How to TIG Weld

In Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding, a tungsten electrode is used to heat the metal, while Argon gas protects the weld puddle from airborne contaminants. TIG welding can be used to produce high-quality, clean welds on most materials, including steel, stainless steel, chromoly, aluminum, nickel alloys, magnesium, copper, brass, bronze, and gold. Follow the steps below to get your TIG welder up and running and start welding masterpieces today!
Method 1: Setting Up the TIG Machine

 1    Put on safety gear. Before operating any welding machine, make sure to put on protective eyewear, thick, fire-resistant clothing, and a welding helmet with an eye shield.


  2   Connect the TIG torch. All TIG torches have a ceramic nozzle for directing argon, a copper sleeve for holding an electrode, and some way of cooling themselves. Use the adapter from your accessory package to plug the torch into the front of your machine.

 

    3
    Plug your foot pedal into the machine. The foot pedal is used to control the heat at which you are welding.
    
    4
    Select the polarity. You will pick different settings based on the type of metal that you are welding. If you are using aluminum, place the welder on the alternating current (AC) setting. If you are using steel or other metals, place the welder on the DC Electrode Negative (DCEN) setting.
        If your welder has a high frequency setting, it will also need adjusting. For aluminum, the switch will need to be on continuous high frequency. For steel, it should be on high frequency start.
  
    5
    Grind the tungsten. The thickness of the metal to be welded and the welding current used determine the size of the tungsten rod. Make sure to grind in a radial direction around the circumference of the tungsten, not straight toward the ends.
        Use the face of a fine stone to grind the tungsten electrode. Grind so that the electrode is pointing in the same direction as the rotation of the stone as a safety precaution.
        Grind the tungsten to a balled tip for AC welding and a pointed tip for DC welding.
        To make a butt weld or open corner weld ground the tungsten to a five to six millimeter stick.    
    6
    Set up the gas flow. You want to use a pure Argon gas or mixed Argon gas such as an Argon-Helium mixture. Remove the plastic protective cap.
        Snift the valve body by quickly opening and closing the valve to clean any debris out of the threaded valve body.
        Screw the regulator on, then screw the nut tight while simultaneously twisting the regulator until it is seated in the valve.
        Tighten the regulator using a spanner, making sure that the pressure knob is backed off counter-clockwise.
        Put on the gas hose and flowmeter, then turn on the cylinder valve. Make sure to turn on the cylinder valve gently and in small increments. Usually a quarter-turn revolution is enough.
        Finally, check for any leaks by listening for a wheezing sound or using an aerosol leak detector spray.
        Set the gas flow rate by adjusting the cylinder regulator. Though the rate may vary depending on your project, usually the rate stays between four and 12 liters per minute.
   
    7
    Set the amperage. The amperage allows you to regulate the control you have over the welding process.
        The thicker the metal, the higher the amperage.
        The more coordinated you get with the foot pedal, the higher you can leave the amperage.
        Some conventional current ratios are: 1.6mm, 30 to 120 amps; 2.4mm, 80 to 240 amps; 3.2mm, 200 to 380 amps.
Method 2: Welding Your Metal

 
    1 Clean your welding material. Your surface must be clear of debris before you begin to weld.
        To prepare carbon steel, use a grinder or sander and polish it down to a bare, shiny metal.
        For aluminum, it is best to use a dedicated stainless steel wire brush.
        For stainless steel, just wipe down the weld area with some solvent on a rag. Make sure to store the rag and chemicals in a safe place before welding.

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    2
    Insert the tungsten electrode into its collet. Unscrew the back of the electrode holder on the collet, insert the tungsten electrode, and screw the back on again. Generally, the electrode should hang about 1/4-inch away from the protective sheath on the collet.
  
    3
    Clamp the parts together. Use an angle iron and/or a flat bar with c-clamps to secure the parts you want to weld together.
   
    4
    Tack weld the parts together. A tack weld is a very small weld that is intended to hold a part in place until the final weld can be completed. Place tack welds every few inches where your two metals meet.

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    5
    Hold the TIG torch in your hand. Be sure to hold it at about a 75 degree angle with the tungsten raised no more than 1/4-inch off the metal.
        Don't let the tungsten touch the work piece or it will contaminate your material.

    6
    Practice using the foot pedals to control the heat. Your weld puddle should be about 1/4-inch wide. It is important to keep your puddle size consistent throughout the weld to avoid a messy finish.
 
    7
    Pick up the filler rod in your other hand. Hold it so it rests horizontally at a 15 degree angle from the work piece at the base where the torch will heat the piece.
  
    8
    Use your torch to heat up the base metal. The heat of the arc will create a puddle, a pool of molten metal that is used to fuse the two pieces of metal together.
        Once there is a puddle on both pieces of metal, tap the filler rod into the molten puddle in quick dabs to avoid clumping.
        The filler rod adds a reinforcement layer for your weld.

    9
    Advance the puddle in the desired direction using your arc. Unlike MIG welding, where you lead the puddle in the direction that the torch is leading, with TIG welding you push the puddle the opposite direction that the torch leans.
        Think of your hand motion as that of a left-handed person operating a pencil. While a right-handed person moves their pencil like a MIG weld, with the angles both tilted to the right, a left-handed person has their pencil tilted to the left, though they must push the pencil to the right.
        Continue to advance the puddle until you have welded the entire area desired and you've completed a TIG weld!

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