Tungsten is a metal that is critical to modern life, but until now it has largely remained below the investment radar. However, when a legendary investor such as Warren Buffet- or at least a firm in which he has major stakes- invests in a tungsten project, the metal is bound to become a subject of growing interest.

Last month, Woulfe Mining inked a deal with International Metalworking Companies (IMC), a member of Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway. The companies agreed to create a tungsten pipeline in South Korea.

The deal raised questions as to who has tungsten in their portfolio and what opportunities they see in the metal.

According to an investment note provided by Christopher Ecclestone, Principal and mining strategist at Hallgarten & Company, tungsten has long been a metal of interest to the cognoscenti. And though the metal has not attracted the interest of broader portfolio investors, heavyweight trading houses have started to circle around players of merit.

Tungsten is more than just an extremely hard metal. It is one around which modern life revolves, and in many of the applications for which it is used, there is no substitute.

"If you are going to work with steel in almost any shape, then you need tungsten to machine it," said Nick Smith, Manager of Investor Relations at Woulfe Mining. "Without tungsten western manufacturing comes to an end. You are not working with steel or metal without tungsten. There’s no global mining unless you have tungsten tip drills."

Tungsten has a wide range of applications across many industries, including aviation, electronics, and medicine. But its role in making carbide-cutting tools is one of the ones that is most widely recognized.

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A specially designed Oxy Acetylene torch is used for powder welding. The work piece is heated with the torch. The powder is introduced into the gas stream from the integral powder hopper and then transferred to the work piece through a flame.

This process is similar to the Oxy Acetylene process with the exception that the hardfacing takes place at lower temperatures. This minimises oxidation and distortion of the work piece ad enables easy surfacing of edges.

Benefits of Powder welding are:
• Low Dilution
• Easy Application
• Low Distortion
• Ideal for Edge Building 

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In TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding, an arc is drawn between a non-consumable tungsten electrode and the work piece. The electrode, the arc and the weld pool are protected from the atmosphere with an inert shielding gas. For manual welding the hardfacing material is in the form of a rod. Advantages of the TIG process include simple manual operation and good control of the welding arc. The process can also be mechanised, in which case a manipulator is used to move the work piece in relation to the welding torch and the hardfacing rod.

Rods are also used for hardfacing with the Oxy Acetylene welding process. With the correct operation, a very low level of iron dilution can be achieved in the overlay.
Benefits of TIG Welding:
• Manual Operation
• Can Be Mechanised
• Low Dilution

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In this process an arc is drawn between a coated consumable electrode and the work piece. The metallic core-wire is melted by the arc and is transferred to the weld pool as molten drops. The electrode coating also melts to form a gas shield around the arc and the weld pool as well as slag on the surface of the weld pool, thus protecting the cooling weld pool from the atmosphere. The slag must be removed after each layer.

Manual Metal Arc welding is still a widely used hardfacing process. Due to the low cost of the equipment, the low operating costs of the process and the ease of transporting the equipment, this flexible process is ideally suited to repair work.

Benefits of MMA Welding are:
Flexible
Low Cost
Mobile
Ideal for Repairs 

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By running a roughing end mill at a desired speed and feed rate, you can save time and assure that the mill will not break under pressure.

1. Insert the roughing end mill into the holder. On a CNC machine, the holder will be large and will have an adjustable screw on the side. Line the flat area on the shaft with the crew and use an Allen wrench to tighten. When using a manual mill, insert into the collet that most closely fits the end mill.

2. Teach the roughing end mill according to the procedure that your CNC uses. Many CNC machines allow you to go into a teach mode, in which the spindle grabs the tool to be teached and lowers it slowly onto a probe.

3. On a manual mill, start the spindle at a slow speed and lower the roughing mill with the Z axis handle to the desired location. Depending on the material you are cutting, you want to adjust the speed accordingly.

4. Start the roughing process on a CNC mill. The machine will grab the roughing end mill from the tool turret and slowly bring it to s start position above and beyond the metal to be cut. Watch as the machine makes the first pass to make sure that it is roughing properly and that there is not excess pressure on the tool, because it may break if it is spinning too slowly while being fed too quickly.


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While tungsten carbide is noted for its remarkable durability, a tungsten carbide tool may need occasional sharpening if it is used regularly.

1. Determine if your tool needs sharpening. One easy way to decide if your tool is becoming dull is to see if it reflects light well. Shine is an indication of wear. You can also gently scrape a fingernail on a blade and see if it shaves off a sliver; if it does not, the blade is dull. Touch is not necessarily a good way to determine if a blade is sharp, as a dull tungsten carbide tool may still feel sharp.

2. Find a professional sharpening service. Sharpening tungsten carbide is not recommended for non-professionals, as it requires skill and specific sharpening machinery. Imprecise sharpening can ruin a tool, and a professional can restore a blade to like-new condition.

3. If you are interested in learning how to sharpen blades yourself, it is recommended that you locate a teacher.

4. Tungsten carbide tools require diamond for sharpening, due to their hardness. Wet grinding using an abrasive wheel on an automatic grinder is a very precise method of sharpening. It is also possible to sharpen a tool by using a diamond lap, but this is very imprecise and time-consuming.


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Tungsten carbide rings and stainless steel rings are both cost-effective alternatives to the more expensive gold and platinum selections. However, there are differences between them to keep in mind depending on your needs and budget.

1. Durability. Tungsten carbide and stainless steel rings both resist fading, rust and corrosion. Neither metal will stain the body. Tungsten carbide is a much heavier metal than stainless steel, and is therefore stronger and harder to scratch. However, stainless steel is durable enough to hold up to daily wear with proper care.

2. Style and Finish. Both types of rings can be given a variety of styles and finishes. Due to its superior strength, a tungsten carbide ring's polish and finish will outlast that of a stainless steel ring.

3. Sizing Options. Neither type of ring can be resized. Tungsten carbide rings are readily available in most sizes, even in hard-to-find half sizes. It can be more difficult to find the right size in the desired style of stainless steel ring.

4. Financial Considerations. Costs for both types of rings can vary widely, but stainless steel is less expensive. A 2010 search on Amazon.com found an 8mm flat band tungsten carbide ring for $29.95 and a comparable sterling silver ring for $5.22. At the national jewelry retailer Zales, a sterling ring went for $119, and a comparable tungsten ring was just under $280.

While a tungsten carbide ring is the better choice if you need a virtually indestructible band, stainless steel is a more economical option that will still last.


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To make a tungsten carbide ring, you should ground tungsten and carbon are poured into a metal die cube containing a ring mold. The mold is subjected to high pressure to push the powder together into a solid ring blank. The blank is then fired in an oxygen-powered furnace at temperatures exceeding 6,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Only at this obscenely high temperature will the blank's component elements intermingle and solidify as one. Once cooled, any burs or extra metal is removed with high-powered diamond edged saws. Diamond powdered files and sanders are then used to polish the ring until it shines.

With this done the ring is ready to be worn. It should be noted that since such rings cannot be re-sized, each one must be constructed to order if it's to be a perfect fit.


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There are benefits and considerations linked with tungsten rings and titanium rings . Consider all aspects before making a purchase.

1. Properties. Both materials used in the construction of rings are very hard, but tungsten carbide is harder; only a diamond can scratch a tungsten carbide ring. In terms of weight, titanium is 43 percent lighter than stainless steel, while tungsten carbide is 90 percent heavier, according to Titanium Kay.

2. Cost. A tungsten carbide ring will cost more than a titanium ring, due to high production costs. Tungsten carbide can only be manipulated to form rings in temperatures exceeding 6,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Facts. Tungsten carbide is much less ductile than titanium. Under excessive pressure, a tungsten carbide ring will fracture or shatter into several pieces, whereas a titanium ring will bend. Some people may experience allergic reactions while wearing tungsten carbide rings. New Jersey's Department of Health & Senior Services claims that exposure to tungsten carbide can cause lung problems.


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Tungsten carbide -- made from carbon and tungsten -- is easy to recycle, and very much in demand around the world.

1. Find a scrap metal collection center near you. A great place to start is with your city or county waste management office. Often, these offices will have searchable databases online, allowing you to type in your location and the type of materials you have to search for collection centers near you. Since scrap metal does fetch you (and the dealers) some cash, you're likely to find several scrap dealers near you.

2. Weigh your tungsten carbide pieces, to get an idea of how much you have. If the amount is too large to put on a scale, measure the material's height, width and length to get a rough idea of how much you have.

3. Check around for the dealer offering the best prices. If you have several scrap metal centers near you (which most metropolitan areas do), the various companies may offer different prices in order to stay competitive. Tell them how much you have, and ask for a ballpark figure on how much you'd get for it. Or simply ask them how much they're paying per pound or ounce. Once you've found the center with the highest price, note their drop-off hours and any special documents, such as identification, you need to bring with you.

4. Load your tungsten carbide onto a truck and take it to the scrap dealer, making sure to bring along the proper documentation. When the dealer accepts your materials, you should receive a check. Dealers typically do not pay cash, due to laws designed to stop metal theft.


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