MX442
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Congrats on diving into TIG, I am hooked. I am a newb at TIG, but I have been reading and studying all I can lately. My dad says to match the tungsten close to the metal thickness, so he started me on .040 thoriated for sheet metal. Though, I don't see why 3/32 sharpened to a point wouldn't work. I believe the E3 blend electrodes are chinese. Most of the budget electrodes are also china imports. They work. But, like anything else, there may be better choices.
I found Diamond Ground Products. http://www.diamondground.com/faqs/
They claim that their tungsten comes from Austria, or premium Wolfram from Germany. They sell through cyberweld. http://store.cyberweld.com/we2latuelwl.html
Or call them for a free sample: http://www.diamondground.com/request-a-sample/
After watching this video on tungsten, I ordered 2% lanthanated .040" from DGP. I have not tried them yet. When I get around-to-it, I will also order 2% lanthanated 1/16" and 3/32". Link to article and video:
http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/tungsten-electrodes.html
Hopefully I will get back out in the garage this week and burn some sheet metal with the .040 lanthanated tungsten. Also, I generally don't recommend HF tools, but their multipurpose diamond wheel sharpener part# 99823 has been working great for sharpening tungsten. About $30 with 20% off coupon.
I found Diamond Ground Products. http://www.diamondground.com/faqs/
They claim that their tungsten comes from Austria, or premium Wolfram from Germany. They sell through cyberweld. http://store.cyberweld.com/we2latuelwl.html
Or call them for a free sample: http://www.diamondground.com/request-a-sample/
After watching this video on tungsten, I ordered 2% lanthanated .040" from DGP. I have not tried them yet. When I get around-to-it, I will also order 2% lanthanated 1/16" and 3/32". Link to article and video:
http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/tungsten-electrodes.html
Hopefully I will get back out in the garage this week and burn some sheet metal with the .040 lanthanated tungsten. Also, I generally don't recommend HF tools, but their multipurpose diamond wheel sharpener part# 99823 has been working great for sharpening tungsten. About $30 with 20% off coupon.