[TheForge] Tungsten

[Hochewa at aol.com]

To  All,
     Does anyone have a source for 3/4, 7/8, or 1"  round Tungsten.  it is a 
"refractory metal" .
 
Typically, Tungsten begins its life as a 1" square bar made from  powder.    
We use tungsten as an alloying element at work.   If we get lump Tungsten in 
and the pieces are too big, we just hit them with a  hammer and the smaller 
pieces work just fine.  It is brittle to say the  least.
Being a refractory metal means that it has a high melting point.  It  does 
not mean suitable for use at high temperatures even though as an alloying  
element, it gives better high temperature properties.  One of the  disturbing 
characteristics of refractory metals is that they have very poor  oxidation 
resistance at relatively low temperatures.  Tungsten and  Molybdenum oxidize very 
rapidly at 1500*F and their oxides are  volatile.
It's not cheap, it oxidizes easily and you forge it at really white  heat.
There are better materials available.
 
Hochewa