TIG welding A-Z

Date 06/05/2019

TIG welding method

TIG welding , called another name of gas tungsten arc welding, is an arc welding process that operates at high temperature (over 6,000 degrees Fahrenheit) to melt and heat metals. While it is more expensive than stick welding, it is cleaner and more versatile (works on steel, aluminum, brass and many other metals).It results in high quality welds.

On the downside the equipment is more expensive and the process is slower than other welding processes. Unlike GMAW or MIG welding, a non-consumable (doesn’t get melted) tungsten electrode is used. The electrode creates an electrical arc which produces the required heat. The Tig torch is cooled by air or water and the process uses a filler metal in rod form.

TIG welding is well-known to use for more metals than other types of welding. There is a variety of industries accordance with TIG welding. It is not only for the construction of spacecraft but also airplanes in the aerospace industry. Moreover, auto manufacturers use TIG welding on fenders for its anti-corrosive properties. TIG welding is also widely processed in auto body repair shops. Artists appreciate the excellent quality of TIG welds using them in sculpture welding.

TIG welding method

TIG welding technique

Advantages of TIG welding

It is possible to weld thin or thick metals because the welding parameters have a wide range of regulation (from several amperes to several hundred amperes). Tig welding is the most applicable method for metals and alloys for high quality products. Good welds, no slag and splash. It is possible to control the pitch and shape of the puddle easily.

1. Weld more metals and alloys than any other process

TIG welders can be used to weld steel, stainless steel, chromoly, aluminum, nickel alloys, magnesium, copper, brass, bronze, and even gold. TIG is a useful welding process for welding wagons, bike frames, lawn mowers, door handles, fenders, and more.

2. Create high quality, clean welds

With superior arc and weld puddle control, TIG allows you to create clean welds when appearances count. Because the heat input is often controlled by pressing on a foot pedal, similar to driving a car, TIG welding allows you to heat up or cool down the weld puddle giving you precise weld bead control. This makes TIG welding ideal for cosmetic welds like sculptures and automotive welds.

-No sparks or spatter

Because only the necessary amount of filler metal is added to the welding puddle, no spatter or sparks are produced (if the metal being welded is clean).

No flux or slag

Because the Argon gas protects the weld puddle from contamination, no flux is required or used in TIG welding and there is no slag to block your view of the weld puddle. Also, the finished weld will not have slag to remove between weld passes.

HK tig 250

-No smoke or fumes

TIG welding does not create smoke or fumes, unless the base metal being welded contains contaminants or elements such as, oil, grease, paint, lead or zinc. The base metal should be cleaned before welding.

3. Use one shielding gas (Argon) for all applications

Because Argon can be used to TIG weld all metals and thicknesses you only need one type of gas in your shop to handle all of your welding projects.

Argon gas is typically used for most TIG welding applications

4. Weld in all positions

TIG welds can be made in all positions - flat, horizontal, vertical or overhead. Perfect for roll cages and inside confined areas.

Application in industry

This welding method is commonly used in many different manufacturing sectors, especially suitable for welding high alloy steel, nonferrous metals and some of their alloys.

The common Tig hinged method is mainly manual operation and can automate two arc transfer stages as well as the secondary welding line.

This type of welding is commonly used in the field of aerospace, space vehicle production ...

Used to weld thin, thin-walled plates in the bicycle manufacturing industry.

In addition, Tig welding machines are used in the repair process to repair broken parts, especially the parts made of Aluminum and Magnesium.

Among all the welding methods, this type of welding has the most outstanding advantages that can weld most popular metal materials today. In addition, manual arc welding and Mig welding are also the right choice if you just want to weld steel, nothing fast steel and welding techniques on average.

When to use pulse for TIG welding

TIG welding with the pulse feature is most often done for thin metals such as aluminum and can also be used with copper and varieties of steel. Pulsing can be set up with a foot pedal or as a setting on your TIG welder, but when should you use pulsing? There are some very specific applications for pulsing with a TIG welder and then there are times when it can just come in handy to get a job done better. Here’s a look at some TIG welding with pulse applications:

Greater Control Over the Heat
Pulse for TIG is all about improving your control when you don’t want to burn through your metal work piece. Using the pedal or setting up the pulse will moderate the heat as you weld and ensure you have enough heat present at the joint without laying a ton of filler metal into the joint or burning through the metal.
Too much metal in the weld joint could create a headache for your welding project, as you’ll have to stop to grind it down and then clean up the metal before you can start welding again. The pulse setting gives you far more control over the welding process without compromising the strength and integrity of your weld.

When You Need a Neat Weld
Pulsing your weld is an easy way to create a smooth, clean weld for a TIG welding application. Getting yourself in a steady pulsing rhythm is an ideal way to keep moving the puddle forward or walking the cup along a weld joint
TIG welding is most often used when there is little margin for error and the metal is especially thin. By pulsing along the weld joint you can moderate the amount of filler metal you add so that it’s evenly distributed and you create a great looking weld.

Minimal Movement
If you’re in a tight spot and you don’t have a lot of room to maneuver, pulsing your TIG welder is one way to glide along the weld joint, adding filler metal as you go, without worrying about introducing too much heat and filler. The main thing for this application will be a steady hand on the torch and an even pace for the filler metal.
If this is a particularly tight spot, you can pick up shorter torches that have a very small head and can fit in a variety of spaces. With TIG welding you can reach a tight spot much better than with a stick welder and you can control the input of filler metal better than with MIG, making it a great option when welding is particularly challenging.

Moving Faster with High Speed Pulse
Given some practice, many welders can effectively weld at the high speed of 150 pulses per second, creating neat welds in far less time. While you wouldn’t want to try a faster pulsing speed if you’re not used to it, many welders prefer to move either really slow or really fast in order to create a steady rhythm. Pulsing at around 20 per second has led some welders to make uneven, spotty welds.
This would be especially useful in a fabrication shop where you’re seeing a lot of the same metal work pieces over and over and over again. If you have a handle on how fast you need to move on each piece, then there’s a good chance you can bump up the pulsing rate to improve your welding speed.

Welding Along an Edge or a Hole
If you need to make a quick clean weld without ruining an edge or filling a hole with filler metal, pulsing is another great way to give yourself extra control and accuracy in a difficult welding position. The heat could build up and start to melt the metal if you don’t have a good steady pulse going while you TIG weld.

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