4 Tips To Make YOU a BETTER TIG Welder

Introduction

This tutorial provides essential tips for becoming a better TIG welder, based on insights from the Eastwood Company. By following these steps, you can improve your welding technique, achieve better results, and enhance your overall experience with TIG welding.

Step 1: Establish Comfort

• Sit comfortably at your welding bench as if you were enjoying a meal.
• Ensure your posture allows you to control the torch easily.

Step 2: Correct Torch Positioning

• Hold the torch in your dominant hand (right hand for right-handed welders).
• Start with the torch in a vertical position and lean it back at an angle of 10 to 20 degrees.
• Avoid leaning the torch too far back, as it can disrupt the gas shielding, allowing oxygen and contaminants to compromise your weld.

Step 3: Maintain Consistent Distance

• Keep a consistent distance between the tungsten and the substrate while welding.
• This distance should be roughly 3/16 inch (approximately 4.76 mm).

Step 4: Proper Tungsten Preparation

• Ensure your tungsten is well-prepped. For optimal performance, the tungsten should stick out about 3/16 inch from the torch.
• Use the appropriate tungsten size based on your welding project.

Step 5: Set Up Your Equipment

• Use the Eastwood TIG 200 AC/DC welder for its robust features.
• Set the welder to about 125 amps for welding steel that is 1/8 inch thick (120 thousandths of an inch).
• Adjust your argon gas flow to 20 cubic feet per hour (CFH).

Step 6: Focus on Puddle Control

• Form a puddle by applying consistent pressure on the foot pedal, akin to using a gas pedal in a car.
• Aim for steady movement, maintaining the same distance between the tungsten and the material.

Step 7: Introduce Filler Rod Technique

• Once the puddle is formed, dip the filler rod into the leading edge of the puddle, not into the tungsten.
• Maintain the same hand position and torch angle while introducing the filler rod.
• Follow a "move, dip" rhythm:
  • Move about the diameter of the puddle.
  • Dip the rod into the puddle, then move it again.

Step 8: Avoid Common Pitfalls

• Keep the filler rod within the shielding gas envelope to prevent contamination.
• If the end of the rod balls up, it indicates issues with contamination or incorrect technique.
• Be cautious of lifting the tungsten too high, as it affects arc stability and weld quality.

Conclusion

By implementing these tips—comfort, torch positioning, consistent distance, tungsten preparation, equipment setup, puddle control, filler rod technique, and avoiding common pitfalls—you can significantly improve your TIG welding skills. Practice consistently to refine your technique, and consider investing in quality equipment like the Eastwood TIG 200 AC/DC welder to support your welding journey.