TIG welding
Common tig welding mistakes and how to fix them
Quick answer
The most common tig welding mistakes: dipping the tungsten into the pool; too much torch angle: 10–15° from vertical is plenty; forgetten post-flow gas: tungsten oxidises and turns black as it cools. Each traces to setup or technique basics — fix those first and the process behaves.
The usual suspects
- Dipping the tungsten into the pool — contaminating the electrode and the weld
- Too much torch angle: 10–15° from vertical is plenty
- Forgetten post-flow gas: tungsten oxidises and turns black as it cools
- Grinding tungsten lengthwise instead of radially — arc wanders
Diagnose from the bead
Your weld bead is a data readout: undercut says too hot or too fast, humpy ropey beads say too slow or too cold, spatter says voltage mismatch or stick-out, porosity says shielding. Chisel, brush and read every practice bead before you blame the machine — 90% of 'machine problems' are settings problems.