TIG welding offers many advantages over other welding processes, such as higher precision, better appearance and ability to weld thinner materials. Our range of TIG welders covers professional machines with high duty cycle and water cooling, to capable, compact machines for the hobbyist - and they all support stick welding too.
Also known as gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), TIG welding is used to make accurate, smooth welds when there is a need for finesse and a flat weld profile. It differs from MIG/MAG welding by generating the arc using a non-consumable electrode, made of tungsten. Tungsten is able to withstand the high arc temperature and does not melt into the weld seam. If there is a need for filler material, a filler metal rod is fed in front of the weld pool by hand or by use of a cold wire feeder. As such, TIG welding can be a two-handed process. A shielding gas (typically argon) protects the weld pool during welding. Typical TIG welded materials include aluminium, stainless steel and mild steel.
The smooth surface of a TIG weld makes it the ideal process to use when the final weld will be viewable after fabrication. In the food processing industry, a smoother surface means less places for bacteria to grow, which is why TIG welding is preferred. The precision in the TIG weld also makes it useful for other applications – e.g. in production of auto parts such as exhausts, TIG is used for its aesthetics and versatility.