WEBVTT 00:00:04.200 --> 00:00:06.479 Hey, this is Jody with another weekly video. 00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:08.820 This week's video is a bit of a hot button topic: 00:00:08.820 --> 00:00:11.799 it's sharpening tungsten electrodes. 00:00:11.800 --> 00:00:13.439 There's a lot of opinions out there on that. 00:00:13.440 --> 00:00:16.119 Basically, there is best practice up here 00:00:16.120 --> 00:00:18.479 of using a diamond wheel of a certain grit 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:20.399 that-- that is dedicated 00:00:20.400 --> 00:00:23.599 to only ever sharpening tungsten electrodes, 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:25.999 and then there's everything else. 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:27.599 There's a lot of ways to do it. 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:30.959 I've seen it done a lot of ways, a lot of pretty crude ways, 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:33.919 and I've seen a lot of-- well, I've seen a lot of x-ray welds 00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:36.919 made with improperly sharpened electrodes. 00:00:36.920 --> 00:00:39.479 So, just-- just contributing 00:00:39.480 --> 00:00:41.479 to the conversation today, 00:00:41.480 --> 00:00:43.279 let's get on with it. 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:44.639 There are a lot of benefits 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:47.079 to having a dedicated tungsten grinder, 00:00:47.080 --> 00:00:48.359 like a handheld one like this. 00:00:48.360 --> 00:00:50.479 You can cut, if you get a blob of metal on it, 00:00:50.480 --> 00:00:53.119 you can cut it off really easily with the diamond wheel. 00:00:53.120 --> 00:00:56.519 You can put a flat spot on the end, you can put a consistent taper 00:00:56.520 --> 00:00:59.119 with the scratches all running like they ought to be, 00:00:59.120 --> 00:01:01.739 and the taper is consistent every single time, 00:01:01.740 --> 00:01:02.899 and you eliminate variables. 00:01:02.900 --> 00:01:04.259 You can also trap the dust, 00:01:04.260 --> 00:01:06.259 like this one's got a little capsule, 00:01:06.260 --> 00:01:07.459 traps the tungsten dust. 00:01:07.460 --> 00:01:09.459 That's that's definitely a benefit. 00:01:09.460 --> 00:01:10.939 But I don't have one, 00:01:10.940 --> 00:01:12.356 and I just can't make myself buy one, 00:01:12.356 --> 00:01:15.299 because every time I think about spending the 300 00:01:15.300 --> 00:01:17.299 or more dollars, even up to $800, 00:01:17.300 --> 00:01:19.139 I think about what else I can buy with that, 00:01:19.140 --> 00:01:21.979 and I wind up not getting one, so here are some other options. 00:01:21.980 --> 00:01:25.579 Here's one that a lot of people aren't necessarily familiar with, 00:01:25.580 --> 00:01:26.979 it's called Chem Sharp. 00:01:26.980 --> 00:01:29.259 It's a powdered, uh, chemical 00:01:29.260 --> 00:01:30.779 that you dip the electrode in 00:01:30.780 --> 00:01:33.619 after getting the tip of it red hot, 00:01:33.620 --> 00:01:34.899 and a couple ways to get it red hot, 00:01:34.900 --> 00:01:36.219 really, the best way is probably just 00:01:36.220 --> 00:01:37.779 with a little handheld propane torch. 00:01:37.780 --> 00:01:39.859 You don't have to ground out your machine like this, 00:01:39.860 --> 00:01:42.179 but you can-- you can just ground it out, 00:01:42.180 --> 00:01:43.979 get it hot, 00:01:43.980 --> 00:01:46.339 and dip it in and out, in and out, in and out, 00:01:46.340 --> 00:01:49.579 and, uh, it will put a taper on there 00:01:49.580 --> 00:01:51.739 as long and sharp as you want. 00:01:51.740 --> 00:01:53.819 It's just messy, it stinks, 00:01:53.820 --> 00:01:55.859 I am pretty sure breathing that junk 00:01:55.860 --> 00:01:57.619 is not good for you. 00:01:57.620 --> 00:01:59.099 Uh, it really stinks, 00:01:59.100 --> 00:02:01.249 so keep-- if you-- if you use this, 00:02:01.250 --> 00:02:03.689 either, you know, keep your face out of that stuff. 00:02:03.690 --> 00:02:05.969 Don't breathe it, can't be good for you. 00:02:05.970 --> 00:02:08.329 And also, it's good to have a piece of Scotch-Brite around 00:02:08.330 --> 00:02:11.169 and get that mess off of there, it's always got residue on it, 00:02:11.170 --> 00:02:13.129 but it works, it's pretty cheap, 00:02:13.130 --> 00:02:14.311 it's very portable, 00:02:14.311 --> 00:02:16.369 and, again, it works. 00:02:16.370 --> 00:02:18.889 I just don't really care for it because of the fumes. 00:02:18.890 --> 00:02:21.169 Another-- another nonstandard method 00:02:21.170 --> 00:02:23.249 that's used a lot on construction jobs 00:02:23.250 --> 00:02:25.209 by boilermakers and pipefitters 00:02:25.210 --> 00:02:26.889 is using a cutting torch. 00:02:26.890 --> 00:02:28.689 Now, the first time I heard about this, 00:02:28.690 --> 00:02:30.808 I was working on a paper mill job and the foreman said, 00:02:30.808 --> 00:02:33.210 "Hey, you ever sharpen electrodes with a cutting torch?" 00:02:33.210 --> 00:02:34.849 And I thought, okay, here we go. 00:02:34.850 --> 00:02:37.609 Left-handed pipe wrench joke coming, or skyhook, 00:02:37.610 --> 00:02:38.790 or bucket of weld tacks, 00:02:38.790 --> 00:02:41.249 but sure enough, it works. 00:02:41.250 --> 00:02:43.102 It is not the best way to sharpen electrodes, 00:02:43.103 --> 00:02:45.504 certainly if you're at home, it's not an economical way, 00:02:45.504 --> 00:02:48.089 using all that gas when you could sharpen them 00:02:48.090 --> 00:02:50.209 on a on a grinder or using that Chem Sharp. 00:02:50.210 --> 00:02:53.009 But you get it red hot, you hit the lever 00:02:53.010 --> 00:02:54.889 and uh, 00:02:54.890 --> 00:02:57.289 and go up and down and it erodes. 00:02:57.290 --> 00:02:58.569 Basically, it just, uh, 00:02:58.570 --> 00:03:00.989 oxidizes a layer off of that thing gradually 00:03:00.990 --> 00:03:03.029 and taper it on down, and you can get a-- 00:03:03.030 --> 00:03:05.029 you can get a really decent point, 00:03:05.030 --> 00:03:08.589 just like you can with a Chem Sharp, kind of. 00:03:08.590 --> 00:03:10.349 Now, here's one on the left side, 00:03:10.350 --> 00:03:11.709 here you can see it's a long taper, 00:03:11.710 --> 00:03:14.149 but it's also black and oxidized, 00:03:14.150 --> 00:03:15.509 and if you do this, you kind of need 00:03:15.510 --> 00:03:16.589 to light up on a piece of scrap 00:03:16.590 --> 00:03:18.909 and let that stuff outgas. 00:03:18.910 --> 00:03:20.429 Now, this is a rough way to do it. 00:03:20.430 --> 00:03:22.989 Just using a regular grinding rock 00:03:22.990 --> 00:03:24.709 on a 4.5in grinder, 00:03:24.710 --> 00:03:25.989 chucking the electrode up 00:03:25.990 --> 00:03:27.789 in a little cordless drill. 00:03:27.790 --> 00:03:29.269 You know, most people have a grinder 00:03:29.270 --> 00:03:31.589 and a cordless drill, and it works. 00:03:31.590 --> 00:03:32.749 It's just a little rough, 00:03:32.750 --> 00:03:35.589 but I do it all the time, to be honest with you, 00:03:35.590 --> 00:03:37.269 for a lot of jobs, it's okay. 00:03:37.270 --> 00:03:39.309 Of course, there's the old method here. 00:03:39.310 --> 00:03:42.589 Mom! He's grinding the tungsten sideways again! 00:03:42.590 --> 00:03:44.389 Mom! 00:03:44.390 --> 00:03:47.879 Oh, well, never mind. 00:03:49.310 --> 00:03:51.389 I picked this up at Home Depot for, 00:03:51.390 --> 00:03:53.789 I think, on sale for $30. 00:03:53.790 --> 00:03:55.669 Six inch bench grinder. 00:03:55.670 --> 00:03:57.869 I mean, this is-- this for most people, 00:03:57.870 --> 00:04:00.649 unless you're working in the nuclear industry, 00:04:00.650 --> 00:04:01.824 semiconductor industry, 00:04:01.824 --> 00:04:05.129 pharmaceutical piping, things of that nature. 00:04:05.130 --> 00:04:07.889 For most-- for most jobs, this-- this will be just fine. 00:04:07.890 --> 00:04:11.489 There is a risk of embedding aluminum oxide on the tip, 00:04:11.490 --> 00:04:12.769 but it's been done-- 00:04:12.770 --> 00:04:14.249 this method has been used 00:04:14.250 --> 00:04:16.649 for so many years, using aluminum oxide wheels. 00:04:16.650 --> 00:04:19.009 Lots of good welds have been made this way. 00:04:19.010 --> 00:04:22.489 Another method is just a belt sander, of all kinds. 00:04:22.490 --> 00:04:25.655 This-- this is one type of belt sander that would work, 00:04:25.655 --> 00:04:29.921 and that belt has been used for other stuff, 00:04:29.921 --> 00:04:33.969 but unless you are working on a really critical application, 00:04:33.970 --> 00:04:35.809 you're probably not going to notice any difference, 00:04:35.810 --> 00:04:37.689 to be honest with you, 00:04:37.690 --> 00:04:42.569 and this will put a nice-- this will put a nice taper on there. 00:04:42.570 --> 00:04:47.089 It's about 100 grit to 120 grit belt, 00:04:47.090 --> 00:04:48.289 and I can put as long a taper 00:04:48.290 --> 00:04:50.169 or as blunt a taper as I want, 00:04:50.170 --> 00:04:52.209 just they're not going to be 100% consistent 00:04:52.210 --> 00:04:54.529 like they would with an electrode grinder. 00:04:54.530 --> 00:04:57.899 But, again, it works. 00:04:58.690 --> 00:04:59.799 These diamond wheels 00:04:59.800 --> 00:05:02.319 is this little four piece set from Harbor Freight. 00:05:02.320 --> 00:05:05.599 It's got a quarter inch shank arbor on it, 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:09.039 and I just chucked it up in a straight grinder. 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:11.359 And it's not the safest, not nearly as safe 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:14.199 as an electrode grinder because it's not encapsulated, 00:05:14.200 --> 00:05:16.159 doesn't trap the dust and doesn't have a guard on it 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:18.079 and everything, but this little wheel 00:05:18.080 --> 00:05:20.559 works really well for cutting electrodes, 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:24.319 as well as putting a pretty quick taper on them. 00:05:24.320 --> 00:05:25.519 Just hold this with one hand 00:05:25.520 --> 00:05:26.679 and then the drill with the other, 00:05:26.680 --> 00:05:28.079 and again, it's a little bit cumbersome, 00:05:28.080 --> 00:05:29.399 so it's not my favorite way. 00:05:29.400 --> 00:05:33.243 But it does put a really-- a really good point on an electrode, 00:05:33.243 --> 00:05:34.719 and it does it really quickly. 00:05:34.720 --> 00:05:38.839 And you can get the scratches running pretty-- pretty favorably. 00:05:38.840 --> 00:05:40.799 So that's just just an option, 00:05:40.800 --> 00:05:42.833 like the cheapest way to go diamond wheel. 00:05:42.833 --> 00:05:44.599 Another way that I've read about on forums 00:05:44.600 --> 00:05:46.839 that I, that I tried here, 00:05:46.840 --> 00:05:48.279 don't really recommend it, 00:05:48.280 --> 00:05:52.319 is just a diamond cutting wheel like this on a 4.5in grinder, 00:05:52.320 --> 00:05:54.519 and you can actually-- I've seen actually on forums, 00:05:54.520 --> 00:05:56.439 where guys drill holes 00:05:56.440 --> 00:05:58.279 in the-- in the guard, 00:05:58.280 --> 00:06:00.579 and then poke the electrode through there to kind of support it, 00:06:00.580 --> 00:06:04.579 but I could just kind of prop it against the guard like this. 00:06:04.580 --> 00:06:06.619 And the-- the sparks, 00:06:06.620 --> 00:06:07.899 while not trapping the dust, 00:06:07.900 --> 00:06:09.779 at least it kind of directs them 00:06:09.780 --> 00:06:11.539 and don't just go everywhere. 00:06:11.540 --> 00:06:13.139 And that actually didn't work too bad. 00:06:13.140 --> 00:06:16.339 It put a really quick point on one, just really rough scratches. 00:06:16.340 --> 00:06:17.659 The point on the right there 00:06:17.660 --> 00:06:19.179 is the point that was done 00:06:19.180 --> 00:06:21.059 using that particular diamond wheel, 00:06:21.060 --> 00:06:23.579 and you can see that the scratches are pretty rough, 00:06:23.580 --> 00:06:26.219 as opposed to the one on the left done on the belt sander, 00:06:26.220 --> 00:06:28.619 which about-- with about 100 grit belt. 00:06:28.620 --> 00:06:30.419 And what I'm going to do with this electrode 00:06:30.420 --> 00:06:33.259 is I'm going to do two different applications. 00:06:33.260 --> 00:06:36.139 The one on the left, with the nice needle point, 00:06:36.140 --> 00:06:38.459 which, if I was welding on something very thick 00:06:38.460 --> 00:06:41.779 or at high amperage, I might flatten off. 00:06:41.780 --> 00:06:43.486 But I'm not, I'm going to actually light up 00:06:43.486 --> 00:06:46.179 on some razor blade box cutter stuff 00:06:46.180 --> 00:06:47.979 with this 3/32 electrode. 00:06:47.980 --> 00:06:51.124 This is 3/32, 2.4mm, 00:06:51.124 --> 00:06:52.939 and the point here is 00:06:52.940 --> 00:06:54.099 when would you-- when would you 00:06:54.100 --> 00:06:55.819 use a long tapered sharpened like that 00:06:55.820 --> 00:06:58.699 versus a less sharpened one, a blunt one 00:06:58.700 --> 00:07:01.639 like this, and what would be a good application for each? 00:07:01.640 --> 00:07:05.159 So, that's what we're about to do. 00:07:05.160 --> 00:07:08.199 Again, this is the 100 grit, tapered back pretty far. 00:07:08.200 --> 00:07:09.599 I'm leaving it at a needle point 00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:10.879 because I'm going to put a little tack 00:07:10.880 --> 00:07:13.319 on the end of the box cutters here, 00:07:13.320 --> 00:07:15.319 and just getting a-- you can see, lighting up, 00:07:15.320 --> 00:07:16.679 it's a fairly stable arc, but then 00:07:16.680 --> 00:07:17.879 when it hit the thin stuff, 00:07:17.880 --> 00:07:20.719 it kind of wanted to favorably move in that position. 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:22.679 But the point is here, 00:07:22.680 --> 00:07:26.239 you don't always have the right size electrode in your box. 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:29.279 You know, this-- this-- these box cutter blades, 00:07:29.280 --> 00:07:30.759 actually, the right size electrode 00:07:30.760 --> 00:07:32.999 would probably be an .040, a 40,000, 00:07:33.000 --> 00:07:35.672 so a one millimeter electrode. 00:07:35.672 --> 00:07:37.919 20 amps is what I'm using here. 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:40.359 Um, and you can see it's not-- 00:07:40.360 --> 00:07:43.639 the arc is not wandering everywhere. 00:07:43.640 --> 00:07:44.759 It didn't wander everywhere 00:07:44.760 --> 00:07:46.919 even to get a tack on the end, 00:07:46.920 --> 00:07:50.639 and it's a 3/32 electrode. 00:07:50.640 --> 00:07:52.799 And there are guys that will use a 1/8 electrode 00:07:52.800 --> 00:07:55.599 for almost everything, they'll just sharpen it, 00:07:55.600 --> 00:07:56.759 uh, a lot-- a lot sharper 00:07:56.760 --> 00:07:58.639 for-- for light amperage, 00:07:58.640 --> 00:08:00.414 thin stuff like this, 00:08:00.414 --> 00:08:01.989 and that's what's in their box, 00:08:01.990 --> 00:08:03.989 and that's what they use. 00:08:03.990 --> 00:08:06.269 It's not the best practice, not the best thing to do, 00:08:06.270 --> 00:08:08.469 but it works in a pinch. 00:08:08.470 --> 00:08:09.849 So here's another application, 00:08:09.849 --> 00:08:12.149 this is just a bead on a big, thick chunk of metal 00:08:12.150 --> 00:08:13.989 that's not cleaned very well, 00:08:13.990 --> 00:08:15.789 and you can see the rough-- rough scratches 00:08:15.790 --> 00:08:17.709 that aren't running perfectly longitudinally. 00:08:17.710 --> 00:08:20.149 But at 135 amps, 00:08:20.150 --> 00:08:22.469 you're not going to get much arc wandering, 00:08:22.470 --> 00:08:25.069 no matter how you put the scratches. 00:08:25.070 --> 00:08:28.469 Now, don't get me wrong, I am all for best practices 00:08:28.470 --> 00:08:30.539 and doing things the correct way, 00:08:30.539 --> 00:08:32.949 because you don't have to wonder when things go wrong 00:08:32.950 --> 00:08:34.429 if that was contributing to it. 00:08:34.430 --> 00:08:36.469 But I also live in the real world, 00:08:36.470 --> 00:08:39.309 and I've seen it done a lot of ways. 00:08:39.310 --> 00:08:41.629 Well, I hope this video gave you some things to think about. 00:08:41.630 --> 00:08:45.229 Maybe gave you some new ideas o sharpening electrodes. 00:08:45.230 --> 00:08:46.916 There's also a lot more information 00:08:46.916 --> 00:08:49.509 on topics like this over at the forum, 00:08:49.510 --> 00:08:52.269 at forum.weldingtipsandtricks.com. 00:08:52.270 --> 00:08:55.749 It's a great place to go for welding information. 00:08:55.750 --> 00:08:57.532 We'll see you next week.