What Are TIG Welders and TIG Welding?
Often called TIG welding (Tungsten Inert Gas), this welding process joins metals by heating them with a tungsten electrode which should not become part of the completed weld. Filler metal is sometimes used and argon inert gas or inert gas mixtures are used for shielding. Consumables: tungsten electrode, filler metal, shielding gas. TIG welding, also called GTAW, uses a torch held by the welder to develop an arc. The power is supplied by a constant current power source. Unlike the MIG machine where the electrode is consumed in the puddle, the electrode is not consumed and filler metal is added by the operator. Current is then returned to the power source via the ground. Shielding gas is also supplied via the torch and it may or may not be controlled by the operator from the power source. While this process produces the highest quality welds, it also requires the highest skill level. It is also universal in terms of the material that can be joined. Recent developments have reduced the po
