TIG welding (GTAW – Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode and separate filler metal addition to produce high-quality, precise welds. This versatile process excels for critical applications requiring superior weld quality, excellent appearance, and precise control.

TIG process advantages include exceptional weld quality with minimal defects, superior control enabling precision in thin materials and critical welds, excellent appearance for exposed welds, minimal spatter and post-weld cleanup, capability for all weldable metals including exotic alloys, and all-position welding capability.

For pressure vessel fabrication, TIG typically produces root passes requiring high quality and full penetration, welds on stainless steel and exotic materials, precision welds in tight clearances, and any application where weld quality and integrity are paramount. Clean, defect-free root passes provide foundation for productive fill and cap with other processes.

Material versatility includes carbon steel, all stainless steel grades, nickel alloys (Inconel, Monel, Hastelloy), titanium, aluminum, copper alloys, and dissimilar metal combinations. Each material requires appropriate filler metal, shielding gas, and welding parameters.

TIG limitations include lower deposition rates than MIG or flux-cored processes, higher skill requirements for quality results, slower travel speeds, and sensitivity to contamination requiring clean base metal and filler. Despite lower productivity, TIG delivers quality where it matters most.