Tig tungsten splitting exactly down the middle

[bakodiver]

I've been having a problem with HTP 1/8" 2% lanthanated tungstens splitting right down the middle when welding aluminum in the 190 amp range. The split is perfect, almost like the tungstens are laminated from 2 halves and are delaminating. Anyone else see this or have any possible solutions. Incidently, to the management of HTP, I would prefer not to buy Chinese-sourced consumables if possible.

[Oscar]

are you cutting your tungstens by snapping them/hammering them by brute force?

[Welder Dave]

Have heard of lanthanated tungsten's splitting in the past. Unfortunately most tungstens come out of China these days and possibly the same factory. Not sure where CK tungsten's come from but maybe try them or a different brand.

[bakodiver]

I generally don't cut tungstens at all, unless they are splitting. With this splitting problem i have all the short tungstens I could ever use. To stop the splitting from progressing further I cut the split off with a grinder well past any visual indication of splitting.

[123weld]

have u tried pure/green tungsten.

[Munkul]

Overheating can do this, but with lanth, sometimes it's just how it be.
It needs to form a nice rounded end which most modern inverters will do automatically.
But 1/8 is a bit big for 190 amps, if you don't help it to round its never going to. So it ends up starting nodules, and ends up cracking.
Another reason can be heavy contamination from touchdowns.
Or, maybe just poor quality tungsten.

I really like 2% lanth on AC, I'll bump up the EP start time if I'm running at 200 amps, just to round it a bit better and help it last longer. I use 2.4mm which is 3/32.
There's a few more reasons involving balance and frequency but I doubt they would cause a problem on a too-big a tungsten... More likely on too small.
How are you prepping the tungsten? You want to sharpen it a little bit, but not proper sharp like DC wants.

[Munkul]

Also, not being funny but HTP import their machines from Italy, and certainly don't have their own tungsten making facilities. Since Plansee tungstens cost so much, I bet there's a good chance HTP tungstens are made in China anyway.
I use Binzel, they used to be European but probably Chinese now, but they work well.

[bakodiver]

Yeah they say Made in China on the package. I'm grinding a very blunt cone on the tungsten, went up to 70% balance to try to eliminate the problem. I think I'll try to find American made tungtens in the future. Thanks for the input.

[cornchip]

i dont even bother with that china crap. tried some wolfram germany and never looked back

[Tillerdemon]

Have heard of lanthanated tungsten's splitting in the past. Unfortunately most tungstens come out of China these days and possibly the same factory. Not sure where CK tungsten's come from but maybe try them or a different brand.

CK Worldwide posted on InstaGr@m that their tungsten comes from overseas in response to a question asking about manufacturing US tungsten. "All tungsten comes from overseas. The quality can't be beat anyways. Is what it is!"

[Oscar]

I believe Midwest Tungsten manufacturers their own tungstens. I have some, but have not used it extensively.

[bakodiver]

I ordered some ESAB, will see how that performs. I was surprised to read that tungstens are sintered, rather than being drawn like wire. There may be some problem with the Chinese sintering process.