How to Use a TIG Welder

Welding is a skilled art that takes practice, patience and a lot of safety gear. One specific type of welder is the TIG welder, which stands for Tungsten Inert Gas for the Tungsten electrode and the gas that surrounded it. It is used for complex and stylistic welding on a variety of metals including copper and titanium. Read on to learn how to use a TIG welder.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Choose the electrode to use for the project you are starting as well as the variety of alloys you'll use such as the 6061 Aluminum alloy electrode.

2. Grind the electrode to a point. Try to create a tip and sharpen it to help it become more rounded as you weld.

3. Place the electrode into an electrode holder with the tip about 1/4-inch away from the sheath. Choose the settings on your tig welder. The three main ones are AC, DCEP and DCEN. Choose AC for aluminum. Slide the "cleaning/penetrating" slider more to the penetrating side.

4. Set the "air on" to five seconds and the "max amps" to 250. Turn on the gas. For aluminum, use pure argon. For steel, an argon and carbon dioxide mix. Scrub your welding table or flat piece of sheet metal with a wire brush to make it clean and flat.

5. Gear up in full welding safety gear including hood, goggles, apron and gloves. Hold the electrode in your dominant hand and start your welding project. Check your settings every so often to make sure they haven't changed and adjust as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the area around your welding surface is completely clear. This will prevent fires from starting.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Earn your degree from industry experts at University of Phoenix. Take the next step in your career.