Welding is becoming a popular professional choice for individuals seeking employment, but what of the many type of welding processes that are used? For example, what is TIG welding?

TIG welding is arguable the most popular manual process. It requires the use of both of the welder’s hands. What makes TIG welding different from the other forms of welding is the way in which the arc is created and the filler material added. The process requires one hand to hold the TIG welding torch which produces the arc, while the other hand adds the filler metal which forms the joint. Because the process requires both hands at all times it is considered to be the most difficult welding procedure to learn. This could also b the reason that TIG welding offers the highest level of versatility when it comes to welding diverse metals (learn more about TIG welding aluminum.

The TIG process is time consuming, but once completed it produces some of the highest quality welding finishes possible. TIG welding is mainly used for joints that require a certain level of welded strength. The process is used for various forms of metal and for welding joints that require a small, precise weld.

TIG Welding Names

If you are interested in a TIG welding job then you need to know the correct terminology as well as the meaning of the abbreviations. Companies that list their ads using a classified service generally use acronyms to keep the ad short. If you are required to sit an exam, they will also use abbreviations as well as alternative names to test how much you know about the welding processes. For example, you may be asked what TIG welding stands for: Tungsten Inert Gas Welding.

GTAW or Gas Tungsten Arc Welding is the proper name for TIG welding. This is the name that you will see appearing in procedures that are set out by the American Welding Society (AWS) as well as other organizations. GTAW is also used to specify welding processes that are used on blue prints by engineers. If you are working in a high pressure piping environment and you fail to use proper terminology you are likely to be suspended for several days.

Benefits of Using Gas tungsten to weld

TIG welding would not be possible without the use of Tungsten. So what is Tungsten? Simply put, tungsten is an extremely tough metal that is brittle and slightly radioactive. Tungsten use is limited to certain applications when compared to other metals. Tungsten is used in TIG welding.

Tungsten metal is made into a non-consumable electrode which helps to make the arc during the welding process. Tungsten is used in other applications such heating elements, light bulbs, and rocket engines. The metal is often used in applications that require large amounts of heat; for example, in the case of TIG welding, the high melting point of Tungsten (11,000 degrees Fahrenheit) allows welding of lower melting point metals. Tungsten is also an excellent electrical conductor which allows the arc to cut through metal without burning up. Tungsten also has extremely high tensile strength, 500,000lbs per square inch when compared to steel’s 36,000lbs per square inch. This extreme strength has one draw back, it is brittle easily breaking with a slight tap of a hammer.

How TIG Welding Works

In order to TIG weld there are three things you need and these include filler metal, shielding and heat. The heat is created when electrical current passes through the Tungsten electrode creating an arc to the metal.

A shield is needed to protect the welded area from the air. This is done by using a compressed canister of gas which flows over the work area.

The filler metal is what is used to join the metals in the weld. Once the filler metal is dipped into the arc it will melt creating the weld.

The process of welding is fairly simple: the gas flow is turned on, the torch is then held in close proximity to, but not touching the metal, the foot pedal is pressed and the tungsten electrode becomes energized creating an arc. The arc will heat the metal until they melt once this happens the welder will add the filler metal to the joint by dipping it into the arc. At the end of the process you have a single piece of metal.