02-13-2016, 11:28 PM
Arvid is spot on. Use the cheaper tungsten's when you are starting out. How long they last will depend greatly on your hand / eye coordination. You will be trying to concentrate on several things at once, and you WILL end up dipping the tungsten in the puddle and/or touching the tungsten with your filler rod. You'll know it when it happens. 
DIAMOND GROUND is a BRAND of tungsten's and high quality stuff. Consider them the Hardinge of welding electrodes compared to what comes off of the Chinese freighters. Definitely don't need those at this point.
When I first started with TIG, I think I went through a full 7" tungsten in the first HOUR!
Yeah, it wasn't pretty.
DIAMOND GROUND is a BRAND of tungsten's and high quality stuff. Consider them the Hardinge of welding electrodes compared to what comes off of the Chinese freighters. Definitely don't need those at this point.
When I first started with TIG, I think I went through a full 7" tungsten in the first HOUR!
Yeah, it wasn't pretty.
Willie