Can I use purple tungsten for mild steel?

The 2\% lanthanated tungsten (blue tip), like the rare earth blend (purple tip), works for both AC and DC welding. That means that it can be used not only for titanium, nickel, copper, mild and stainless steel but also for aluminum and magnesium which are recommended for AC welding.

What is purple tipped tungsten?

The purple tungsten really is a true non-radioactive alternative to the thoriated tungsten electode. Why? The E3 electrode as it is known has many benefits! The electrode tip remains cooler than its thoriated cousin. It possesses superior repeatable ignition characteristics.

What color tungsten is for what?

Green
The main colors/varieties of TIG electrodes and their American Welding Society abbreviation are as follows: Green (EWP) = Pure Tungsten, Orange (EWCe-2) = 2\% Ceriated, Red (EWTh-2) = 2\% Thoriated, Gold (EWLa-1.5) = 1.5\% Lanthanated, Brown (EWZr-1) = 1\% Zirconiated.

What tungsten is used for aluminum?

If you are AC TIG welding aluminum for the first time we would suggest using a 2\% ceriated in 3/32. Two solid options include Blue Demon or Weldcraft. Ceriated is the most popular choice due to the easy arc start at low amperages.

What color tungsten do you use to weld aluminum?

Pure Tungsten (Color Code: Green) Pure tungsten also provides good arc stability for AC sine wave welding, especially on aluminum and magnesium. It is not typically used for DC welding because it does not provide the strong arc starts associated with thoriated or ceriated electrodes.

What is yellow tungsten used for?

1.5\% Lanthanated (Gold) The gold lanthanated tungsten electrodes contain less lanthanum than their blue counterparts and are best used in DC applications. They are best for welds with titanium alloys, copper alloys, nickel alloys, and non-corroding steel.

What tungsten is best for aluminum?

What is the best tungsten for aluminum?

The Best All Around Electrode for TIG Welding Aluminum. While each tungsten electrode has its advantages and disadvantages, one of the safest bets is 2\% lanthanated that is ground to a point with a flattened tip. Many welders prefer lanthanated for both AC and DC because it holds up well and provides a stable arc for a clean weld .

Is tungsten used in welding?

Gas tungsten arc welding ( GTAW ), also known as tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, is an arc welding process that uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to produce the weld.

What is purple tungsten electrode?

The purple tungsten really is a true non-radioactive alternative to the thoriated tungsten electrode. Why? The E3 electrode as it is known has many benefits! For example – when using the same current density the E3 electrodes are around 900 degrees C less than a 2\% Th (Red Tip) tungsten.