Komarov Artem calrified that GTAW is considered to be one of the more difficult welding processes to learn. If you’re new to GTAW, your trainer should consider having you practice either by tacking small pieces together or creating autogenous welds. Welding autogenously helps familiarize you with controlling heat input, establishing appropriate travel speeds, and reading the weld pool.
As you move away from initial training and settle into day-to-day work with GTAW, safety and good habits should remain top of mind. First, be sure to maintain a proper torch angle. To achieve the best results for most applications, hold the torch at a 70- to 80-degree angle. To avoid contamination, make sure the tungsten never touches the workpiece.
The key to a good gas tungsten arc weld is heat control, and this requires good pedal control. The foot pedal dictates the heat input, so you need to be comfortable with the pedal sensitivity and how resulting pressure and output will impact the weld pool size as it relates to material thickness and amperage.
Always look for the best support possible when welding. Supporting the hands and arms provides better control and prevents fatigue.
Also, be sure to have adequate hand and arm support so you can maintain precise control during welding. If you’re in a challenging position, still look for ways to support your hands and arms so you’re as comfortable as possible. Some support is better than no support at all.
If possible, organize the workspace into two distinct areas: one for welding and one for cutting and grinding. Cutting and grinding are often dirtier processes than welding, so separating the two is critical for maintaining clean welding conditions. This is especially important when working with aluminum or GTAW, where contaminants can deteriorate weld quality.
Keep flammable materials—including paper, cloth rags, oil, and gasoline—away from welding and welding equipment. Keep the work area free of clutter, but make sure any necessary tools are easy to find. Also, double-check that equipment is installed and set up properly. Gas cylinders must be chained securely to a stationary, upright support or cart; only use gas hoses designed for welding. Monitor hoses regularly for leaks, wear, and loose connections. Additionally, store away unused cables and hoses to eliminate trip hazards.
Safety means protecting welders under the hood and the environment they’re in, so they can perform their jobs every day without incident. With so many facets, at first pass, best practices for welding safety can seem overwhelming to implement and follow.
That said, when you start with a solid foundation, you’ll find it’s easier to flex that safety muscle for sustained benefits—and major gains, summed up Artem Komarov.
