One of the defining elements of TIG welding is the Tungsten. In fact that is what the first letter in TIG stands for: Tungsten Inert Gas. TIG uses an inert gas to shield the weld (typically Argon), a filler rod of a metal that matches what you are welding, and an electrode made of Tungsten that focuses and directs the arc. All TIG electrodes are more than 95% Tungsten, which is a rare metal used because it is hard and has one of the highest melting points of any metal. There are at least 5 distinct types of “Tungstens”, as most people call them, typically color coated based on how much of what other elements have been added.
Tag: TIG Welding
How to Build Simple Engine Mounts for a Hot Rod
To me building a hot rod or custom car is all about building with what you’ve got, using some ingenuity, and making things from scratch. Sure you can point and click with your mouse and buy a “hot rod in a box” from online vendors, but I think that those cars lose the soul that makes a hot rod so dang cool. Recently I built a chassis for a 1930 Ford Model A coupe I’m putting together and I needed to make some simple motor mounts to attach the Flathead to the chassis. I know you can buy some, but where’s the fun in that?! I decided to show a simple way to make some mounts from scratch.
How to Convert Late Ford Banjo Rear End to Spring Over Axle
When you’re building old cars you sometimes have to work with “what you’ve got”, especially when you’re on a tight budget. If you’re building a hot rod using period correct parts you may need to mix and match parts to get something that works for your particular vehicle.
If You’re Welding an Auto Darkening Helmet is NEEDED!
The key to good welding is being able to see the metal. Ditch those old standard lens helmets and get yourself an Auto-Darkening Helmet. You’ll see light!, but not too much. I remember when I learned to weld all I had was an old ARC welding helmet which was like […]
How to Prep Metal For Welding – Quick Tip
Dirty Welds Are Never Strong so Clean Your Metal Before Welding The key to any good weld is clean metal, but what is the best way to clean metal before you start welding? Depending on the tools you have and the overall goal of the project, there are a few […]
Quick TIG Tungsten Setup Tips
When you’re a beginner at TIG Welding there’s a lot of steps to go through to lay a nice weld down. Getting a setting incorrect, or setting something up just a little off can be the difference between a gray mess of bird-turd welds and rainbow colored stacks of dimes. […]
A Crash Course on What Makes up a TIG Torch
A TIG welder can be an overwhelming tool to learn to use and master how to control. Learning how the basic steps to assemble and set your TIG torch up can be the first step in laying stacks of dimes. Below we give a crash course on the assembly of the TIG torch.
How to perfectly sharpen your TIG Welder Electrode Tungsten
We’d all like to have the fancy tools the high end shops and builders have, but it isn’t always possible with your budget. TIG welder Tungsten Grinders can be very costly and many DIY users can’t justify. That doesn’t mean you can get by without grinding or with poorly ground electrodes.
Project Pile House- Shaving the Door handles
Since guys have been customizing cars, shaving the door handles has been one of the most common modifications to make the car look as smooth as possible. This process can be a pretty simple process, but there are a few things that can make it go smoothly. I decided to show the process on Project Pile House.