Thoriated

Thoriated tungsten electrodes — 2% thorium oxide, red tip — from UNIMIG and North Welding Products, in diameters from 1.0mm through to 4.8mm. Long the industry standard for DC TIG, they hold a ground point under high current and resist contamination on long production runs on steel and stainless.

Is thoriated tungsten still worth using?

For DC performance, yes — arc stability and point life remain excellent. But thorium is mildly radioactive, and grinding dust is the exposure path: grind with dust extraction, dispose of grindings sensibly and wash up afterwards. Many workshops now switch to lanthanated tungsten, which performs on par without the handling precautions.

WeldCo carries both options at its Melbourne and Adelaide trade counters, so the choice stays yours.