Welding Tips and Tricks

I can completely appreciate the solid advice on grinding a tungsten electrode. That advice being to use a dedicated grind wheel for the sole purpose of tungsten grinding. My question is in respect of that dedicated grind wheel.

Using different types of electrodes, ceriated, lantanated, thoriated ... can one use the same grind wheel for all types, or should one use a separate wheel for each individual type of electrode?

Regards
Hugh

The same wheel for any tungsten is fine. Diamond wheels are best, but most expensive. The green silicon carbide is a great choice too, but they are soft and will groove up if you don’t rotate your tungsten across the surface (chuck it up in a drill, spin slowly, and slide across the width of the wheel while it’s spinning). I follow up with a red scotchbrite pad to polish it afterwards.

Thanks CJ. Noted: diamond wheel and scotchbrite. I have 2 small bench grinders and will put 2 diamond wheels (120 and 600) on one and dedicate it for the purpose. These wheels from eBay and less than $10 for the pair ... we'll see how good they are.
PS... Happy New Year to all

Best
Hugh

Panchdara wrote:Thanks CJ. Noted: diamond wheel and scotchbrite. I have 2 small bench grinders and will put 2 diamond wheels (120 and 600) on one and dedicate it for the purpose. These wheels from eBay and less than $10 for the pair ... we'll see how good they are.
PS... Happy New Year to all

Best
Hugh

Hello Hugh
if you don't mind please post a link to the diamond wheels you found on ebay, thanks

Hi Richard... here's my first approach - I did order these.... proof is in the grinding! I also ordered a 600... not sure where that one is ending up yet?

Best

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3x-6-Inch-Di ... 2527805572

Panchdara wrote:Hi Richard... here's my first approach - I did order these.... proof is in the grinding! I also ordered a 600... not sure where that one is ending up yet?

Best

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3x-6-Inch-Di ... 2527805572

Those are flap discs, not bench grinding wheels. You want something like this actually (unless you intend to use your angle grinder to sharpen your tungsten?

https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tn/Abr ... 4288105137

Panchdara wrote:Hi Richard... here's my first approach - I did order these.... proof is in the grinding! I also ordered a 600... not sure where that one is ending up yet?

Best

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3x-6-Inch-Di ... 2527805572

I bought a flat disc like that and added it to the side of my bench grinder, it works but the angle is sometimes awkward. However I found THIS and am thinking I might try one.

I used to grind tungsten on a grinder for years and I purchased a tungsten grinder about 6 months ago. Worth every penny. Spent a little over $200 on it so it’s a low end model but the time it saves and perfect tip every time makes it worth it. Just my 2 cents.

Graveyard wrote:I used to grind tungsten on a grinder for years and I purchased a tungsten grinder about 6 months ago. Worth every penny. Spent a little over $200 on it so it’s a low end model but the time it saves and perfect tip every time makes it worth it. Just my 2 cents.

Which grinder did you buy?

LtBadd wrote:

Graveyard wrote:I used to grind tungsten on a grinder for years and I purchased a tungsten grinder about 6 months ago. Worth every penny. Spent a little over $200 on it so it’s a low end model but the time it saves and perfect tip every time makes it worth it. Just my 2 cents.

Which grinder did you buy?

It is a standard Tech South tungsten grinder. I know some aren’t impressed with them but I’ve had a lot of success with mine and use it almost daily.

LtBadd wrote:

Panchdara wrote:Hi Richard... here's my first approach - I did order these.... proof is in the grinding! I also ordered a 600... not sure where that one is ending up yet?

Best

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3x-6-Inch-Di ... 2527805572

I bought a flat disc like that and added it to the side of my bench grinder, it works but the angle is sometimes awkward.

20180101_182435.jpg

However I found THIS and am thinking I might try one.

I bought one of those flat disk too. You're right; the angle is weird and I don't get parallel groves to the point of the tungsten. So I went back to my Harbor Freight 3" bench grinder with a diamond blade on it. Works really well.

tungstendipper wrote: I bought one of those flat disk too. You're right; the angle is weird and I don't get parallel groves to the point of the tungsten. So I went back to my Harbor Freight 3" bench grinder with a diamond blade on it. Works really well.

Are you referring to a 3" wheel with a diamond face? What grit do you use?

LtBadd wrote:

tungstendipper wrote: I bought one of those flat disk too. You're right; the angle is weird and I don't get parallel groves to the point of the tungsten. So I went back to my Harbor Freight 3" bench grinder with a diamond blade on it. Works really well.

Are you referring to a 3" wheel with a diamond face? What grit do you use?

Here's my set-up I had to drill out the wheels to fit the grinder. Grit? Don't know doesn't say.
The wheels are only 10 bucks.

Got it, thanks for the pics

I rigged up a dedicated grinder using a HFT bench grinder and cabbing (diamond) wheels from Rocklady on ebay, but rarely use it anymore.

For my purposes, I find that just using a 4" angle grinder works fine. I turn it on, set it on the floor, hold it from moving with my feet, and spin the tungstens against the wheel by hand. I don't see all that much difference from the dedicated grinder, and mine goes to I think 800 grit.

If you're trying to TIG on a budget, I think this is one place to save some dough. I definitely can't see spending $$$$ on a tungsten grinder. Maybe if I was tigging unobtainium for NASA, but I'm not...

I found a Liquid Gold grinder used about ten years ago for a pretty good price, I had to get a new diamond wheel and a few other parts to make it right but it does work good. Not so sure I would spend the money to buy one brand new as they are proud as He!! of those things.