TIG welding: setup, tungsten, aluminum and stainless

Q: What gas do you use for TIG welding?

Pure argon in most cases, typically at 15–20 CFH (7–9 L/min). Argon/helium mixes add heat and are used on thick aluminum.

Q: Which tungsten should a beginner buy?

A lanthanated 2% (blue) or ceriated 2% (orange) electrode. Both run on DC and AC, and they avoid the dust concerns of thoriated tungsten.

Free guide · The Welder's Forge · updated September 2026

TIG is the cleanest and most precise arc welding process: no spatter, almost no slag and full control of the puddle. The price is that it takes both hands and, often, a foot on the pedal. The guides below build that coordination and help you pick the right tungsten, gas and current for each metal.

Quick answer

In TIG the arc comes from a non-consumable tungsten electrode, shielded by pure argon. Steel and stainless run on DCEN (electrode negative) with a pointed tip; aluminum needs AC with a balled tip. You add the filler rod with your other hand, at the leading edge of the puddle.

Where to start

Never run a TIG torch? Start with torch angle, tungsten distance and the first exercises in TIG welding for beginners.
Still choosing a process? See the side-by-side comparison in MIG vs TIG welding.
Not sure what to set on the machine? The TIG welding amperage chart gives a starting point by metal thickness.
Which tungsten? Colors, classes and grinding are in tungsten electrode colors.
Aluminum or stainless? Each has its own guide, with current, gas, cleaning and the mistakes that show up most: how to weld aluminum and how to weld stainless steel.

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Reference tables, stick, MIG/MAG and TIG technique and safety in one PDF, written in plain American English.

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The TIG bench rule

Metal	Current	Tungsten tip	Gas
Steel and stainless	DCEN (electrode negative)	Pointed	Pure argon
Aluminum	AC (alternating current)	Balled	Pure argon, or argon/helium on thick parts

Section 5.3 of the e-book The Welder's Forge.

When TIG makes sense

TIG is the right choice for stainless, aluminum and thin, fine work where appearance matters. Above about 5/16–3/8 in (8–9.5 mm) it gets slow and MIG/MAG usually fits better. To see where TIG sits among the other processes, read the welding guide for beginners. These pages are reference material and do not replace hands-on training.

Guides on this topic

TIG welding for beginners: setup and first weldsTorch, rod and pedal: angles, setup and first exercises How to weld aluminum: AC TIG, MIG and prepOxide, AC TIG, MIG with argon and cleaning How to weld stainless steel: TIG, purge and cleaningTIG, root purge, warping and contamination Tungsten electrode colors: types and which to useColor chart, current, and how to grind the tip TIG welding amperage chart: a starting point by thicknessEstimate by thickness, tungsten, current type and gas MIG vs TIG welding: differences and how to chooseMIG/MAG, TIG and stick side by side

Frequently asked questions

Is TIG welding hard to learn?

It is the process that asks the most coordination: torch, filler rod and pedal at the same time. Practice in stages, starting with a fusion line without filler rod, then adding the rod, then the pedal.

What gas do you use for TIG welding?

Pure argon in most cases, typically at 15–20 CFH (7–9 L/min). Argon/helium mixes add heat and are used on thick aluminum.

Can you TIG weld aluminum with DC?

Not for normal work. Aluminum needs AC, which breaks up the oxide layer and lets the metal melt.

Which tungsten should a beginner buy?

A lanthanated 2% (blue) or ceriated 2% (orange) electrode. Both run on DC and AC, and they avoid the dust concerns of thoriated tungsten.

Want all of this in one PDF?

The e-book The Welder's Forge covers stick, MIG/MAG and TIG from the first arc to the shop floor, with reference tables and technical figures, in plain American English.

See the e-book — $12.90 Download a free chapter

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