SECTION 5 − SELECTING AND PREPARING TUNGSTEN

ELECTRODE FOR DC OR AC WELDING

ac/dc_gtaw 2/2004

Y Whenever possible and practical, use DC weld output instead of AC weld output.

5-1. Selecting Tungsten Electrode (Wear Clean gloves To Prevent Contamination Of Tungsten)

 

 

Amperage Range - Gas Type- Polarity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electrode Diameter

DC − Argon − Electrode

DC − Argon − Elec-

AC − Argon

AC − Argon −

 

Negative/Straight Po-

trode Positive/Rev-

 

Balanced Wave

 

larity

erse Polarity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2% Ceria (Orange Band), 1.5% Lan-

 

 

 

 

thanum (Gray Band), Or 2% Thorium

 

 

 

 

(Red Band) Alloy Tungstens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.010”

Up to 25

*

Up to 20

Up to 15

.020”

15-40

*

15-35

5-20

.040”

25-85

*

20-80

20-60

1/16”

50-160

10-20

50-150

60-120

3/32”

135-235

15-30

130-250

100-180

1/8”

250-400

25-40

225-360

160-250

5/32”

400-500

40-55

300-450

200-320

3/16”

500-750

55-80

400-500

290-390

1/4”

750-1000

80-125

600-800

340-525

 

 

 

 

 

Pure Tungsten

 

 

 

 

(Green Band)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.010”

Up to 15

*

Up to 15

Up to 10

.020”

5-20

*

5-20

10-20

.040”

15-80

*

10-60

20-30

1/16”

70-150

10-20

50-100

30-80

3/32”

125-225

15-30

100-160

60-130

1/8”

225-360

25-40

150-210

100-180

5/32”

360-450

40-55

200-275

160-240

3/16”

450-720

55-80

250-350

190-300

1/4”

720-950

80-125

325-450

250-400

 

 

 

 

 

Zirconium Alloyed Tungsten (Brown

 

 

 

 

Band)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.010”

*

*

Up to 20

Up to 15

.020”

*

*

15-35

5-20

.040”

*

*

20-80

20-60

1/16”

*

*

50-150

60-120

3/32”

*

*

130-250

100-180

1/8”

*

*

225-360

160-250

5/32”

*

*

300-450

200-320

3/16”

*

*

400-550

290-390

1/4”

*

*

600-800

340-525

 

 

 

 

 

Typical argon shielding gas flow rates are 15 to 35 cfh (cubic feet per hour).*Not Recommended.

Figures listed are a guide and are a composite of recommendations from American Welding Society (AWS) and electrode manufacturers. OM-1600 Page 9

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Image 13
Miller Electric DB17V12R, DB1725RDI25, DB1712RDI25 manual Amperage Range Gas Type Polarity, 50-150