TIG Welding
TIG welding, also referred to as Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, is a manual welding method that requires the use of both hands. The manner by which the arc is created and the filler metal is added is what differentiates TIG welding from other welding processes. Welders performing this welding type use one hand to hold the arc-producing TIG torch and the other hand to add the filler metal to the weld joint. As it requires the use of both hands, TIG welding can be one of the most challenging welding methods. However, it is the most versatile, it being applicable to most metal types. While more time-consuming, TIG welding jobs can produce the best weld when performed precisely. Major applications include critical weld joints, welding of metals other than common steel, and precise, small welds.
How TIG Welding is Performed
Considered a far cleaner method than arc or MIG welding, the TIG welding process is most appropriate for welding car panels, custom motorbike frames, handrails, among others. It requires less rework time as welders do very little cleaning and removal of excess welds.
Heat, shielding, and filler metal are the three key elements involved in TIG welding. Electricity surging through the tungsten electrode generates the heat, specifically by creating an arc to the metal. A compressed bottle of gas flows to the weld area to protect it from the air, thus providing the shielding. A wire dipped by hand into the arc and thereafter melted becomes the filler metal.
The process begins with the welder activating the gas flow through a valve on the TIG torch. This causes the gas to flow and start shielding the weld area against the air. The welder then holds the torch just above the weld joint, making sure the torch does not touch the metal. By pressing a foot pedal, the welder causes the TIG torch to produce tungsten electrode and create an arc. The moment an arc surfaces, the two pieces of metal start to melt, thereby producing a puddle of metal. The welder then uses his other hand to fill the joint, specifically by dipping a welding wire into the arc. A single piece of metal comes out of this process.
The TIG welding torch produces a constantly burning electric arc. Those who have experience using oxy acetylene for welding will have no problems operating a TIG welding machine. TIG welding simply uses the heat from the electrical arc to melt the base metal. Shortly after a metal becomes molten, it melts altogether to form a weld, better known as fusing the metal together. Hence, small welds need no more than fusing the metal pieces together. Bigger welds, on the other hand, require the use of a filler rod.
Why is it more advantageous to use tungsten for welding jobs? The hard, brittle, and slightly radioactive tungsten used in welding TIG turns into a non-consumable electrode that produces the required arc. In TIG welding, tungsten’s metal properties enable an arc to withstand temperatures as high as 11,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Welders can therefore rest assured that the tungsten electrode will never burn up, given tungsten’s high melting point and superior electrical conductivity. This is perhaps one of the reasons why TIG welding remains a popular welding method to this time.
TIG Welding
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