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GUIDE TO TIG WELDING
Before starng any welding acvity ensure that you have suitable eye protecon and
protecve clothing. Also take the necessary steps to protect any persons within the welding
area.
TIG welding electrodes
TIG welding electrodes are a ‘non consumable’ as it is not melted into the weld pool and
great care should be taken not to let the electrode contact the welding pool to avoid
weld contaminaon. This would be referred to as tungsten inclusion and may result in
weld failure.
Electrodes will oen contain small quanes of metallic oxides which can oer the
following benets:
• Assist in arc starng
• Improve current carrying capacity of the electrode
• Reduce the risk of weld contaminaon
• Increase electrode life
• Increase arc stability
Oxides used are primarily zirconium, thorium, lanthanum or cerium. These are added
usually 1% - 4%.
Tungsten Electrode Colour Chart - DC Tungsten Electrode Current Ranges
Tungsten electrode preparaon - DC
When welding at low current the electrode
can be ground to a point. At higher current
a small at on the end of the electrode is
preferable as this helps with arc stability.
Electrode grinding
It is important when grinding the electrode to take all necessary precauons such as wearing eye
protecon and ensuring adequate protecon against breathing in any grinding dust.
Tungsten electrodes should always be ground lengthwise
(as shown) and not in a radial operaon. Electrodes
ground in a radial operaon tend to contribute to arc
wander due to the arc transfer from the grinding paern.
Always use a grinder solely for grinding electrodes to
avoid contaminaon.
Welding Mode Tungsten Type Colour
DC or AC/DC Ceriated 2% Grey
DC or AC/DC Lanthanated 1% Black
DC or AC/DC Lanthanated 1.5% Gold
DC or AC/DC Lanthanated 2% Blue
DC Thoriated 1% Yellow
DC Thoriated 2% Red
Tungsten Electrode Size DC Current Amp
1.0mm 30 - 60
1.6mm 60 - 115
2.4mm 100 - 165
3.2mm 135 - 200
4.0mm 190 - 280
4.8mm 250 - 340
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