Re: Electrodes (Re: Tungsten Rod)

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

Original poster: "Terry Fritz" <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>

Hi,

McMaster-Carr has tungsten alloy (90W 6%Ni 4% Cu) rod at:

http://www.mcmaster-dot-com/cgi/loadpage.cgi?pagenum=3357&catnum=108&forceFormat=PDF

Or try

http://www.mcmaster-dot-com/

and search on tungsten. Its the top ones for "high density tungsten carbide 
rods"or try to get to page 3357.

They have from 1/8th inch to 2 inches in diameter (for larger coils 
:o)))  It says it is "machinable", but I imagine it is darn tough!

12 inch long 1/4 inch rod goes for $38.00  12 inches of 2 inch rod sets you 
back $790.

They "say" the melting point is 2012F (maybe they meant C?) which seems 
kind of low.  Pure tungsten is 6192F.  I think these rods are made in an 
odd powered sintered process so maybe the melting point is low.  I could 
not find melting point information in a quick net search.

The tungsten bare drill rods have very low tungsten content, but maybe that 
is the material Marc had so much luck with?  That is what they use for 
cutting tools on page 3359.  With an R/C harness of 44/66, good luck 
cutting it ;-))  I imagine that is well within the EDM, waterjet, plasma 
cutting territory, although, a cobalt tipped hack saw may have a small 
chance.  Cobalt rod I know will just shatter (guess how I know that ;-))

Cheers,

         Terry


At 08:16 PM 12/1/2002 -0500, you wrote:
>Way back Marc Metlicka had some nice tungsten carbide electrodes for
>sale.  There are pics at:
>
>http://www.fortunecity-dot-com/meltingpot/syria/1210/1c120580.jpg
>
>Anyone know where to get anything like this?  A bulk buy, maybe?
>
>         - Bill Vanyo
>
>Tesla list wrote:
> >
> > Original poster: "Dave Leddon by way of Terry Fritz 
> <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <leddon-at-attbi-dot-com>
> >
> > After firing up the old SRSG with a pig for the first time, it quickly
> > became apparent that 1/8 inch tungsten electrodes just weren't going to get
> > it, so I'm now trying to locate a source of ¼ inch tungsten rod.  McMaster
> > has some tungsten/carbide rod listed but I don't know how suitable this
> > would be compared to pure tungsten.  Any thoughts or suggestions for
> > sources and materials would be appreciated.
> >
> > Dave