TIG Welding Process

TIG Welding Process, Torch Angle, Tungsten Grinding and Stainless Steel.

Things to keep in mind when TIG Welding

Position TIG torch about an 1/8 of an inch from the surface.

TIG Torch angle

Once an arc is established, angle the torch about 15 to 20 degrees away from the direction of travel.

Filler Material Angle

When filler material is needed, dab the filler rod as low as possible to avoid touching the tungsten and contaminating the weld.
Torch melts base material and the base material melts your filler rod.

Tungsten Grinding / Preparation for mild steel, stainless steel and Chromoly steel

Use a diamond grinding wheel to achieve a good finish with a sharp point and reduce wear on the grinding wheel.
When grinding tungsten, hold the rod parallel, rather than perpendicular, to ensure the grind marks are running the length of the tungsten instead of across it. This aids the flow of current down the electrode.
Slowly rotate the tungsten to form a point similar to sharpening a pencil. The finished point should be less the 2.5 times the diameter of the electrode.
For TIG Welding aluminum, grind off the point of the tungsten to create a flat spot.
After grinding the tungsten place it into the TIG torch, sticking out about 3/16 to a 1/4 of an inch.