What welding materials are best suited for tungsten with balled ends?

The use of tungsten electrodes with balled ends is particularly advantageous when working with aluminum and magnesium. This is due to the specific requirements of welding these materials, which often involve a higher amperage and a more focused arc to produce quality welds.

When tungsten is prepared with a balled end, it can better handle the increased heat that is necessary for melting the higher thermal conductivity materials like aluminum and magnesium. The balled end allows for a more stable and consistent arc, which is crucial for achieving proper penetration and a clean weld pool in these nonferrous metals.

Additionally, both aluminum and magnesium commonly require a pure tungsten electrode or a tungsten alloy with a small percentage of other elements for optimum results, enhancing the arc stability and producing a cleaner weld.

In contrast, while steel and cast iron can be welded with tungsten electrodes, they do not specifically benefit from the balled end configuration in the same way. Copper and bronze have different welding characteristics and do not align with the typical applications of balled tungsten electrodes. Finally, plastic and rubber are not applicable as welding materials in conjunction with tungsten electrodes since they require entirely different welding techniques and equipment.