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TIG Welding with Filler Wire Technique
It is necessary in many situations with TIG welding to add a filler wire into the weld
pool to build up weld reinforcement and create a strong weld. Once the arc is started
the torch tungsten is held in place until a weld pool is created, a circular movement of
the tungsten will assist is creating a weld pool of the desired size. Once the weld pool
is established tilt the torch at about a 75
° angle and move smoothly and evenly
along the joint. The filler metal is introduced to the leading edge of the weld
pool. The filler wire is usually held at about a 15° angle and fed into the lead-
ing edge of the molten pool, the arc will melt the filler wire into the weld pool as the torch is moved
forward. Also a dabbing technique can be used to control the amount of filler wire added, the wire
is fed into the molten pool and retracted in a repeating sequence as the torch is moved slowly and
evenly forward. It is important during the welding to keep the molten end of the filler wire inside the
gas shield as this protects the end of the wire from being oxidised and contaminating the weld pool.
75°
15°
Form a weld pool
Travel direction
Angle torch
Add TIG filler wire
Retract the filler wire
Move the torch forward to
the front of the weld pool
Repeat the process
gas
shield
TIG Welding Fusion Technique
Manual TIG welding is often considered the most difficult of all the welding processes.
Because the welder must maintain a short arc length, great care and skill are required
to prevent contact between the electrode and the workpiece. Similar to Oxygen Acety-
lene torch welding, TIG welding normally requires two hands and in most instances
requires the welder to manually feed a filler wire into the weld pool with one hand
while manipulating the welding torch in the other. However, some welds combining thin
materials can be accomplished without filler metal like edge, corner, and butt joints.
This is known as Fusion welding where the edges of the metal pieces are melted together using only the
heat and arc force generated by the TIG arc. Once the arc is started the torch tungsten is held in place until
a weld pool is created, a circular movement of the tungsten will assist is creating a weld pool of the desired
size. Once the weld pool is established tilt the torch at about a 75
° angle and move smoothly and evenly
along the joint while fusing the materials together.
75°
Form a weld pool
Angle torch
Move the torch slowly
and evenly forward
Travel direction
