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VIPER MIG 165
OPERATING MANUAL
18.3 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 Acetylene torch welding, TIG welding typically 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, such as 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 in 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.
18.4 TIG Welding with Filler Wire Technique
It is necessary for 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 in 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 leading 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 essential 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.
TIG: Welding Guide
Add TIG filler wire
Travel direction
Form a weld pool
Travel direction
Form a weld pool
Move the torch forward to the
front of the weld pool
Gas shield
Angle torch
75°
Angle torch
75°
Repeat the process
Move the torch slowly and evenly forward
Add TIG filler wire
15°
