How Tough is a Solid Block of Tungsten?!?!

[Jeff '79]

Let's test a few different different calibers.

How Tough is a Solid Block of Tungsten?!?! - YouTube

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Thoriated tungsten is radioactive and will set off the monitors at my job.

[Jeff '79]

Originally Posted by Thomas

Thoriated tungsten is radioactive and will set off the monitors at my job.

So what is tungsten actually used for?

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Originally Posted by Jeff '79

So what is tungsten actually used for?

It provides current to the welding arc. Most of the time you’ll add a filler rod like ER308 but you can just ‘wash’ over your bead if the need arises.

The tungsten is not consumed during the welding process as it is with stick welding.

It also requires a shielding gas. Usually argon.

[z06psi]

Wedding rings.

[VatorMan]

You Nuke welders have my respect. Good stuff.

[markids77]

Originally Posted by Thomas

It provides current to the welding arc. Most of the time you’ll add a filler rod like ER308 but you can just ‘wash’ over your bead if the need arises.

The tungsten is not consumed during the welding process as it is with stick welding.

It also requires a shielding gas. Usually argon.

Thomas is describing the electrode used in TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding.
It can also be alloyed with other metals or chemically altered (think tungsten carbide) to toughen the alloy.

[Egnalf]

Originally Posted by VatorMan

You Nuke welders have my respect. Good stuff.

Tig isnt really nuke specific. its often the process used for welding stainless piping in pharma, chip manufacturing and other clean type facilities piping systems. even though the tungsten isnt technically a consumable, it does wear and get sharpened or replaced frequently by the welder.

[Nox]

Originally Posted by Jeff '79

So what is tungsten actually used for?

I use it for drill bits.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Originally Posted by Egnalf

Tig isnt really nuke specific. its often the process used for welding stainless piping in pharma, chip manufacturing and other clean type facilities piping systems. even though the tungsten isnt technically a consumable, it does wear and get sharpened or replaced frequently by the welder.

I've never worked pharma, but I have worked a couple clean room facilities, Seagate being one of them.

Most of the clean room facilities are piped with small bore tubing and the welding is done with a process called orbital welding. Regardless, you still need certs to do this even though it's really an automated process.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Tungsten Grinder. Most people just chuck it up in a drill bit and use a belt sander.

[Egnalf]

Originally Posted by Thomas

I've never worked pharma, but I have worked a couple clean room facilities, Seagate being one of them.

Most of the clean room facilities are piped with small bore tubing and the welding is done with a process called orbital welding. Regardless, you still need certs to do this even though it's really an automated process.

one of my duties in life is owning a mechanical contracting firm. I know a wee bit about piping systems, and currently have two projects going in pharma plants(vaccine related). While orbital has been around for a long time at this point, it doesnt fill every need, and tig still plays a roll.

[6spdC6]

Originally Posted by Egnalf

one of my duties in life is owning a mechanical contracting firm. I know a wee bit about piping systems, and currently have two projects going in pharma plants(vaccine related). While orbital has been around for a long time at this point, it doesnt fill every need, and tig still plays a roll.

When I retired in 2002 we were starting to do a lot of orbital.(Albany NY area) We had a couple pharma plants in out area. That and a big outfit (BASF) that did all sorts of interesting things, it was a good place not to go into!

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Originally Posted by Egnalf

it doesnt fill every need, and tig still plays a roll.

It does. It bought the clothes I’m wearing, the truck in the garage of the house I own, the cameras, guitars, motorcycles, and everything else I’ve accumulated in the last 35 years with a welding hood.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Originally Posted by 6spdC6

it was a good place not to go into!

Some of those jobs, the minute I stepped on to them I was planning my exit strategy.

The worst from a safety standpoint was 3M. We were relocating Hydrofloric Acid tanks. Get that shit on you and it chews right down to your bone marrow. What a ****in’ nerve-wracking job that was.

[Egnalf]

Originally Posted by 6spdC6

When I retired in 2002 we were starting to do a lot of orbital.(Albany NY area) We had a couple pharma plants in out area. That and a big outfit (BASF) that did all sorts of interesting things, it was a good place not to go into!

Over the years when i was with the tools, i worked in some of the nastiest places around. someone has to do it. you learn how to be safe, and also how to be prepared for those moments when stuff happens. I actually prefer working in those crazy places. usually but not always, it means better safety, better conditions, and the opportunity to make money. anyone can run 24 inch pipe across a mechanical room, but being able to do varied tasks often means you can make a home. its all in what makes you comfy. I preferred pharma and refineries over nukes, mainly because the nukes were such a pain in the balls to get in/out.

[Egnalf]

Originally Posted by Thomas

Some of those jobs, the minute I stepped on to them I was planning my exit strategy.

The worst from a safety standpoint was 3M. We were relocating Hydrofloric Acid tanks. Get that shit on you and it chews right down to your bone marrow. What a ****in’ nerve-wracking job that was.

1992 i was on the planning team for a major refinery outage. 1000 pipefitters day shift, 600 night plus support craft. The godamn operators were nothing but trouble. seemed like Every fukkin line that got opened in the acid plant hadnt been steamed out as was the plan. Early in the shutdown they sent guys to the hospital daily, it was tragic. cant count how many times that entire job was shut down in the course of about eight weeks. you cant tell people enough how bad that shit can be.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

You can HAVE that refinery work. Holy shit. I spent more than a few years of my life at those f'n places. -10°F up in a pipe rack day after day.

[JRD77VET]

Tungsten is added to carbide to allow machining of different metals. Regular steel you could get away with just high speed steel but as soon as you get into different alloys, especially the exotic stainless steels, it would be next to impossible to machine it.

[simpleman68]

Originally Posted by Thomas

Some of those jobs, the minute I stepped on to them I was planning my exit strategy.

The worst from a safety standpoint was 3M. We were relocating Hydrofloric Acid tanks. Get that shit on you and it chews right down to your bone marrow. What a ****in’ nerve-wracking job that was.

Damn, makes my ass pucker hearing about it.
What the hell kind of protection gear do they even have against something like that?