Welding Tips and Tricks

Jody mentioned this in his latest video.
He was saying some guys strictly use a 1/8 tungsten and just taper it down a bunch for thinner material.
Otto, I've heard you mention use a 1/8 on 26 ga.
Should a man use a 1/8 tungsten on his torch? seems you would get longer life out of your tungsten?
Or should a man just keep 1/16, 3/32, and 1/8 tungsten and torch consumables in stock?
Thanks, John

John,

I personally like to use the smallest tungsten that I can get away with. First off the smaller it is the cheaper it is, and I'm cheap by nature and when I was younger by necessity. But I have ground down heavier tungsten when it was free to weld thinner stuff, but I would use 1/8" all day long as long as someone else is buying. That's my opinion.

Len

I have to agree with everything Braehill said.

If it's my nickel, I'll use the smallest practical size, with the added benefit of quicker, more precise sharpening for fine work.

If it's their nickel, I'll use whatever they hand me, and make it work.

That said, if I could only have one size, I'd go with 1/8. I very rarely weld anything where I'd benefit from heavier, but I can taper a 1/8 fine enough to weld almost anything.

Pure tungsten is the exception, I always prefer the smallest that will hold an even ball. I even have a pack of .040 I inherited, which I might pull out if I ever get bored enough to try the "beer cans" weld.

Steve S