Last Updated on May 30, 2022 by Luis Ferency
Do we begin with what is TIG welding? What is TIG welding used for and Also, and how it is different from other types of welders?
What is TIG Welding?
Typically a Tungsten Inert gas or TIG welding is another easy name we use for gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). Thus these two terms can be used interchangeably to create less confusion. These types of welding processes commonly take place while bonding aluminum, stainless steel, copper alloys, and magnesium. While it is popular for creating high-quality purity welds other welding types fail in doing so. The best thing about the TIG welding procedure is it produces precise and clean welds on any type of welding metal.
As in TIG welding, the tungsten electrode is heating the metal that you are going to weld along with gas (Argon, most commonly used) to protect the puddle of the weld from contaminants of airborne. Generally, a TIG welder is an arc that is formed between a non-consumable tungsten electrode and metal as a work base. Hence, this arc can create a coalescence between these two or more metals to produce the finest welding work.
Since these non-consumable electrodes are available in numerous types of various lengths and sizes which are typically made up of the purest tungsten or with an alloy of tungsten and any other oxides and elements. Though, tungsten has one of the highest melting points around 3,410 degrees Celsius, among any other metal.
So by using different necessary expertise or/and appropriate welding equipment, these new TIG welding can easily be done either manually, automatically, or by using any type of hybrid approach. Since these GTAW welding is smoothly providing one solution to different varieties of manufacturing challenges. Though, for some cases where the metal has extremely different melting temperatures such as copper or steel, you may switch to tube brazing rather than TIG welding.
A key feature of TIG welding includes:
- The usage of non-consumable tungsten electrode
- Might add extra metal filler by hand when needed
- To protect the tungsten and your weld, shielding gas is used
- The resulting output of TIG welding is high-quality clean and the finest welds
- Have a tendency to weld more types of welding metals than any other type of weld
Types of TIG Welding Services you can expect from TIG welder:
Since there are numerous types of welding processes that are used by professional welders to complete their welding projects and jobs. Though in TIG welding you might perform you’re working by providing two types of TIG welding services, Orbital and Manual TIG welding. Hence both these types have their amazing benefits so when done properly by jointing down the two welding metal products, you might end up getting superior welding quality results.
The orbital TIG welding provides an easy, repeatable process that allows the automation process to begin when needed. For us, this is the cleanest process as it requires less manual handling that ends up providing the high-quality welding that can be a witness as compared to the most other types of welding process ever performed. On the contrary, manual TIG welding is always end-up in delivering the most precise welding solutions. This allows you to have more accurate and most refined welding amendments if ever required while welding. Thus this is not feasible while doing any orbital welding for instance hard-to-reach welds when the apparatus does not fit properly and other open root passes.
What Is TIG Welding Used For?
Typically the TIG welding is offering solutions to perform numerous welding procedures such as welding critical joints or in a situation where the welder needs quite precise or any type of small welding. The welder can also perform the TIG welding process when done correctly with a wide variety of metals. So with the proper procedure, the welder can successfully produce great quality and high-purity welding products in different crucial applications as compared to joining results of other available processes. Thus the price of using TIG welding services is quite budget-friendly and easily be affordable. However, you might find cost fluctuation due to the material used for being welded along with the project scope is involved. Also, the TIG welding machine is slightly expensive but you might have a one-time investment that will eventually pay back to you. Overall investing in TIG is good and one of the most efficient procedures to easily join two metals.
Key benefits –Why should one try TIG Welding?
Following are our recommendations that enable the welder to use TIG welding as its one and top-most priority. One should try TIG welding because:
- It has a tendency to weld more metals and alloys as compared to other available welding processes:
Since TIG welders are very efficient they can be used to weld different metals such as steel, Chromoly, nickel alloys, copper, bronze, stainless steel, aluminum, magnesium, brass, and even gold. Additionally, this TIG welding process is also used for welding different types of machinery such as bike frames, wagons, and lawnmowers as well as fenders, door handles, and much more.
- To provide high-quality by creating high-definition clean welds:
The TIG welding can provide a clean weld with an eye-catching sleek appearance with the advanced feature of weld puddle control and superior arc. Through this clean and smooth finishing look you always stay confident with the appearances that count. This is due to the input heat controlled by the foot pedal, similar to a driving car. Also, this TIG welding then allows the welders to cool down and heat the weld puddle which eventually gives them a precise welding bead control. Hence due to such versatile features, the TIG welding process is becoming an ideal choice for cosmetic welds such as automotive and sculpture welds.
- No dangerous sparks or spatter
As you only need a critically important amount of filler metal to be added into the welding puddle. Thus this makes your welding less dangerous as you don’t have to encounter any type of spark or spatter that is produced when you weld by using other welding methods.
- No flux or slag
Similar to no spark and spatter, you also don’t have to face any type of flux or slag while welding through TIG. This is due to the gas most probably Argon gas that is designed to work as a shield in providing the protection to weld puddles from any type of contamination. Hence enables you to not use any flux in TIG welding and also there will no slag that blocks your view of the weld puddle. Similarly, with the finished product, you don’t have slag that removes between weld passes.
- No more dangerous fumes or smoke gas
As the TIG welding cannot create any type of smoke or fume gases, until and unless the provided welding base metal does not include any type of contamination or elements that involve oil, paint, zinc grease, or lead. So make sure you always clean your base metal properly before going to start.
- Usage of one shielding gas (more preferable Argon gas) for all welding applications
Just because TIG uses one singular gas as a shielding gas to protect all the metal and its thickness. Hence, all you need is an Argon gas to keep it with you while doing any welding application that requires the TIG process. Thus Argon gas will successfully handle the welding project. So keep it with you in your shop as a must-have element. Notably, most TIG welding application uses Argon gas.
- TIG can weld through all positions
So when you are going to weld by using TIG weld, you will be happier to know that it can weld through all positions. Regardless of any positions such as horizontal, overhead, flat, or vertical, TIG weld can cover it all. Hence it is perfect for all types of projects that include precisions such as roll cases or inside any confined or small areas.
Potential Challenges of TIG Welding:
- Since TIG welding is an amazing process that can be performed with all types of metals. Though few metals cannot be welded with TIG welding.
- Make sure you are welding on clean metal when using TIG welding, as dirty metal can result in weak low weld quality
- Don’t weld metal quickly with TIG welding as it requires steady time and patience.
- Take good control of your both hands and one foot to perform TIG welding
- Typically for novices its almost impossible to reuse the TIG wedding product for other applications
- Quite expensive when you are seeking extra labor or professionals to do the quality work. Also for a certain application, you may need expensive equipment. Furthermore, if TIG welding is done improperly, contaminations, inclusions, and defects will result in an increase in overall cost.

Luis Ferency with experience of 35+ years is a semi-retired welder. Though his passion for welding and learning keeps him going further. He loves sharing his knowledge on his expertise in SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and FTAW. Hence, this helped the new welders to seek leverage knowledge and improve their welding skills.