refurbishing tig electrodes

[Glenn]

When you refurbish or sharpen tig electrodes, does it matter which way they are sharpened, or with different size grits?

I mean it is easy to put the electrode on the guard and 90* to the direction of the grinder and spin the electrode. This gives you a series of concentric rings around the taper.

The other way is to hold the electrode long ways or parallel to the motion of the grinder so it makes long scratches along the taper.

Which is best and why? And does sharpening with a fine grit preform better than sharpening with a course grit?

[Ten Hammers]

This will open a pandoras box of opinions. I was taught to sharpen paralell so fire will follow the shaft out to the tip. I know one thing for sure, you should point tip away from the wheel rotation. 100 grit was suggested to me.

[HWooldridge]

Yes, I've experimented by rolling them both around the wheel and lengthwise to rotation and the latter makes for a more directed arc - primarily as the amperage decreases.

[Dodge]

I know I should have done some research b4 opening my mouth as its been years since I did TIG but I do remember the grind should be parallel with the rod as TH and HW said. However, there is also consideration for the shape of the tip. A sharp tip is not always is not always desirable and is dependent on the material being welded. Can't find a link but some electrodes come with a blunt tapered ball type tip.

[Black Ink]

All the boilermakers I know put it in a battery drill and grind parallel with the trigger on,and I like to put a tiny flat spot on the tip for a more consistant and controlable arc.

[evfreek]

All good comments above. I learned to point the tip away from the wheel rotation, otherwise it caught and shattered. The fellow at the abrasives store sold me a fine green stone (SiC) which he said most of the local welders used to grind their tungstens. It worked great, but now I am looking for a portable grinder so I don't grind the thoriated electrodes on my shop grinder.

[Dodge]

After an exhausting research session I found this term: Balling; An electrode preparation process in which the tip of the tungsten electrode is formed into a hemispherical ball. This shape is required for AC and DCEP : What is the definition of balling? Also here's another interesting document I found, millerwelds gtawbook.pdf Hope this is useful

[Ten Hammers]

Fella that taught me also suggested a dedicated wheel ( rock ) might be the way to go ( lessening contamination ). I don't do enough of this to know but I trust my teacher.

[saintjohnbarleycorn]

yes, a separate wheel, you could make a diamond one, for not that much. also the red ones are not good to breathe as they are radioactive.

[saintjohnbarleycorn]

I think the balling is for aluminum. but my tips ball a little on steel too, well to be honest sometimes the ball a lot!