Where do I get Tungsten welding electrodes?

To: "'Tesla List'" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Subject: Where do I get Tungsten welding electrodes?
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-stic-dot-net>
Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 01:28:12 -0600
Approved: tesla-at-stic-dot-net

----------
From:  Edward J. Wingate [SMTP:ewing7-at-frontiernet-dot-net]
Sent:  Monday, March 23, 1998 6:31 PM
To:  Tesla List
Subject:  Re: Where do I get Tungsten welding electrodes?

Tesla List wrote:
> 
> ----------
> From:  Edward V. Phillips [SMTP:ed-at-alumni.caltech.edu]
> Sent:  Sunday, March 22, 1998 10:36 AM
> To:  tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject:  Re:  Where do I get Tungsten welding electrodes?
> 
> "With all of that stated, I have been using solid tungsten rod for years
> to build rotary gaps for my own use and for other coil builders and to
> my knowledge have not had a stud fail in service."
> 
> Ed:
> 
>         How do you shape the tungsten rods??????????
> 
> Re: End play in motor.
> 
>         You can handle this pretty easily with a single ball
> at each end of the shaft, working in a hole made by an appropriately=
> sized center drill.  All you need is a place to mount the fixed end
> of the ball......
> 
> Ed

Ed,

I have a special cut off saw set up with fixtures to cut the tungsten
studs from full length rod to length within .015" or so. I then grind
the studs to the same length within .005" on either a surface grinder or
upright belt sander with holding fixtures.

Re: Motor end play.

I would much rather spend a few dollars more for a ball bearing motor
and be done with it. Neat, clean and sanitary. Long lasting too! Many
motors only have a shaft exposed on one end, the balls on the ends of
the shaft are going to rub and wear on the mount or shaft or both. It
just isn't worth it for me.

Safe coiling,

Ed