Tungsten Sharpener - Chem-Sharp - WM600

I was pleasantly surprised when this Weldmark Tungsten Chemical Sharpener worked. It works great, faster and safer than grinding tungsten electrodes. It only took me a short time to get the hang of using this chemical sharpener and in no time I had 4 electrodes sharpened and ready to go. The tips came out perfect with a nice taper and a balled tip instead of sharp point which is preferred for welding steel. I connected the ground to the electrode tip with the electrode sticking out about an inch or more. Then after the electrode gets red hot, disconnect the ground and dip into the chemical (looks like salt) repeatedly until the molten tungsten drops off the electrode and the electrode is sharpened to a nice taper. I was able to sharpen four new electrodes faster than I could have done it using grinding and there is no dangerous dust either so no need for a mask. Then I just removed the hardened pieces of the sharpener material (the process causes the chemical to clump) and ready to go again.

OK, I was a little skeptical on this product but for the money I took an chance. I tried it after reading the instructions and I was very pleased with the results. It saves time removing the tungsten, grinding at the bench and re-installing. This just takes loosening the tungsten, grounding the tungsten to a grounded surface to a red and dipping the tip into the powder. It swirls away the end to a point.Its worth it!

It legitimately works and can't understand how so many others are having problems. It's simple. Heat your tungsten up till it's glowing. Dip it and pull out really fast "might take some getting use to on the pulling out part." And if it's not sharp enough immediately dip it again so long as the tungsten IS STILL BUBBLING FROM THE POWDER. Only issue is that it doesn't get it hypodermic needle sharp. So as long as your welding steel that doesn't absolutely require a needle sharpness it works fine.

I use this a lot when welding in pharma plants where they want no grinding inside. Inside of running outside or to a shop. I can save a ton of time and do it right there.

Works as advertised, it will sharpen the tungsten to a point good enough to weld mild steel, not for needle-point sharp needs though. Why only 2 stars? The molten salts that are created by dipping a red-hot tungsten into the powder will glob up and attach themselves to the tungsten, riding up it into the cup (gas is off via valve). It seems to follow the heat, not wanting to drip off like you think it would. It then proceeds to solidify into balls of hard white chalk-like substance stuck to the side of the tungsten that acts to prevent pushing it back into the torch unless these nodules are broken off. It then leaves behind a chalky substance coating the area it was globed up at that needs to be sanded off. Very messy, and I end up having to remove the tungsten anyway to clean off this hardened chalk substance, so why not stick the tungsten in the drill right then and take 10 seconds more to sharpen it? And what happens to the chalky substance once you start welding again? Melts right into the weld puddle. Nice: creating extra cleaning duty *and* a side of weld inclusions. No thanks. But it does make the tungsten sharp, no false advertising there.

Works as described. It cuts derases how often you have to sharpen your tungsten but does not eliminate the need for your mechanical sharpening device be it a flapper wheel or dedicated grinder.I should have made a cover for the container that only the torch could fit through. This to minimize the loss of the powdered product caused by the argon escaping. My argon stays on for 8 secondsish the tungsten stays hot for about three. A person may be able to get a torch with a on off valve to help tremendously. I bought a torch with a valve but it is not a toggle it is a left for open and right for close. It takes too long to turn it off the tungsten cools to quickly. Hope this helps someone.

This stuff is crap. It will ruin your tungsten.

Good stuff, watch the videos on youtube on how to use if you have trouble. After a little practice, you get a perfect tip every time in a timely fashion.