WP116X7 - Weldcraft EWP Green Pure Tungsten Electrodes 1/16" 10-Pack

Technical Overview of Weldcraft Pure Tungsten (EWP)

The Weldcraft WP116X7 is a package of ten 1/16-inch (1.6mm) Pure Tungsten electrodes, identified by the industry-standard Green color code. Classified as EWP under AWS standards, these electrodes are composed of a minimum of 99.5% pure tungsten with no added rare-earth oxides. This specific composition is engineered exclusively for Alternating Current (AC) TIG welding applications, making it the primary choice for welding aluminum and magnesium alloys.

One of the defining characteristics of pure tungsten is its thermal behavior. When heated, the tip of the EWP electrode naturally forms a clean, balled end. This spherical geometry is crucial for AC welding as it provides a stable surface for the arc to wander across during the cleaning and penetration cycles of the AC wave. Unlike thoriated or lanthanated tungsten which are designed to hold a sharp point, the balled end of the pure tungsten ensures consistent arc stability on balanced or unbalanced squarewave and sine wave power sources, particularly those utilizing transformer-based technology.

While pure tungsten offers exceptional arc stability in its specific domain, it possesses the lowest current-carrying capacity among the standard tungsten types. It is also more prone to spitting if the amperage exceeds the recommended range for the diameter. Therefore, the 1/16-inch diameter is best utilized for low to medium amperage applications on thinner gauge materials. It is strictly recommended for AC welding; use on Direct Current (DC) will likely result in rapid electrode deterioration and arc instability. These electrodes are non-radioactive, eliminating the safety concerns associated with thoriated tungsten, and are an essential consumable for traditional AC TIG setups.

Weldcraft ensures rigorous quality control, providing electrodes that meet strict dimensional and compositional standards. The 7-inch length is compatible with standard TIG torches and collet bodies. The absence of oxides means the electron work function is higher than doped tungsten, requiring more energy to emit electrons. This is why it runs hotter, facilitating the balling action. However, this also limits its use in modern inverter machines where rare-earth doped tungsten (like Ceriated or Lanthanated) might be preferred even for aluminum. Nevertheless, for pure sine wave transformers, Green tungsten remains the gold standard for a smooth, soft arc.