A Tungsten Ball at 1,200 Degrees on a Lead Anvil

Tungsten, also known as wolfram (which gives it the chemical symbol W), possesses one of the highest melting points ever recorded, and only carbon can compete with it under the right conditions. This property makes tungsten the ideal element for designing incandescent lamps, X-ray lamps, and TIG welding electrodes, but someone decided on YouTube to give it another goal: to completely pierce an anvil made of lead. Will a sphere of tungsten heated to 1,200 degrees Celsius be enough?

Tungsten’s Unmatched Melting Point

In many regions of the globe, the production and sale of incandescent lamps is already prohibited (or restricted to a maximum power), so the use of tungsten is being redirected to other markets. However, there are many users out there who miss the effectiveness and the “warmth” of tungsten as a light source, and have asked to have the option of acquiring those lamps in stores. Regardless of what happens with its lighting potential, the truth is that tungsten occupies a privileged place among radiation shielding, weapon design, TIG welding, and even jewelry (since it has a density very similar to gold), but it is not easy to forget its resistance to high temperatures. More than 3,400 degrees Celsius are needed to make this metal liquid, so if it is heated enough, it could melt other objects. A lead anvil, for example.

The Experiment: A Ball Through a Lead Anvil

The PressTube channel on YouTube simply poses the question: Does a tungsten ball with a mass of one kilogram at 1,200 degrees have enough energy to pierce a homemade anvil made of lead? With a melting point of 327.5 degrees (you could melt it in a kitchen, but don’t prepare food there afterward), the anvil has no chance of resisting the incandescent ball, but it is impressive how tungsten loses energy (and by extension, temperature) as it “descends” through the anvil, melting everything in its path.

The Verdict and the Details

And the final answer is yes: Judging by what the video shows, the tungsten ball reaches the bottom, beyond its deviations (it doesn’t fall “straight” like something melted in a cartoon). Some users have doubts about the material of the tongs. They could easily be iron, thanks to its melting point exceeding 1,500 degrees. Then there’s the change of anvil, because the shape of the second one is much cruder. Finally, the utility of the anvil itself. Why would someone make a lead anvil? To practice, of course. If that someone wants to improve their casting skills and expects to make major mistakes, the ideal is to use a cheap and easy-to-melt metal like lead.