Welding Tips and Tricks

Just read that the red ones are radioactive. How dangerous are they?

Also, which colors should I ask for if I don't want to use the radioactive ones?

Thanks for any insight.

The red coloured ones are 2% thoriated and Thorium is mildly radioactive. The only hazard is when you grind it, the dust could be inhaled. I also wouldn't stick them in your mouth, but that is a whole other matter! lol
I don't think it is anything too serious, Just use reasonable care and caution.

You could use ceriated or lanthinated...depends on what you are welding.

The red ones ( 2 percent thoriated) are midly radioactive but I have welded with them for years and don't have any health problems from them, I did just switch over to using 2 percent lanthanted recently because they seem to work better for ac. If you don't feel comfortable with them I would recommend going with the 2 percent lanthanted, most of the time they will be blue, but I believe some companies use yellow aswell. They are a very good all around tungsten but they are also double the cost as the 2 percent thoriated (red).

x3 on the thoriated tungsten. Just don't breath the dust when sharpening. I have also been welding for 20 yrs and this just came up a few yrs ago, everybody got all scared that it would cause you to grow a third eye It won't cause any issue when welding. Besides its the most universal tungsten IMO.

Just took delivery of a new Miller 250DX at work, and they now include Ceriated (orange) tungsten in the consumables kit. This works fine for mild steel, but I haven't really tested it out on SS or Al. I prefer Thoriated for any steel, and am quite comfortable with "pure" for Al.

I have no fear of the radiation in Thorium. Your home smoke detectors are more radioactive (Americium-241). As advised, if you're concerned, don't breathe the dust when you sharpen them.

OTOH, you probably get more radiation walking on the beach in your swimsuit.

Steve