TIG Welding is said to be one of the finest and strongest weldings in the world of welds. The stronger it is, the more delicate selection of gasses it requires. One wrong TIG shielding gas selection can steer it to rough penetration, breakdowns, pores, and whatnot. To avoid such circumstances, you’ll need to keep on reading our article to put together stunning TIG welds using the proper shielding gas for your project.
Although some people might find it quite demanding to choose the right gas for their TIG welding project, it’s not always that tricky. In this article, we’ll take you to acknowledge the different types of shielding gasses best suitable for your TIG welds.
Contents
What gas is best for TIG Welding?
There are tons loads of shielding gases that are added in the TIG welding process, some of them being hydrogen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and oxygen, but these gasses are only occasionally added to the weld. The main and most commonly used gasses for TIG welding are Helium and Argon. Most of the time, a mixture of both of these gasses is merged to form a shield cover.
TIG Welding With Helium:
Helium was the first gas utilized for TIG welding when it was manufactured. Helium could be countered as one of the best choices for TIG welding because of its no-reactive properties that tend to produce neat welds.
Note: Helium has stronger heat-transmitting properties than Argon, so for this reason, you should be careful while using it. Always remember to run the amperage low to avoid any heat-related situations.
Aluminum cannot be broken down easily; that’s a known fact. To break massive pieces of aluminum, helium is preferred by most metal workers because helium is a great heat transfer; you receive a wider weld with Helium than Argon. One of the many cons you can face with helium is that it could cause deformation with narrower metals. Also, it could be hard on your pockets because once helium is released into the air, it disappears like stars on a cloudy night. You will not be able to find a single sign of it up in space, and you will eventually have to spend a big amount of money to have it replaced.
Nevertheless, helium is one of the fastest-working shielding gasses, the outcome of TIG welds with helium is worth the money if you’re someone who doesn’t mind spending a quality amount of cash for better results.
TIG Welding With Argon:
When we think of Argon, a colorless, tasteless, odorless gas instantly comes to our mind. High school was all about studying these gases in chemistry labs; every student reading this article must be aware of the fact that Argon envisions just 1% of the earth’s atmosphere. It has non-reactive properties that allow it to produce a strong arc and transmit heat well. Not only does it have amazing heat-transmitting properties, but it is also less expensive than the other gasses for shielding. Those other gases are known to be ‘hotter’ or ‘cooler,’ but Argon is considered one of the most subtle gasses for TIG welding compared to the others.
Unlike Helium, Argon does not disappear in space since it’s heavier than oxygen, and throughout the process, it stays afloat in the air.
Want a smoother and more stunning weld without having to spend too much money on it? Argon will do the job for you. It will smooth out your weld like butter on toast with zero slags or oxidation noticeably.
Although pure Argon can be countered as an ideal gas for TIG weld, it also has its shortcomings. It is suggested to use less gas flow since high gas flow can generate issues around the weld. When you splash more air into the weld tract, it causes argon to get mixed with oxygen, creating a weak shield around the weld.
On the other hand, when we talk about TIG welding on stainless steel, Argon could be countered as the one name for it. Its properties to produce a strong arc makes it an ideal choice to be used for TIG welding stainless steel.
Gas For Aluminum Welding
Either Argon or Helium can be used for Aluminum welding. But it is suggested that helium should be preferred more because of its higher thermal conductivity, unlike Argon.
Although Argon tends to give a glossier appearance than helium welding, you can get this glossier surface outcome from the combination of helium and argon, but for that purpose, you’ll have to need a wire to finish it off.
Before going on with Argon welding, you should consider the risk of producing high thermal conductivity throughout the process; this might induce a discontinuity, so to avoid this mess, utilizing the blend of helium and argon is preferred.
Interesting: Gasless Mig welding Machine
Can You Use The Same Gas For Mig And Tig?
The simplest answer to this question is ‘no.’ You can’t really use the same gas for MIG and TIG, respectively.
Gas For Mig Welding
MIG welding uses active gases, normally a combination of Argon and Co2. These active gases react with the weld producing a clean slate. Other than providing you with a sharp surface, an active gas like Argon makes sure to generate a sharper arc and promising penetration.
Another pro of active gas is that it cracks the uppermost surface of the metal, enabling it to smooth out more. Also, because Argon (active gas) has a higher thermal conductivity rate, it could require the machine needing to emerge higher so that your welds turn out to be elevated.
Gas For Tig Welding
If you’re someone who’s looking for something cheap yet subtle for your TIG weld, then you should go for pure Argon for that purpose. Most welders suggest pure argon to be ideal for TIG welding because it is inert.
The gas used for TIG welding is generally to preserve the weld pool from oxygen. Although, if you’re using an Active Gas for TIG weld like Argon and not pure Argon, you’ll face small holes at the end, and the Tungsten Electrode will get burnt out just like that.
Final Thoughts:
Pure Argon can easily suffice for TIG welding, but if you need to alter the arc more sharply and neatly, considering nitrogen, helium, and even hydrogen won’t harm your weld.
But other than these selected gases, never ever think of using carbon dioxide or oxygen in your shielding gas mixture; these gases are active gases and can make your TIG welds awful, unstable and ugly. Instead, always use inert gases like pure Argon to get your desired results.
FAQs:
What is the best gas to use for TIG welding stainless steel?
Argon is said to be the best gas to use for TIG welding stainless steel as it has a tendency to generate a subtle arc and is acceptable for all tiers of stainless steel.
What gas is used for TIG welding carbon steel?
Again, Argon is the gas used for TIG welding carbon steel because of its subtleness and versatility.
Can you TIG weld steel with 100 Argon?
You can definitely TIG weld steel with 100 Argon as it is said to be more powerful on steel.
