Tig Tungsten Electrodes

Manual TIG welding is often considered the most difficult of all the welding processes. Because the welder must maintain a short arc length, great care and skill are required to prevent contact between the electrode and the work piece. Similar to Oxygen Acetylene torch welding, Tig welding normally requires two hands and in most instances requires the welder to manually feed a filler wire into the weld pool with one hand while manipulating the welding torch in the other. However, some welds combining thin materials can be accomplished without filler metal like edge, corner, and butt joints. This is known as Fusion welding where the edges of the metal pieces are melted together using only the heat and arc force generated by the TIG arc. Once the arc is started the torch tungsten is held in place until a weld pool is created, a circular movement of the tungsten will assist is creating a weld pool of the desired size. Once the weld pool is established tilt the torch at about a 75° angle and move smoothly and evenly along the joint while fusing the materials together.
All our tungstens are sourced from SWP, Welding Star or Parweld
Pure Tungsten (Green)
These TIG electrodes are unalloyed, ‘pure’ tungsten with a 99.5% tungsten minimum and are relatively low cost. They provide good arc stability when using AC current, with either balanced wave or unbalanced wave and continuous high-frequency stabilization. Pure tungsten electrodes are preferred for AC sine wave welding of aluminium and magnesium because they provide good arc stability with both argon and helium shielding gas The pure tungsten electrode easily forms a balled end but has a tendency to spit at higher currents and this should be considered when making critical welds.
Ceriated 2% (Grey)
These TIG electrodes are alloyed with about 2% ceria, a non-radioactive material and the most abundant of the rare earth elements. The addition of this small percentage of cerium oxide increases the electron emission qualities of the electrode which gives them a better starting characteristic and a higher current carrying capacity with no spitting. These are all-purpose electrodes that will operate successfully with AC or DC electrode negative. Compared with pure tungsten, the ceriated tungsten electrodes provide for greater arc stability. They have excellent arc starting properties at low current. If used on higher current applications the cerium oxide may be concentrated to the excessively hot tip of the electrode. This condition and oxide change will remove the benefits of the cerium. The non radioactive cerium oxide has slightly different electrical properties as compared to the thoriated tungsten electrodes. The cerium electrodes work well with the Advanced Square wave power sources and should be ground to a modified point.
Lanthanated (1% Lanthanum, Black), (1.5% Lanthanum, Gold), (2% Lanthanum, Blue)
These TIG electrodes are alloyed with non radioactive lanthanum oxide, often referred to as lanthana, another of the rare earth elements. These electrodes have excellent arc starting, low erosion rate, arc stability and excellent re-ignition characteristics. The addition of 1 – 2% lanthana increases the maximum current carrying capacity by approximately 50% for a given size electrode using alternating current compared to pure tungsten. The higher the percentage of lanthana, the more expensive the electrode. Since lanthana electrodes can operate at slightly different arc voltages than thoriated or ceriated tungsten electrodes these slight changes may require welding parameters and procedures to be adjusted. The 1.5% content appears to most closely match the conductivity properties of 2% thoriated tungsten. Compared to cerium and thorium the lanthana electrodes had less tip wear at given current levels. Lanthanum electrodes generally have longer life and provide greater resistance to tungsten contamination of the weld. The lanthana is dispersed evenly throughout the entire length of the electrode and it maintains a sharpened point well, which is an advantage for welding steel and stainless steel on DC or the AC from Advanced Squarewave power sources. Thus the lanthana electrodes work well on AC or DC electrode negative with a pointed end or they can be balled for use with AC sine wave power sources.
Thoriated (2% Thorium, Red)
Thoriated electrodes both 1 and 2% are very commonly used electrodes since they were the first to show better arc performance over pure tungsten for DC TIG welding. However, thoria is a low-level radioactive material, thus vapours, grinding dust and disposal of thorium raises health, safety and environmental concerns. The relatively small amount present has not been found to represent a health hazard. But if welding will be done in confined spaces for prolonged periods of time, or if electrode grinding dust might be ingested, special precautions should be taken concerning proper ventilation. The welder should consult informed safety personnel and take the appropriate steps to avoid the thoria. The thoriated electrode does not ball as does the pure tungsten, cerium or lanthana electrodes. Instead, it forms several small projections across the face of the electrode when used on alternating current. When used on AC sine wave machines, the arc wanders between the multiple projections and is often undesirable for proper welding. Should it be absolutely necessary to weld with these type machines, the higher content lanthana or thoria electrodes should be used. The thoriated electrodes work well with the Advanced Squarewave power sources and should be ground to a modified point. These electrodes are usually preferred for direct current applications. In many DC applications, the electrode is ground to a taper or pointed. The thorium electrode will retain the desired shape in those applications where the pure tungsten would melt back and form the ball end. The thoria content in the electrode is responsible for increasing the life of this type over the pure tungsten.
Zirconiated (1% Zirconium, White)
This TIG tungsten is alloyed with zirconium oxide (zirconia) and is preferred for AC TIG welding when the highest quality work is necessary and where even the smallest amounts of weld pool contamination cannot be tolerated. This is accomplished because the zirconium alloyed tungsten produces an extremely stable arc which resists tungsten spitting in the arc.The current carrying capability is equal to or slightly greater than an equal sized cerium, lanthana or thorium alloyed electrode. Zirconium electrodes are typically used only for AC welding with a balled end. The tungsten electrodes come in a variety of diameters and you would select the appropriate diameter for the current to be used and type for the process mode. To physically identify the tungsten type the end is dipped with a colour. Take care to grind the non coloured end for welding.
E3 Rare Earth Purple
The Super 6 Pure Tungsten Green Electrode is the traditional choice for AC TIG welding, particularly on aluminium and magnesium. Known for its reliable arc stability and ability to form a clean, balled tip under AC conditions, it remains a go-to option for welders who need consistent performance on non-ferrous metals. While not as long-lasting as alloyed tungsten electrodes, pure tungsten is valued for its smooth arc starts and predictable behaviour, making it ideal for specific applications where precision and stability are key.
WR02 Tungsten (Turquoise)
The Super 6 WR02 Turquoise Tungsten Electrode is a premium multi-purpose electrode, suitable for both AC and DC TIG welding. It combines excellent arc starting performance with outstanding stability, making it one of the most versatile and reliable choices for professional welders. Engineered with rare earth oxides, the WR02 electrode delivers long life, high current-carrying capacity, and reduced electrode wear. It maintains a sharp point exceptionally well, providing precise control and clean welds across a wide range of materials including steel, stainless steel, aluminium, nickel alloys, and titanium.