Welding is a process that has been around for centuries. It is a means of joining two or more pieces of metal to produce a unified whole. It relies on heat and pressure to accomplish this. Over the years, companies and individuals have employed various techniques to achieve the right results. Among them is TIG Welding. It dates only form the 1930s when it became popular in cities such as Cleveland.
What’s in a Name?
TIG is short for tungsten inert gas. Originally, the method used pure helium as an inert gas. At the time, and even today, some welders refer to the method as “heliarc.” It was the gas employed in this method during the 1940s and was particularly active during the wartime efforts for welding on airplanes.
The next gas employed in TIG was argon. Recognized for its improved stability, it quickly came into common usage. With the term, heliarc no longer applicable, the name was changed to TIG. This, in turn, became gas tungsten arc welding or GTAW. However, you will still find the use of TIG in most shops in Cleveland and across the United States.
Learning TIG
The electrode in use for TIG is nonconsumable. The process does not “consume” or bun it up as is common for both stick and metal inert gas (MIG) welding. The heat generator is the tungsten. This allows the welding action to occur with the possibility of adding a filler.
Although the process sounds simple, TIG welding is not. A TIG welder requires greater skill to do quality work than is applicable for other types of welding. It is a versatile form but the process may be slower. It is a preferred method in many industries for welding aluminum components. In automobile racing and aircraft industries, TIG is the method of choice.
Preferring TIG
* Some welders and industries prefer TIG. They remark on its capabilities to
* Weld together a vast array of alloys and metals
* Work easily with non-ferrous metals
* Be extremely precise
* Use less amperage, therefore making it possible to work with thin as well as thick metals
* Cut cleanly and precisely
* Leave little to no slag
This is what makes TIG so popular across the industrial base.
TIG Welding
Welding is a skill that dates back centuries. Advances in technology have influenced the methods and changed the choice of gases employed in the process. While many methods, such as MIG are favorites in shops across Cleveland, one of the more popular methods is TIG. TIG welding is in demand by many industries because it offers versatility along with precision and clean cuts.
