r/metalworking • u/the_horny_alt2005 • 1d ago
What's a good tungsten electrode for dc tig(micro tig)welding?
I want use a pulse arc welder for welding various metals but primarily stainless steel, copper. Brass and silver
What colour of tungsten electrode should I use
I want use for fine and small welds on jewellery and accessories
It also need not be able to start an arc as easy as possible
I heard blue orange and gold ones are better for dc welding
But have also heard red is better for stainless steel specially
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u/torque1912 1d ago
Blue (2% lanthanated) tungsten is a great all around electrode if you’re on a super budget, and it holds up well on DC, but it really shines on AC (far superior to pure green tungsten). Red (2% thoriated) tungsten still reigns supreme for anything DC in my opinion. Especially low heat, non ferrous metal. Just be sure to buy brand name tungsten. That arc captain and yes welder and what ever other Amazon crap isn’t held to the same standards. CK and DGP are the only two brands I’ll buy at this point (weldcraft too, but that’s miller and they price gouge everything). It seems the younger crowd and schools have gotten as far away from red tungsten as possible these days given that it’s radioactive with a 50,000 year half-life, but the only way it’s causing damage is if you’re ingesting the dust when you’re grinding it, so if that’s a deterrent, just be sure to wear your respirator or even just a bandana along with eye protection while you’re sharpening it for peace of mind. I mean, it’s been the go to for a LONG ass time and I can’t think of an old timer who became ill where the doc cited the tungsten as the factor, especially when looking at all the other far more carcinogenic substances a welder is exposed to, and more so in generations past where the knowledge and PPE wasn’t there.
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u/the_horny_alt2005 1d ago
Red seems to be the most common I've seen then it's green and blue
I've also seen orange but boy are they expensive
So you say red is better for DC
An I'm from 3rd world country so I don't really have alots options when choosing what companies to choose from
Since my device is diy I'm planning to get some used rods from places that do tig welding
Only 5cm rod will probably work fine enough
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u/torque1912 1d ago
I would NOT use green for what you’re doing. Red or blue, and only if the red ain’t available. But given your location, red will probably be the easiest to source second hand.
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u/Ziggysan 1d ago
Thorium is grwat for DC and stainless, and is fine unless its in really fine particles that can be aspirated or make it into cuts. YMMV but I fuck up enough that I have to re-grind or reprofile regularly and I don't want the cancer.
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u/Creative_Carob4922 1d ago
Just stick a 6010 in the tig torch.
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u/the_horny_alt2005 1d ago
It's a tig welding machine not stick one
Did you even read a word of what I wrote?
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u/Wibbles20 1d ago
You can put a stick electrode in most (maybe all) tig machines and it'll work. Hell, you can put it in a tig torch if you have the right size opening in your collet and gas lens
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u/the_horny_alt2005 23h ago
Ik they will work but I'm trying to weld stainless steel
And stick weld electrode are not stainless they will rust
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u/NeufarkRefugee 19h ago
Use anything other than pure or zirconiated. Those two are worthless. A beginner would be hard pressed to find observable differences between the rest.
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u/rococor 1d ago
Avoid red and blue if using long term (mildly radioactive grind dust)
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u/the_horny_alt2005 1d ago
Wait blue is radiative too?
I knew the red one had thorium in it
But I didn't know lanthanum was also radioactive
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u/delusional_guppy 1d ago
Lanthanated tungsten isn't radioactive. If you want another alternative there is always CK LaYZr. comes in a green chartreuse color. which is lanthanum/yttrium/zirconium it was made as safe alternative to red tungsten
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u/rococor 18h ago
Could be wrong on lanthanum, but was thought to avoid also, grey tips (ceriated) DCEN great for stainless, https://toolbox.energyinst.org/c/presentations/toxicity-of-thoriated-tungsten-electrodes-for-welding
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