the main cause of the splitting is getting the end too hot when sharpening it. you never want it to get red hot. cool it in water during sharpening if needed. the 3\32 tungsten is ok if welding aluminum you want to use 100% not 2% thoriated like on stainless.

How do you know if tungsten is contaminated?

Tungsten electrode contamination is another common pitfall that can occur during TIG welding. Indications that tungsten electrode contamination has occurred are: one, the weld puddle appears dirty; two, the filler rod does not join or melt smoothly into the weld puddle; and three, the arc becomes erratic.

How long does a tungsten electrode last?

A tungsten may fail in a single weld, or run 700+ cycles.

Can tungsten be blown up?

Nothing the welder could do would cause the tungsten to explode, unless there is not any shielding gas. What size tungsten and amperage are you using? The only other thing that would rapidly deplete the tungsten is lack of shielding gas.

What can damage tungsten?

Do not, by any means, using any harsh cleaning materials/chemicals such as ammonia, bleach or chlorine. These chemicals can damage your tungsten ring. It would be wise to avoid any chlorine treated pools or Jacuzzis when using your ring.

Why Does my Tungsten Crack Vertically when Welding? | Weld.com Forum

How long does it take for tungsten to erode?

The other naturally occurring isotopes of tungsten have not been observed to decay, constraining their half-lives to be at least 4 × 10²¹ years - if they decay at all.

Why is my TIG arc yellow?

Issue 4: Yellow Powder or Smoke on Cup—Tungsten Discolor

Incorrect shielding gas or mixture. Use argon gas. Helium or Argon/Helium blend gasses are also acceptable but not required.

How do I prevent tungsten contamination and discoloration?

4. How do I prevent tungsten contamination and discoloration? Allowing the tungsten to touch the weld pool is one of the most common causes of contamination. This problem can be resolved by moving your torch farther away from the workpiece, which in turn lengthens the arc.

Why do my TIG welds look dirty?

Poor gas coverage leads to contamination

The weld here shows contamination caused by lack of shielding gas, which can happen when the shielding gas is not turned on, there is either too little or too much gas shielding, or the gas is blown away.

Why is my tungsten ring turning black?

They are not chemically inert and therefore react with the environment, oxidizing easily when exposed to common household cleaners and even the skin's natural oils. Oxidation causes discoloration, often turning the ring brown, gray or black, and loses shininess.

What are three ways of breaking off the contaminated end of a tungsten electrode?

What are three ways of breaking off the contaminated end of a tungsten electrode? On a sharp corner with a hammer, with two pliers, or with wire cutters.

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.

Why do welds turn blue?

On stainless steel for example, any color in the weld or HAZ shows that an oxide layer has formed, which can affect corrosion resistance. The darker the color is, the thicker the oxidization. The colors follow a predictable pattern, from chrome to straw to gold to blue to purple.

Why is my TIG arc green?

Green is contamination of the tungsten, from either the filler or the base metal. You've mentioned nothing of your cleaning techniques before welding. A saw can contaminate the aluminum. It should be dressed back, and any oil on the blade can mess with things, and hence the carbon formation on the top.

How is tungsten brittle?

Tungsten is notoriously difficult to work with while in its impure state, as it's low ductility predisposes it to shatter. It is brittle at room temperature, and so must be cut/formed well above its transition temperature and cannot be cold-tooled.

Can tungsten go in salt water?

The wear resistant coatings, based on tungsten carbide, are absolutely stable in seawater, but they are not really dense. For this reason, the base material may corrode under the layer and the layer will peel off.

Does tungsten rust in water?

It was recently discovered that significant erosion/corrosion occurs with machinable tungsten when exposed to water, particularly when the water has dissolved oxygen present.