[grumpyoleman]

I'm looking for videos of using high freq (tip sharpened to a point, no ball on the end) and why you would use that config and why you would use a tip with a ball on the end. Anyone out there know if Jody has done a video on the subject?


Thanks

[cj737]

Depending upon what type of tungsten you use (pure versus lanthanated/ceriated) you’ll get a ball at some stage of use. The cleaning action has a direct effect on the tip balling. The taper angle has more to do with penetration control; a sharper angle less penetration, more blunt yields deeper penetration.

Some guys intentionally ball their tungsten, others needle point them for absolute arc control for precise weld bead. What’s the use case and material you’re confronting?

[LtBadd]

Before AC inverter machines, pure tungsten was the standard for AC aluminum TIG welding, being pure it doesn't stand up to the arc as well as alloyed tungsten, check out a chart of welding amperage for a given diameter and alloy of tungsten and you'll see the amp range for pure is much lower.

HERE is a video Jody did that will help to answer this.

[tweake]

i don't like sharp point for aluminum simply because it will melt and ball. there is a risk of tungsten inclusion if you blow the tip off. also it on a long sharp point it can screw up your arc length as the point melts back. i usually blunt the tip to about the size i would expect it to ball to.
if its getting a really big ball, then either reduce cleaning action or go up a size in tungsten.