What color tungsten do you use for steel?

What color tungsten is for stainless steel? The red TIG tungsten is the most commonly used electrode because the 2% thorium mixed with the tungsten is durable and versatile.

What type of tungsten is used for steel?

Best Tungsten for Mild Steel FAQ:

The 2% lanthanated tungsten (blue tip), like the rare earth blend (purple tip), works for both AC and DC welding. That means that it can be used not only for titanium, nickel, copper, mild and stainless steel but also for aluminum and magnesium which are recommended for AC welding.

What color tungsten is for what?

Pure Tungsten (Color Code: Green)

These electrodes form a clean, balled tip when heated and provide great arc stability for AC welding with a balanced wave. Pure tungsten also provides good arc stability for AC sine wave welding, especially on aluminum and magnesium.

What is GREY tungsten used for?

Grey electrodes perform well in DC applications and are great for welding titanium, copper, magnesium, aluminum, and nickel alloys, as well as non-corroding and stainless steels.

Can you use red tungsten on mild steel?

2% Thoriated Tungsten Electrodes – Red Tipped

This type should be used on applications with DC current equipment with constant current from a transformer. Containing 1.7% to 2.2% thorium oxide, this radioactive tungsten electrode works well with mild steel, stainless steel and other non-corroding metals.

How to choose the correct Tungsten for TIG Welding

What is purple TIG tungsten for?

The purple tungsten is a rare-earth electrode that replaces thoriated tungsten without the residual radioactivity. Its ease of use and narrow arc makes it preferred for welding stainless steel.

What is yellow tungsten used for?

Gold Lanthanated Electrodes for TIG Welding work in both AC and DC (electrode negative) settings since they can be sharpened or balled respectively depending on the project. It can weld steel from a square wave power source and it offers reliable arc starts and arc stability.

What tungsten is blue?

The EWLa-2 tungsten electrode is color-coded with a blue band. It is known for its excellent arc starting ability, excellent current carrying ability, and can withstand many arc cycles.

What is light blue tungsten for?

It is a proprietary product containing multiple additivies of rare earth oxides. Each additive complements others to enhance the welding performance. Being non-radioactive, it is a popluar replacement to thoriated tungsten. True Flex tungsten can be used for both DC and AC applications.

Can you weld stainless with purple tungsten?

Tungsten electrodes – Purple is the new red

In some places they are still considered the best solution for welding with direct current of high-alloy and stainless steels.

What is 2% Lanthanated tungsten used for?

What Are Lanthanated Tuingstens Used For? Lanthanated tungsten can be used for all of the DC welding applications with excellent arc stability at low amperages while maintaining its sharp point well and minimal burn rate in high amperage situations.

What tungsten is GREY?

The 2% Ceriated Tungsten from CK is best at low amperage ranges. It offers good ignition and re-ignition properties, long service life and excellent arc stability.

What is red tip tungsten?

2% Thoriated Tig Tungsten Red Tip

This tungsten electrode is used in the Tig Welding process and is the most used tungsten within the range of tungsten electrodes available.

Is purple tungsten good for steel?

Rare Earth (Purple) Electrodes

They perform well in DC applications and are great for welding copper alloys, nickel alloys, titanium alloys, and stainless steel.

What do TIG tungsten colors mean?

Color code and what it means

The main colors/varieties of TIG electrodes and their American Welding Society abbreviation are as follows: Green (EWP) = Pure Tungsten. Orange (EWCe-2) = 2% Ceriated. Red (EWTh-2) = 2% Thoriated. Gold (EWLa-1.5) = 1.5% Lanthanated.

Can you weld aluminum with GREY tungsten?

Use a pure tungsten or zirconiated tungsten electrode when AC welding aluminum. Don't use a 2 percent thoriated tungsten electrode. Make sure you use a tungsten electrode large enough in diameter to carry the welding current you plan to use.

What is the best all around tungsten for TIG welding?

Ceriated and lanthanated tungstens hold up better for AC TIG applications than 2% thoriated tungsten. While thoriated tungsten remains the most common in DC TIG, because of concerns about radiation, most experts strongly recommend ceriated or lanthanated electrodes for AC and DC TIG.

What is 1.5% Lanthanated tungsten used for?

1.5% Lanthanated (Gold) Electrodes

Lanthanated (Gold) Electrodes perform well in AC applications and are great for welding titanium alloys, copper alloys, nickel alloys, and stainless steel.

What is E3 tungsten used for?

E3 Electrode Features and Benefits:

Excellent ignition and consistent welding properties. Universal and suitable for all applications for DC and AC welding pf non-alloyed and high-alloyed steel, aluminum, titanium, nickel, copper, and magnesium alloys. Reliable and usable for automated welding.

What Colour is 2% Lanthanated tungsten?

2% Lanthanated (Blue) EWLa-2/WL20 Tungsten

It is good for low-alloyed steels, non corroding steels, aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, titanium alloys, nickel alloys, copper alloys and is typically our recommendation if you are purchasing your first package of tungsten electrodes.

Is purple tungsten good for aluminum?

This rare earth tungsten offers excellent ignition characteristics and consistent welding properties. They are universal and suitable for all applications in the whole range of AC and DC welding of non-alloyed and high-alloyed steel, aluminium, titanium, nickel, copper and magnesium alloys.

Can tungsten be welded?

Tungsten, like all refractory metals, must be welded in a very pure atmos- phere of either inert gas (gas tung- sten-arc process) or vacuum (electron beam process)2 to avoid contamina- tion of the weld by interstitials.

What is the best tungsten for welding aluminum?

If you are AC TIG welding aluminum for the first time we would suggest using a 2% ceriated in 3/32. Three solid options include Blue Demon , Weldcraft or CK. Ceriated is the most popular choice due to the easy arc start at low amperages.

Is blue tungsten good for welding aluminum?

They are coded in blue and are extremely useful in welding alloys, especially aluminum. 2% lanthanated electrodes are found suitable for thinner aluminum sheets (1/8) in AC as the amperage used is less.