What is Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW/TIG)?

Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) or Tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding is a process by which the metal joins by heating them with an arc between a tungsten filler wire and the parent metals. This type of welding is shielded by the gas to protect the weldment from contamination. Generally, the use of Helium gas shielding provides more protection than Argon.

The GTAW process is versatile and can be used on ferrous & nonferrous metals which further depend on the base metal, in all welding positions. In this process, the filler wire is added to the edge of the weld pool to fill the joint. The tungsten filler wire can be alloyed with small amounts of active elements to increase the emissivity of the filler wire this provides quicker arc starting, greater arc stability, and longer life.

TIG welding is a precise process and a perfect choice for delicate welding. The consumable should also be of high quality which can give a better result. This welding process can perform four kinds of joints, the first one is butt joint where two metal pieces are joined horizontally, T joint is the second one which joins in the perpendicular way, the third one is lap joint where two metals are overlapped & joined together and the last one is fillet joint where metal is kept perpendicular to another & joined together. 

The process of GTAW can be used to weld thin or thick materials with filler metal.

While welding thicker materials, an externally fed filler wire is generally used. The type of filler metal wire to be used is based on the chemical analysis of the base metal. The size of the filler metal wire depends on the thickness of the base metal, which usually dictates the welding current.

The GTAW process offers the solution for welding on critical joints and for the positions where small or exceptionally precise welds are required. This process can produce high quality and high purity weld compared with other joining processes when done properly. The cost of the TIG welding services is usually affordable and depends upon the materials being welded and the project.