0:00:04.200,0:00:06.479 Hey, this is Jody[br]with another weekly video. 0:00:06.480,0:00:09.319 This week's video is a bit[br]of a hot button topic: 0:00:09.320,0:00:11.799 it's sharpening tungsten electrodes. 0:00:11.800,0:00:13.439 There's a lot of opinions out there[br]on that. 0:00:13.440,0:00:16.119 Basically,[br]there is best practice up here 0:00:16.120,0:00:18.479 of using a diamond wheel[br]of a certain grit 0:00:18.480,0:00:20.399 that-- that is dedicated 0:00:20.400,0:00:23.599 to only ever sharpening[br]tungsten electrodes, 0:00:23.600,0:00:25.999 and then there's everything else. 0:00:26.000,0:00:27.599 There's a lot of ways to do it. 0:00:27.600,0:00:30.959 I've seen it done a lot[br]of ways, a lot of pretty crude ways, 0:00:30.960,0:00:33.919 and I've seen a lot of-- well,[br]I've seen a lot of x-ray welds 0:00:33.920,0:00:36.919 made with[br]improperly sharpened electrodes. 0:00:36.920,0:00:39.479 So, just-- just contributing 0:00:39.480,0:00:41.479 to the conversation today, 0:00:41.480,0:00:43.279 let's get on with it. 0:00:43.280,0:00:44.639 There are a lot of benefits 0:00:44.640,0:00:47.079 to having a dedicated tungsten grinder, 0:00:47.080,0:00:48.359 like a handheld one like this. 0:00:48.360,0:00:50.479 You can cut,[br]if you get a blob of metal on it, 0:00:50.480,0:00:53.119 you can cut it off really easily[br]with the diamond wheel. 0:00:53.120,0:00:56.519 You can put a flat spot on the end,[br]you can put a consistent taper 0:00:56.520,0:00:59.119 with the scratches all running[br]like they ought to be, 0:00:59.120,0:01:01.739 and the taper[br]is consistent every single time, 0:01:01.740,0:01:02.899 and you eliminate variables. 0:01:02.900,0:01:04.259 You can also trap the dust, 0:01:04.260,0:01:06.259 like this one's got a little capsule, 0:01:06.260,0:01:07.459 traps the tungsten dust. 0:01:07.460,0:01:09.459 That's that's definitely a benefit. 0:01:09.460,0:01:10.939 But I don't have one, 0:01:10.940,0:01:12.659 and I just can't make myself buy one, 0:01:12.660,0:01:15.299 because every time I think[br]about spending the 300 0:01:15.300,0:01:17.299 or more dollars, even up to $800, 0:01:17.300,0:01:19.139 I think about what else[br]I can buy with that, 0:01:19.140,0:01:21.979 and I wind up not getting one,[br]so here are some other options. 0:01:21.980,0:01:25.579 Here's one that a lot of people[br]aren't necessarily familiar with, 0:01:25.580,0:01:26.979 it's called Chem Sharp. 0:01:26.980,0:01:29.259 It's a powdered, uh, chemical 0:01:29.260,0:01:30.779 that you dip the electrode in 0:01:30.780,0:01:33.619 after getting the tip of it red hot, 0:01:33.620,0:01:34.899 and a couple ways to get it red hot, 0:01:34.900,0:01:36.219 really,the best way is probably just 0:01:36.220,0:01:37.779 with a little handheld propane torch. 0:01:37.780,0:01:39.859 You don't have to ground out[br]your machine like this, 0:01:39.860,0:01:42.179 but you can--[br]you can just ground it out, 0:01:42.180,0:01:43.979 get it hot, 0:01:43.980,0:01:46.339 and dip it in and out,[br]in and out, in and out, 0:01:46.340,0:01:49.579 and, uh, it will put a taper on there 0:01:49.580,0:01:51.739 as long and sharp as you want. 0:01:51.740,0:01:53.819 It's just messy, it stinks, 0:01:53.820,0:01:55.859 I am pretty sure breathing that junk 0:01:55.860,0:01:57.619 is not good for you. 0:01:57.620,0:01:59.099 Uh, it really stinks, 0:01:59.100,0:02:01.249 so keep-- if you-- if you use this, 0:02:01.250,0:02:03.689 either, you know,[br]keep your face out of that stuff. 0:02:03.690,0:02:05.969 Don't breathe it, can't be good for you. 0:02:05.970,0:02:08.329 And also, it's good[br]to have a piece of Scotch-Brite around 0:02:08.330,0:02:11.169 and get that mess off of there,[br]it's always got residue on it, 0:02:11.170,0:02:13.129 but it works, it's pretty cheap, 0:02:13.130,0:02:14.849 it's very portable, 0:02:14.850,0:02:16.369 and, again, it works. 0:02:16.370,0:02:18.889 I just don't really care for it[br]because of the fumes. 0:02:18.890,0:02:21.169 Another-- another nonstandard method 0:02:21.170,0:02:23.249 that's used a lot on construction jobs 0:02:23.250,0:02:25.209 by boilermakers and pipefitters 0:02:25.210,0:02:26.889 is using a cutting torch. 0:02:26.890,0:02:28.689 Now, the first time I heard about this, 0:02:28.690,0:02:30.249 I was working on a paper mill job 0:02:30.250,0:02:31.529 and the foreman said, "Hey, you ever 0:02:31.530,0:02:33.209 sharpen electrodes[br]with a cutting torch?" 0:02:33.210,0:02:34.849 And I thought, okay, here we go. 0:02:34.850,0:02:37.609 Left-handed pipe wrench joke coming,[br]or skyhook, 0:02:37.610,0:02:39.209 or bucket of weld tacks, 0:02:39.210,0:02:41.249 but sure enough, it works. 0:02:41.250,0:02:43.102 It is not the best way[br]to sharpen electrodes, 0:02:43.103,0:02:45.849 certainly if you're at home,[br]it's not an economical way, 0:02:45.850,0:02:48.089 using all that gas[br]when you could sharpen them 0:02:48.090,0:02:50.209 on a on a grinder[br]or using that Chem Sharp. 0:02:50.210,0:02:53.009 But you get it red hot,[br]you hit the lever 0:02:53.010,0:02:54.889 and uh, 0:02:54.890,0:02:57.289 and go up and down and it erodes. 0:02:57.290,0:02:58.569 Basically, it just, uh, 0:02:58.570,0:03:00.989 oxidizes a layer off[br]of that thing gradually 0:03:00.990,0:03:03.029 and taper it on down,[br]and you can get a-- 0:03:03.030,0:03:05.029 you can get a really decent point, 0:03:05.030,0:03:08.589 just like you can[br]with a Chem Sharp, kind of. 0:03:08.590,0:03:10.349 Now here's one on the left side, 0:03:10.350,0:03:11.709 here you can see it's a long taper, 0:03:11.710,0:03:14.149 but it's also black and oxidized, 0:03:14.150,0:03:15.509 and if you do this,you kind of need 0:03:15.510,0:03:16.589 to light up on a piece of scrap 0:03:16.590,0:03:18.909 and let that stuff outgas. 0:03:18.910,0:03:20.429 Now, this is a rough way to do it. 0:03:20.430,0:03:22.989 Just using a regular grinding rock 0:03:22.990,0:03:24.709 on a 4.5in grinder, 0:03:24.710,0:03:25.989 chucking the electrode up 0:03:25.990,0:03:27.789 in a little cordless drill. 0:03:27.790,0:03:29.269 You know, most people have a grinder 0:03:29.270,0:03:31.589 and a cordless drill, and it works. 0:03:31.590,0:03:32.749 It's just a little rough, 0:03:32.750,0:03:35.589 but I do it all the time,[br]to be honest with you, 0:03:35.590,0:03:37.269 for a lot of jobs, it's okay. 0:03:37.270,0:03:39.309 Of course, there's the old method here. 0:03:39.310,0:03:42.589 Mom! He's grinding[br]the tungsten sideways again! 0:03:42.590,0:03:44.389 Mom! 0:03:44.390,0:03:49.309 Oh, well, never mind. 0:03:49.310,0:03:51.389 I picked this up at Home Depot for, 0:03:51.390,0:03:53.789 I think, on sale for $30. 0:03:53.790,0:03:55.669 Six inch bench grinder. 0:03:55.670,0:03:57.869 I mean, this is-- this for most people, 0:03:57.870,0:04:00.649 unless you're working[br]in the nuclear industry, 0:04:00.650,0:04:02.889 semiconductor industry, 0:04:02.890,0:04:05.129 pharmaceutical piping,[br]things of that nature. 0:04:05.130,0:04:07.889 For most-- for most jobs,[br]this-- this will be just fine. 0:04:07.890,0:04:11.489 There is a risk[br]of embedding aluminum oxide on the tip, 0:04:11.490,0:04:12.769 but it's been done-- 0:04:12.770,0:04:14.249 this this method has been used 0:04:14.250,0:04:16.649 for so many years,[br]using aluminum oxide wheels. 0:04:16.650,0:04:19.009 Lots of good welds[br]have been made this way. 0:04:19.010,0:04:22.489 Another method is just a belt sander,[br]of all kinds. 0:04:22.490,0:04:26.049 This-- this is one type of belt sander[br]that would work, 0:04:26.050,0:04:30.329 and that belt has been used[br]for other stuff, 0:04:30.330,0:04:33.969 but unless you are working[br]on a really critical application, 0:04:33.970,0:04:35.809 you're probably not going[br]to notice any difference, 0:04:35.810,0:04:37.689 to be honest with you, 0:04:37.690,0:04:42.569 and this will put a nice--[br]this will put a nice taper on there. 0:04:42.570,0:04:47.089 It's about 100 grit to 120 grit belt, 0:04:47.090,0:04:48.289 and I can put as long a taper 0:04:48.290,0:04:50.169 or as blunt a taper as I want, 0:04:50.170,0:04:52.209 just they're not going[br]to be 100% consistent 0:04:52.210,0:04:54.529 like they would[br]with an electrode grinder. 0:04:54.530,0:04:58.689 But, again, it works. 0:04:58.690,0:04:59.799 These diamond wheels 0:04:59.800,0:05:02.319 is this little four piece set[br]from Harbor Freight. 0:05:02.320,0:05:05.599 It's got a quarter inch shank arbor[br]on it, 0:05:05.600,0:05:09.039 and I just chucked it up[br]in a straight grinder. 0:05:09.040,0:05:11.359 And it's not the safest,[br]not nearly as safe 0:05:11.360,0:05:14.199 as an electrode grinder[br]because it's not encapsulated, 0:05:14.200,0:05:16.159 doesn't trap the dust[br]and doesn't have a guard on it 0:05:16.160,0:05:18.079 and everything, but this little wheel 0:05:18.080,0:05:20.559 works really well[br]for cutting electrodes, 0:05:20.560,0:05:24.319 as well as putting a pretty quick taper[br]on them. 0:05:24.320,0:05:25.519 Just hold this with one hand 0:05:25.520,0:05:26.679 and then the drill with the other, 0:05:26.680,0:05:28.079 and again, it's a little bit cumbersome, 0:05:28.080,0:05:29.399 so it's not my favorite way. 0:05:29.400,0:05:33.479 But it does put a really--[br]a really good point on an electrode, 0:05:33.480,0:05:34.719 and it does it really quickly. 0:05:34.720,0:05:38.839 And you can get the scratches[br]running pretty-- pretty favorably. 0:05:38.840,0:05:40.799 So that's just just an option, 0:05:40.800,0:05:43.039 like the cheapest way to go,[br]diamond wheel. 0:05:43.040,0:05:44.599 Another way[br]that I've read about on forums 0:05:44.600,0:05:46.839 that I, that I tried here, 0:05:46.840,0:05:48.279 don't really recommend it, 0:05:48.280,0:05:52.319 is just a diamond cutting wheel[br]like this on a 4.5in grinder, 0:05:52.320,0:05:54.519 and you can actually--[br]I've seen actually on forums, 0:05:54.520,0:05:56.439 where guys drill holes 0:05:56.440,0:05:58.279 in the-- in the guard, 0:05:58.280,0:06:00.579 and then poke the electrode[br]through there to kind of support it, 0:06:00.580,0:06:04.579 but I could just kind of prop it[br]against the guard like this. 0:06:04.580,0:06:06.619 And the-- the sparks, 0:06:06.620,0:06:07.899 while not trapping the dust, 0:06:07.900,0:06:09.779 at least it kind of directs them 0:06:09.780,0:06:11.539 and don't just go everywhere. 0:06:11.540,0:06:13.139 And that actually didn't work too bad. 0:06:13.140,0:06:16.339 It put a really quick point on one,[br]just really rough scratches. 0:06:16.340,0:06:17.659 The point on the right there 0:06:17.660,0:06:19.179 is the point that was done 0:06:19.180,0:06:21.059 using that particular diamond wheel, 0:06:21.060,0:06:23.579 and you can see that the scratches[br]are pretty rough, 0:06:23.580,0:06:26.219 as opposed to the one on the left[br]done on the belt sander, 0:06:26.220,0:06:28.619 which about with about 100 grit belt. 0:06:28.620,0:06:30.419 And what I'm going to do[br]with this electrode 0:06:30.420,0:06:33.259 is I'm going[br]to do two different applications. 0:06:33.260,0:06:36.139 The one on the left,[br]with the nice needle point, 0:06:36.140,0:06:38.459 which, if I was welding[br]on something very thick 0:06:38.460,0:06:41.779 or at high amperage,[br]I might flatten off. 0:06:41.780,0:06:43.699 But I'm not,[br]I'm going to actually light up 0:06:43.700,0:06:46.179 on some razor blade box cutter stuff 0:06:46.180,0:06:47.979 with this 3/32 electrode. 0:06:47.980,0:06:51.659 This is 3/32, 2.4mm, 0:06:51.660,0:06:52.939 and the point here is 0:06:52.940,0:06:54.099 when would you-- when would you 0:06:54.100,0:06:55.819 use a long tapered sharpened like that 0:06:55.820,0:06:58.699 versus a less sharpened one, a blunt one 0:06:58.700,0:07:01.639 like this, and what would[br]be a good application for each. 0:07:01.640,0:07:05.159 So, that's what we're about to do. 0:07:05.160,0:07:08.199 Again, this is the 100 grit,[br]tapered back pretty far. 0:07:08.200,0:07:09.599 I'm leaving it at a needle point 0:07:09.600,0:07:10.879 because I'm going to put a little tack 0:07:10.880,0:07:13.319 on the end of the box cutters here, 0:07:13.320,0:07:15.319 and just getting a--[br]you can see, lighting up, 0:07:15.320,0:07:16.679 it's a fairly stable arc, but then 0:07:16.680,0:07:17.879 when it hit the thin stuff, 0:07:17.880,0:07:20.719 it kind of wanted to favorably move[br]in that position. 0:07:20.720,0:07:22.679 But the point is here, 0:07:22.680,0:07:26.239 you don't always have[br]the right size electrode in your box. 0:07:26.240,0:07:29.279 You know, this-- this--[br]these box cutter blades, 0:07:29.280,0:07:30.759 actually, the right size electrode 0:07:30.760,0:07:32.999 would probably be an .040, a 40,000, 0:07:33.000,0:07:36.039 so a one millimeter electrode. 0:07:36.040,0:07:37.919 20 amps is what I'm using here. 0:07:37.920,0:07:40.359 Um, and you can see it's not-- 0:07:40.360,0:07:43.639 the arc is not wandering everywhere. 0:07:43.640,0:07:44.759 It didn't wander everywhere 0:07:44.760,0:07:46.919 even to get a tack on the end, 0:07:46.920,0:07:50.639 and it's a 3/32 electrode. 0:07:50.640,0:07:52.799 And there are guys[br]that will use a 1/8 electrode 0:07:52.800,0:07:55.599 for almost everything,[br]they'll just sharpen it, 0:07:55.600,0:07:56.759 uh, a lot-- a lot sharper 0:07:56.760,0:07:58.639 for for light amperage, 0:07:58.640,0:08:00.829 thin stuff like this, 0:08:00.830,0:08:01.989 and that's what's in their box, 0:08:01.990,0:08:03.989 and that's what they use. 0:08:03.990,0:08:06.269 It's not the best practice,[br]not the best thing to do, 0:08:06.270,0:08:08.469 but it works in a pinch. 0:08:08.470,0:08:10.069 So here's another application, 0:08:10.070,0:08:12.149 this is just a bead[br]on a big, thick chunk of metal 0:08:12.150,0:08:13.989 that's not cleaned very well, 0:08:13.990,0:08:15.789 and you can see the rough--[br]rough scratches 0:08:15.790,0:08:17.709 that aren't running[br]perfectly longitudinally. 0:08:17.710,0:08:20.149 But at 135 amps, 0:08:20.150,0:08:22.469 you're not going[br]to get much arc wandering, 0:08:22.470,0:08:25.069 no matter how you put the scratches. 0:08:25.070,0:08:28.469 Now, don't get me wrong,[br]I am all for best practices 0:08:28.470,0:08:30.829 and doing things the correct way, 0:08:30.830,0:08:32.949 because you don't have to wonder[br]when things go wrong 0:08:32.950,0:08:34.429 if that was contributing to it. 0:08:34.430,0:08:36.469 But I also live in the real world, 0:08:36.470,0:08:39.309 and I've seen it done a lot of ways. 0:08:39.310,0:08:41.629 Well, I hope this video[br]gave you some things to think about. 0:08:41.630,0:08:45.229 Maybe gave you some new ideas[br]o sharpening electrodes. 0:08:45.230,0:08:47.309 There's also a lot more information 0:08:47.310,0:08:49.509 on topics like this over at the forum, 0:08:49.510,0:08:52.269 at forum.weldingtipsandtricks.com. 0:08:52.270,0:08:55.749 It's a great place to go[br]for welding information. 0:08:55.750,0:08:56.750 We'll see you next week.