Advantages and Disadvantages of TIG Welding

TIG welding is often overlooked for MIG welding because TIG is a slower process that’s harder to master. However, TIG welding is a great skill to learn and is one of the most popular welding methods due to a number of advantages that it offers including its control, precision and versatility.

Advantages of TIG welding

• Precision and control
• Better for thin metal
• Minimal post-weld cleanup
• Suitable for a wide range of metals and alloys
• Range of positions
• Better quality welds
• Low welding fumes

Disadvantages of TIG welding

• Harder skill to learn
• Slow process
• Not suitable for thick metal
• Equipment cost
• Only suitable on clean metal

Advantages of TIG welding

Precision and control

One of the best things about TIG welding is the level of control you have over the weld and the level of precision you can achieve with this.

TIG welding uses a non-consumable electrode held in one hand and the filler metal is added into the weld pool separately with the other hand. This allows you to carefully control the speed of the weld and continuously change how much filler metal enters the weld. A foot pedal is also used to alternate the heat, so you can get perfect heat application for the weld.

This superior level of control makes TIG the go-to choice for any intricate welds such as jewelry and components that require precision. The heat and filler metals act independently of each other, meaning you can continuously alter the operation without having to stop and change things over

Better for thin metal

TIG allows you to weld with much lower heat input. The operator can easily reduce the amount of filler metal entering the weld pool and reduce the heat to prevent any distortion or burn-through. If you want, you don’t even need to add in any filler metal at all.

Low heat application makes TIG the perfect choice for thinner-gauge metals such as aluminum or stainless steel alloys. It is the best choice for any smaller projects and strong welds on thin metals.

Low post-weld cleanup

TIG welding produces clean welds that often require no post-weld cleanup. There is virtually no spatter released when using TIG, enabling you to lay a bead that will look visibly sound without any cleanup.

Grinding is also greatly reduced because of the increased control the operator has over the filler metal. The weld can look so good that grinding may not be required post-weld.

Suitable for a wide range of metals and alloys

TIG welding is versatile and can comfortably weld most common metals and alloys including mild steel, stainless steel, chromoly, aluminum, titanium, nickel alloys, copper, brass and more.

This ability to weld a wide range of ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys makes TIG the best choice if you think you might want to work on many different metals. You will simply need different filler metal and shielding gas depending on your base metal.

Range of Positions

TIG welds can be performed in all different positions – overhead, vertical, horizontal and flat. You can easily weld at an angle and the level of control offered also helps you easily adapt to changing positions without having to stop and change the settings.

Better quality welds

TIG welding uses shielding gas which helps prevent welding defects caused by the atmosphere contaminating the weld pool. This results in a high-quality weld that is not only cosmetically attractive but has strength, penetration and ductile resistance.

The quality of welds provided by TIG has made it a popular choice in industries where strong, precise welds are critical, such as aerospace, automotive and other transport industries.

Low welding fumes

TIG welding produces much less welding fumes than MIG or stick welding However, you need to make sure the base metal is cleaned and free from any contaminants such as paint, oil or zinc which could interfere with the weld.

Lower welding fumes are in theory better for your respiratory health (although you should already have adequate ventilation and respiratory protection). It also has less environmental impact than MIG or stick because the only gas released is Argon, which has minimal effect on the atmosphere when released

Disadvantages of TIG welding

Harder skill to learn

One of the reasons that TIG isn’t as widely used as MIG is that it is a harder skill to learn. TIG requires precision and both hands and a foot to be in operation at the same time. You have to control the arc with the electrode, whilst feeding in the filler metal with the other hand and controlling the foot pedal. This level of coordination and dexterity can take a lot more practice to master than a MIG gun or stick electrode.

Slow speed of operation

TIG is a slower welding method than MIG and stick because of the slower deposition rate. The technique and slow speed required of TIG makes it a much less preferred choice of welding in fabrication shops, where speed of operation is crucial. When you need to pay for hours, the faster deposition rate of MIG is usually preferred.

Not suitable for thicker metals.

TIG welding isn’t ideally suited to welding thick metal. It can be used on thick metal with multiple passes but this can be very time consuming. It’s worth remembering however, that TIG machines can also perform stick, so it wouldn’t be that difficult to switch over to stick if you don’t have time to run all your TIG passes.

Equipment Cost.

TIG welding is one of the most expensive types of welding and more expensive than MIG or stick. It’s not just the labor costs that are high, the cost of TIG equipment is high as well.

TIG welding machines are typically more expensive than MIG or stick welders. Then you also have to factor in the cost of extra equipment. You need a bottle of argon gas, then you might get another cart to store it in and a water cooled torch. Overall it can end up setting you back a lot more, especially compared to gasless arc welding.

Only suitable on clean metal

Our final disadvantage of TIG is that it’s not suitable for metal without a clean surface. This is a disadvantage because it can add even more time onto the welding process as you have to clean off any rust, paint or oil from the base metal before you can lay a TIG weld. Stick welding is much more suitable for rusty metal as you can just choose the electrode that’s best suited for handling rusty metal.

Summary

If you have a bit more time on your hands and are welding on a project that requires detailed precision, TIG is the best choice for you. If you want to be a bit more time efficient but still get decent results, then you can try MIG. If you’re on a tight budget or want something portable that can weld on rusty metal or outdoors, look at stick or FCAW. Many welders have a multi-process welder to allow them to change processes depending on their project.