What Are the Benefits of Using Filler Metal When TIG Welding?
What Are the Benefits of Using Filler Metal When TIG Welding?
Tungsten inert gas, or TIG welding, uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to produce the weld. During the TIG welding process, filler metal – usually a filler rod – is used to form a solid bond.
The rods are made out of special metal alloys to withstand very high heat without losing their features once they’ve melted and solidified. They come in many different types, and each of them is meant for certain metals and certain purposes.
TIG Welding and Filler Metal
If you’re wondering if filler metal TIG welding is always the way it’s done, the answer is “no,” it is not. You can use TIG welding without the filler metal, but keep in mind that when you use filler metal, it does a better job of uniting the two parts because it melts in the arc and solidifies, producing the results that most welders want.
Autogenous welds and fusion welds are types of welds usually done without a filler metal because it simply isn’t necessary.
TIG welding is also called gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), and the process involves an inert shielding gas, such as helium or argon, that is used to protect the electrode and weld area from oxidation or some other type of atmospheric contamination.
When helium is used, the weld is called heliarc welding. TIG welding is usually used to weld together very thin sections of stainless steel and some type of non-ferrous metal, such as magnesium, aluminum, and even copper alloys. In the end, a stronger, higher-quality weld is demonstrated.
Why Filler Metals Are Chosen for TIG Welding
When a filler material is added to the process, it is much more tolerant of poor fit-up. Because of this, the entire welding process is easier to control even though the edge quality of your material is not exactly perfect.
Having said this, if you use wire feeders and the right filler materials, they can help make numerous products and numerous types of materials more functional and efficient.
Filler metals also produce joints that meet certain important requirements, including corrosion resistance and strength. Of course, the right filler metals have to be used in conjunction with other tasks to produce extra strength and protection against corrosion.
Control of heat input and post-weld cooling have to work with filler metals, and when they do, there are fewer problems with hot cracking and protecting the material’s corrosion resistance as the welding process is taking place. You can think of filler metals as an extra advantage or perk that always produces better projects in the end.
Conclusion
Don’t forget that filler metals also come in many different types because there are different types of metals used when welding. Because of this, you’d be smart to do a little research on them before deciding which one to use.
Extra strength and less corrosion are the two main benefits of using a filler metal with TIG welding, and some of the many filler metals available for use include various types of tungsten electrodes and TIG filler rods.
