TIG Welding

TIG Welding Aluminum

Welding is a popular fabrication process involving heat and pressure. This technique is used to create a long-lasting joint between two different pieces of material. Welders in diverse industries use various welding methods depending on the parts, production specifications, and desired assemblies. One such widely-preferred technique is Tungsten Inert Gas or TIG welding. This versatile process uses electricity to melt and bind metal pieces.

Benefits and Applications of TIG Welding

Weld More Metals and Alloys

TIG welding is useful for joining more alloys and metals than other techniques, including steel, magnesium, stainless steel, aluminum, bronze, nickel alloys, brass, copper, and gold.

Create High Quality, Clean Welds

With superior weld puddle control and arc, TIG welding helps create clean welds. Since you can heat or cool the weld puddle as desired, it allows you to achieve precise weld bead control.

Avoid Sparks

TIG welding produces no spark or spatter if the metal is clean. This is because welders add only the necessary filler metal to the welding puddle.

No Fumes or Smoke

This welding method does not create fumes or smoke unless the base metal is contaminated with grease, oil, lead, paint, or zinc.

AC TIG Welding

Here are a few considerations for TIG welding:

• The electrode for AC TIG Welding has a ball-like tip, which is 1 – 1½ times the diameter of the tungsten.
• The amperage control for TIG welding is possible in different ways, including a foot pedal, an AMPtrol on the torch, and the machine setting.
• The air-cooled unit helps cool the torch using the gas flow.
• The water-cooled part operates like a car radiator, with water flowing through the torch and circulating through the cooler using a pump.

Aluminum Alloys are Best Suited for TIG Welding

The most popular alloys for this welding method are aluminum 1xxx or pure aluminum and aluminum manganese alloy 3003. Welders typically use HTS-2000 brazing rods to repair or fabricate the alloys, which are identified using a 4-digit system, with the first one describing the metal alloyed with aluminum.

• 1xxx – is 99% pure aluminum
• 2xxx – indicates aluminum copper alloy
• 3xxx – refers to an aluminum manganese alloy
• 4xxx – is an alloy of aluminum and silicon
• 5xxx – represents aluminum magnesium alloy
• 6xxx – is a combination of silicon, magnesium, and aluminum
• 7xxx – is a mix of aluminum and zinc
• 8xxx – indicates an alloy of tin or other metal and aluminum

TIG Vs MIG Welding

Both welding methods use the same principle. The heat generated using electricity melts the base and bonding materials. Further, this is cooled to form a solid joint. Despite the similarities, there are differences in their benefits and applications.

TIG welding is perfect for joining thin, small materials. Although it is slower than MIG welding and requires specialized training to achieve accuracy and precision, the TIG technique is widely preferred. It offers better control and produces strong and aesthetically pleasing welds.

Choose Nexal Aluminum Inc. for Your Welding Needs

At Nexal Aluminum Inc., we offer welding services with perfection and ensure superior customer service. We maintain the ISO9001 certification and the required national and international credentials for approved products, including CWB, AWS, TUV, and ABS. We have expert welders and the resources to serve distributors and manufacturers across North America and worldwide.
For more information about our aluminum welding services, call us at 1-905-629-8282.