Re: How do you cut Tungsten Rods????

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Terry Blake by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <tb3-at-att-dot-net>

Hi Dan,

The rod is very brittle.  Usually an imperfection in the rod can be used to
snap it like a piece of glass.

You could use the corner of a file to create a v-notch, which does not have
to be very deep.  Then put the rod in a vise and clamp very close to the
notch.  Then pull on the rod and it should SNAP off and break at the notch.

Make the rods a tiny bit bigger than you really want, because you may want
to clean up the broken edges with a grinder.

I have also used one of those high-speed Dremel tools with a cut-off blade
to work through the rod.  I put my drill in a vise, the rod into the drill
chuck and rotate at a slow speed.  Then I apply the cutoff wheel.
Gradually, the rod just wears down and falls off exactly where I want.  No
cleanup required.  You will need a good supply of cutoff wheels.  The rod
eats them up fast

Terry Blake

Coils in Chicago.



----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 6:54 PM
Subject: How do you cut Tungsten Rods????


> Original poster: "Daniel McCauley by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <dhmccauley-at-spacecatlighting-dot-com>
>
> I'm lost.  I've been trying to cut my 2% thoriated Tungsten (1/8" Dia)
rods
> down to one inch pieces which I can use for my electrodes in my SRSG,
> however nothing I try seems to work.  So far I've tried three different
> types of hack saws, and a band saw with no luck.  Doesn't even scratch the
> stuff it seems.
>
> Any help appreciated.
>
> Thanks
> Dan
>
>
>
>
>