by using the belt sander , pointing the tungsten in the direction of the travel of the belt to avoid having it hang up and jam into your hand. You do not want to use this belt for anything else, as you may contaminate the tungsten and have problems when using it. It works really well, and my instructor also hinted to us that this type of finishing ( grinding/sanding in the direction of the length of the rod instead of perpindicular/ radially) will keep the arc much more stable, as a point that is ground radially tends to make the arc wander in a circular manner around the point and give you problems controlling it.

Some small belt sanders are available NEW on Ebay for less than $60 as of this posting.

John

[Stu Bass]

Jeepin welder: Just the thought of my fingers that close to a power belt sander gives me shivers. Every body has thier own way and reasons to sharpen tung. Pretty much whatever blow your dress up. I'll tell you what I usually do. Works for me. Use a fine hard wheel on bench grinder turn it on , chuck up my tung. in a drill motor. Hold my angle that I want , turn on the drill and grind. Keeps my hands clear and cool. Gives me a nice sharp tip at whatever angle I want. Works great for removing football on used tung. Stu

[Jeepin Welder]

The belt sander we use is safe enough, you can rest your hand on a cover on the top of the belt assembly and point the tungsten downwards where the belt runs in the same direction as the tungsten is pointing. Even if you did touch the belt at the top of it's travel, you would have to have your hand ride down the belt and to the bottom guard ( more than a foot) for it to do any real damage, the most harm you could do touching the belt on the top is remove a little skin, probably not even draw blood.

ANY power tools have safety issues, but careful use will almost always pevent accidents.

John