TUNGSTEN INERT GAS WELDING

(TIG)
BACKGROUND

• What is TIG?
• Tungsten Inert Gas
• Also referred to as GTAW
• Gas Shielded Tungsten Welding
• In TIG welding, a tungsten electrode heats the metal you are
welding and gas (most typically Argon) protects the weld
from airborne contaminants

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BACKGROUND
• TIG welding uses a non-consumable tungsten
• Filler metal, when required, is added by hand
• Shielding gas protects the weld and tungsten

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ADVANTAGES

• Welds more metals and metal

alloys than any other process
• High quality and precision
• Aesthetic weld beads
• No sparks or spatter
• No flux or slag
• No smoke or fumes

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DISADVANTAGES

• Lower filler metal deposition

rates
• Good hand-eye coordination
a required skill
• Brighter UV rays than other
processes
• Slower travel speeds than
other processes
• Equipment costs tend to be
higher than other processes

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SAFETY
• Electric shock can kill.
• Always wear dry insulating gloves
• Insulate yourself from work and ground
• Do not touch live electrical parts
• Keep all panels and covers securely in place
• Fumes and gases can be hazardous to your health.
• Keep your head out of the fumes
• Ventilate area, or use breathing device

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SAFETY
• Welding can cause fire or explosion.
• Do not weld near flammable material
• Watch for fire; keep extinguisher nearby
• Do not locate unit over combustible surfaces
• Do not weld on closed containers
• Arc rays can burn eyes and skin; Noise can damage
hearing.
• Wear welding helmet with correct shade of filter
• Wear correct eye, ear, and body protection

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SAFETY
• Hot parts can cause injury.
• Allow cooling period before touching welded metal
• Wear protective gloves and clothing
• Magnetic fields from high currents can affect
pacemaker operation.
• Flying metal can injure eyes.
• Welding, chipping, wire brushing, and grinding cause
sparks and flying metal; wear approved safety glasses
with side shields

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 TECHNIQUES FOR BASIC WELD JOINTS

Arc Length
• Arc length normally one electrode diameter, when AC
welding with a balled end electrode
• When DC welding with a pointed electrode, arc length
may be much less than electrode diameter

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*Figure copied from “TIG Handbook”
 TECHNIQUES FOR BASIC WELD JOINTS

Arc Starting with High

Frequency
• Torch position on left shows
recommended method of starting the
arc with high frequency when the
torch is held manually
• By resting gas cup on base metal
there is little danger of touching the
electrode to the work
• After arc is initiated, torch can be
raised to proper welding angle
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*Figure copied from “TIG Handbook”
 TECHNIQUES FOR BASIC WELD JOINTS

Manual Torch Movement

ENBE 499 11
*Figure copied from “TIG Handbook”
TECHNIQUES FOR BASIC WELD JOINTS

Manual Torch Movement

• Torch and filler rod must be moved progressively
and smoothly so the weld pool, the hot filler rod
end, and the solidifying weld are not exposed to air
that will contaminate the weld metal area or heat
affected zone
• When arc is turned off, postflow of shielding gas
should shield the weld pool, electrode, and hot end
of the filler rod

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TIG SHIELDING GASES

• Argon
• Helium
• Argon/Helium Mixtures

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TIG SHIELDING GASES
Argon Helium
• Good arc starting • Faster travel speeds
• Good cleaning action • Increased penetration
• Good arc stability • Difficult arc starting
• Focused arc cone • Less cleaning action
• Less low amp stability
• Lower arc voltages
• Higher arc voltages
• 10-30 CFH flow rates
• Higher flow rates (2x)
• Higher cost than argon

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TIG SHIELDING GASES
Argon/Helium Mixtures
• Improved travel speeds over pure argon
• Improved penetration over pure argon
• Cleaning properties closer to pure argon
• Improved arc starting over pure helium
• Improved arc stability over pure helium
• Arc cone shape more focused than pure helium
• Arc voltages between pure argon and pure helium
• Higher flow rates than pure argon
• Costs higher than pure argon

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 WELDING PARAMETERS

Aluminum weld parameters

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*Figure copied from “TIG Handbook”
 WELDING PARAMETERS

Stainless steel weld parameters

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*Figure copied from “TIG Handbook”
 WELDING PARAMETERS

Titanium weld parameters

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*Figure copied from “TIG Handbook”
 WELDING PARAMETERS

Mild steel weld parameters

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*Figure copied from “TIG Handbook”
 TUNGSTEN ELECTRODE SELECTION

Guide to selecting a tungsten electrode based on amperage range

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*Figure copied from “Guidelines to Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)”