Tungsten Electrode for Sharpening!!

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49 Pan

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Many of you may already know this some may not. A tool maker I work with told me to sharpen my knife on a tungsten electrode, the type used in a T.I.G. welder. He said it worked like a dream and he was absolutely right! My knife was shaving sharp with just a few strokes across the electrode. I had no idea it would work so well, has anyone else used them?

Since I have learned about this, I have sharpened many knives this way with the same result, shaving sharp with little effort.

Just thought I would throw this out there for those who may want to try it.
You can buy them at any place that carries welding supplies.

PanMan
 
Interesting idea, the electrode must be sintered, how is the finish, is it rough or polished.
 
I bought two similiar at a gun show , the guy used the ( do not know proper name) 'diodes' inside of really big light bulbs , JB welded them into little pieces of deer antler.

They are great for a touch up or as a final light sharpening.
 
Me and boys from shop do it for years, but only on cheap knock offs and box cutters.I keep it away from my SAK.:grumpy:


regards
 
Jiggybaw:

I am not sure I understand why you feel the tungsten is not suitable for a high quality blade? It is no more damaging or abrasive to the metal than a stone or diamond rod would be. I have used tungsten on my best knives with excellent results and will continue to do so. To each their own, that is what makes us individuals.

PanMan
 
My bad
I belive tungsten is fine and looking for to try one.
REL(electric arc) welding electrode is what I use and it errode so fast that you can only
roughen your dull box cutter edge insted of honning it but it is enough to cut rubber gasket well.
 
I have bought the tungsten electrode.

It looks like 3-mm round plane surface rod.
Seems to be the good plain steel with very hard surface.

How should I use it?
Like steel, or like rods in sharpmaker?

P.S. I am very impressed with it's density. About 19.5 g/cm^3. As I remember, it is about the uranium dencity, much more than lead's (Pb) one.
 
You should probably make sure they're not thoriated tungsten electrodes, they're radioactive. Don't put them in your pockets.
 
Cool post....I too work in tool and die and have access to TIG electrodes. I'm thinking it would make a nice gift to me today....thanks!
 
If you want to purchase any diameter titanium rod you could go here:
http://tinyurl.com/4hrtllh

I just received (2) 3/8 and 3/16 (x 12") rods and fitted them into cheap Nicholson universal file handles.
http://tinyurl.com/4rgsmgn

The 3/8 finished "steel" (including handle) is about $25. I'm gonna polish 'em up a bit with some lapping film, but they're good to go on arrival.

image available if you're interested
 
I thought we were talking about tungsten? Does titanium work too? Isn't it quite a bit softer than tungsten?
 
MVF said:
I thought we were talking about tungsten? Does titanium work too? Isn't it quite a bit softer than tungsten?
Click to expand...

Titanium's a LOT softer, even when heat treated. Even for the alloyed Ti (6Al4V), I don't think it gets much beyond the mid-high 40s on the RC scale, when hardened.

Not sure how it'd be valuable as a sharpening tool for hardened knife blades. Virtually anything could be used as a stropping device for straightening of light burrs, etc. But, as a sharpener (involving actual metal removal), I don't see how Ti would be effective.

Think there might be some confusion here, between Tungsten (which is very hard) and Titanium (not). Ti has other admirable qualities (strength vs. weight, when compared to other alloys), but hardness suitable for sharpening isn't one of them, so far as I've heard.
 
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I'll have to give this one a try. The best thing I've used is a filament from high pressure sodium (I think) bulb. I might not be right on the type of light but I know that's where they came from because I've had to bust the bulb to get them out. They appear to be some type of ceramic or porcelain. Whatever it is, it works like a champ!

Steve
 
Interesting, a guy once told me he used the same thing (ceramic element from sodium light bulb) to sharpen and I thought he was nuts. Guess there's something to it after all.
 
i don't see the need to use electrodes and filaments to sharpen a knife, why not just use a sharpener :confused:. pocket diamond sharpening rods are around $10 and they will work better than bulbs and electrodes.
 
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