Tungsten ?

[50bmgshooter]

ok all the normal bs been here for a while reading but just dont post I have a sycrowave 200 and just wondering what tungsten you would use on alu. been using 2% thoriated (red) for steel and it seems ok just need to to get my welds to look better,they look like one long weld unlike a stack of dimes . i think its because im always at the same heat setting and not letting off on the peddle.
on alu ive been trying to use pure (green) and getting a nice ball. but if i just try to run a bead its fine, when trying to join to pieces together the weld looks like a sloppy mess. just thinking that with the balled end in getting to much arc wander and if i could have a pointed end it might be easier?
Edit/Delete Message

[Mudsplasher]

I use ceriated tungstens on aluminum with my Syncro 350.

Are you cleaning the aluminum? It needs to be very clean, using a stainless wire brush dedicated to aluminum only.

[Rocky D]

The green tungsten has better arc stability on aluminum...but I use 2% thoriated on it as well.

[Brianstick]

Ive always felt that the 2% was a good all around tungsten to be used on everything.

[Rocky D]

....
on alu ive been trying to use pure (green) and getting a nice ball. but if i just try to run a bead its fine, when trying to join to pieces together the weld looks like a sloppy mess. just thinking that with the balled end in getting to much arc wander and if i could have a pointed end it might be easier?
Edit/Delete Message
Make sure your plates are clean, wire brush or file them, then as your are welding oscillate the torch some and push the filler rod in more than you would for steel. You want to have your weld drop through to eliminate a fit-up line on the other side. A pointed end can drop tungsten into your weld with AC, so start with a balled end, by striking an arc with DC reverse, just enough to get a small ball no more than the width of the tungsten your are using. The your weld will pass X-Ray.

[Pangea]

As mentioned above, 2% is good for about anything you will do in a home shop. I have been welding in the aerospace field most of my 28 years as a welder and have used 2% thoriated exclusively on everything from fighter jets to the Space Shuttle External Tank.

[Brianstick]

When i took welding back in '98 that's all they had in the shop.

[hankj]

50bmg,

Make sure your filler is clean, too, and be sure to keep it inside the gas shield. Most of my problems early on were caused by letting the filler wend its way out of the gas shiled, and the resultant oxidation crapped up the weld bead big time.

Hank

[Rocky D]

As mentioned above, 2% is good for about anything you will do in a home shop. I have been welding in the aerospace field most of my 28 years as a welder and have used 2% thoriated exclusively on everything from fighter jets to the Space Shuttle External Tank.

Me, too...I believe you mentioned Boeing,,I worked for a Boeing sub-contractor, Rohr, later to be Goodrich, for 40 years, and never even knew about anything other than 2%, all our hand and auto welding used the 2%. Works for me.

[gnm109]

I have a Syncrowave 200 and I use 2% thoriated for all my TIG. I sharpen the tungsten to a typical point and I've fouind that it will develop a small ball when welding with AC on aluminum without switching temporarily to DC+.

I noticed that pure tungsten will tend to make a ball that is much too large when run on AC. I've spoken to a number of people who use 2% thoriated exclusively so I changed and it's been fine ever since.

[50bmgshooter]

seems like every body likes the 2% so ill try it and see if it helps me at all
thanks to all of you that responded.
ill let you guys know how i make out
thanks

mike

[ZRX61]

I use ceriated for just about everything on my syncro 200 & a dynasty 300 I get to play with.

[Rocky D]

Thoriated and ceriated are both at 2%..the difference is that the cer-tung is non-radioactive. ither are good...availability may be a deciding factor.