How do you sharpen your tungsten?

[Shield Arc]

I think the only lanthanated tungsten I've tired is the blue. Like I said up around the 300-amp range with 1/8 inch tungsten the tip would start to splinter in short order. I bought new collet, and collet body for 5/32 inch tungsten, but since getting everything I haven't ran into a project where I need that much heat.:laughing:

 

[yomax4]

I use Chem-Sharp if it's handy but I still like the look of a bench wheel sharpened tungsten. Now days you don't need to ball the tungsten to do aluminum so you can use the less expensive 2%, Lanthinated or Cerated. They hold a point longer too. I usually sharpen up a dozen tungsten on both ends. That usually gets me through a job. I tend to mess up my tungsten a lot.

 

[jake98]

I think for the majority of us here, (99.99999 %)

Well, I'm sure not 'the .00001%'
OCCUPY TBN!

 

[deereman75]

Heres a link to the flame sharpening page I was talking about.
Flame sharpening tungsten.

 

[yomax4]

Heres a link to the flame sharpening page I was talking about.
Flame sharpening tungsten.

Sounds like it would work in a pinch..Not sure if the Acetylene carbon or the Oxygen Oxidizers would cause any troubles.

 

[deereman75]

Sounds like it would work in a pinch..Not sure if the Acetylene carbon or the Oxygen Oxidizers would cause any troubles.

It said that if you light it up on a piece of scrap it ould burn that crap out, not sure if it would really help much.

 

[tb525]

I think for the majority of us here, (99.99999 %) a 4 inch grinder will work just fine.

That's no lie, especially when using a scratch start mini tig torch.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have used the torch flame method to sharpen tungsten back in the 70's. It works well when you get the hang of it and get the tungsten angle into the O2 jet just right. You get a smooth surface to a needle point but it uses up a lot of tungsten compared to sharpening on a stone. Chem-Sharp works too but used to be expensive, but havent used it in many decades. Neither method contaminates the tungsten to the need to "burn out the impurities". With Chem Sharp you have to heat it up red hot prior to immersion in the powder and use a dip method in and out. I just sharpened it in the torch by sticking the tungsten and getting it hot then dipping it in and out till I liked what it looked like. If you get the chemsharp too hot, it will form a concrete like coating on top that is hard to melt through. Side grinder or bench grinder is the way to go IMO.

 

[robs660]

I bought a bench grinder at cheapo depot a few years ago. Right side is for steel left for aluminum. Works great no contamination and it was about 60.00. I am not worried about the dust because I hooked the grinder into a dust collector

 

[dlauffenburger]

I am not a welder so bear with me. I am a woodturner and a lot of the new tools are made of Carbide, tungsten, cobalt, and other specialized metals and in order to sharpen them efficiently we use a standard grinder but change the wheels to a softer friable wheel that is designed to break away easier (friable) exposing fresh grit faster than a normal gray wheel. You can use a standard white aluminum oxide wheel but I have had better luck with the new Norton 3X wheels, they contain less ceramic grit than the more expensive wheels but do a good job. They are more expensive than a white wheel but last longer and can be easily dressed with a diamond dresser.

Wheels - Bench and Pedestal 3X