“Heliarc” had been popular before it was given the name “TIG” or Tungsten Inert Gas. It was named Heliarc after the gas helium which was used when the process was discovered. Later, it was changed to “TIG” after it was discovered that argon worked better. Inert gas could refer to either helium or argon.
However, after several experiments more, it was again discovered that small additions of hydrogen worked well for some metals. The word “inert” became inappropriate, so it was renamed to what is now popularly called “GTAW” or Gas Tungsten Arc Welding.
TIG welding is similar to gas welding as far as welding technique is concerned. However, compare to other arc welding processes TIG welding is difficult to use as it requires both hands with one in the filler rod and the torch in the other. Oftentimes, a foot pedal amperage control is also used which makes it more difficult.
The TIG torch can either be water or air cooled. It is designed to provide shielding gas and welding current through a tungsten electrode. A ceramic nozzle directs the shielding gas to the weld puddle and internal copper parts like the collet and the collet body holds the electrode in place. Then, the tungsten electrode is sharpened for applications where the arc needs to be pinpointed for very low amperage.
The arc that is made between the tungsten electrode and workpiece creates the heat that melts the metal and makes the weld puddle. The arc is shielded by argon, or helium or the mixture of both. Sometimes for certain alloys, hydrogen is added in small percentage to improve the flow of puddle. The arc is very smooth, quiet and clean when DC current is used. However, when the TIG welding machine is set on Alternating current, it is slightly noisier but still clean and smooth.
Almost any metal can be welded by TIG. The most popular are carbon and low alloy steels like 1010 carbon and 4130 chromoly steels, Stainless steels like 304,321, and 17-7ph, inconel 718 Nickel alloy and Hastelloy X, 6061 and 5052 Aluminum alloys, az31b Magnesium alloys, Titanium alloys like 6a14v and the ones that are commercially pure, Stellite 6b and 1605 Cobalt alloys, copper alloys like Nibral bronze and pure copper and a whole lot more. Now that you know about it all, you can go out and buy a cheap plasma cutter tig arc welder and start practicing.
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