How to Improve Training for New TIG Welders

TIG welding training and safety

As the industry continues to face a shortage of skilled labor, training new welders has become an increasing necessity for companies. For welding operations focused on TIG welding, training is a greater challenge since the process is considered to be the most difficult to learn. Some key best practices and new technologies, however, can help.

Along with teaching new welders how to TIG weld, it’s also critical to instill a solid knowledge about welding safety. From the use of proper personal protection equipment (PPE) to ensuring a safe, clean work environment, new welders must understand how to safeguard themselves and others while welding.

TIG welding tips and technologies

In some cases, the welders learning TIG welding may already have experience in another process such as MIG or stick welding. This experience can expedite the TIG welding learning curve, since the welders will have an understanding of welding fundamentals, such as gun or torch angles and travel speeds. Further establishing these skills, along with reliable hand-eye coordination, is critical to TIG welding success. For those entirely new to TIG welding, patience and practice are of utmost importance.

In both cases, starting slow is a good first step. Trainers should consider having new welders start by working on a simple operation. Tacking small pieces together can give welders a feel for holding the TIG torch, as can creating autogenous welds — joining two pieces of metal together without the addition of a filler metal. Autogenous welding provides a sense of how to control heat input, establish appropriate travel speeds and read the weld pool, while also encouraging good hand-eye coordination. As a next step, welders can try welding an inch or two at a time with a filler rod on a flat plate before attempting an actual joint.

As welders gain more confidence and start to weld on joints, they should consider these tips:

1. For the best results, hold the TIG torch at 70- to 80-degree angle. Tungsten distance to the workpiece is usually equal to tungsten diameter.

    

2. New welders should experiment with controlling the heat input using the foot pedal to gain control over weld pool size, which is determined by material thickness and amperage.

    

3. After practicing autogenous welds, take the next step in TIG welding by adding filler metal. Hold the rod so it rests horizontally at approximately a 15-degree angle to the workpiece. Gently but quickly dab the filler metal in the weld pool after heating up the base material, and keep a consistent travel speed.

    

4. Keep practicing! Remember, not only are new TIG welders learning how to hold the proper torch angle and manage the filler rod, but they are also learning to control the current level during the process.

As a side note, welding on mild steel, aluminum and/or stainless steel, particularly thicker sections (1/8 inch or greater), is ideal for learning to TIG weld.

In addition to employing these best practices for new TIG welders, investing in the right welding technology can help simplify the training process. Today’s inverter-based power sources, particularly when used in AC mode, offer better directional control of the arc than older transformer machines, and they provide balance and frequency adjustments to improve performance. They can help ease and expedite the training process.

Some new TIG welding power sources or multiprocess machines feature preset functions that eliminate the guesswork when setting welding parameters. For example, the welder can select material thickness and the machine will set the balance of frequency and amperage automatically, making it easy to start welding right away.