Re: Welding rods and ARCS

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

Original poster: "BunnyKiller by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <bigfoo39-at-telocity-dot-com>

Tesla list wrote:

>Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<Dan_Gallagher%PULSARNOTES-at-pulsartech-dot-com>
>
>Hi list folks,
>I've seen all this about welding rods on the list but can't quite grasp it.
>I found a bunch of welding rods in the back of my toolbox, hence these
>questions.
>
>
Hi Dan...

what you read about are the tungsten inserts for MIG welding. They are 
used as an arc source since they have a very hi melting point. Normal 
welding rods are designed to melt and transfer the molten metal to the 
part being welded. In MIG welding, the metal being welded is melted and 
thus flows together ( sometimes a filler rod is used to fill large gaps) .

If you were to use "normal" welding rods as a material for spark gaps, 
you will find that the useable life of them to be in the seconds range ( 
since they are designed to melt fast) thus, not a good situation.

Most users of tungsten rods will drill out a bolt and press the rod into 
the hole in the bolt and then mount the bolt into the disc of the RSG . 
I prefer using button head cap screws since a "hole" is already there ( 
which makes drilling easier:)   ).


Scot D