Mark Kadlec

Keep these tips in mind for GTAW applications to help you save time and money in rework and to help ensure a quality finished weld. Taking some extra steps in preparation and setup can help you complete the job on schedule and avoid the cost and hassle of troubleshooting or rework later in the welding process.

Titanium is favored for its extreme strength and corrosion resistance, but improper weld preparation and the introduction of oxygen and other contaminants into the weld zone can render it useless.

Some welders swear that stainless steel warps if you just look at it wrong. This is an exaggeration, but it does reflect the metal's low rate of thermal conductivity, which causes the input heat to remain localized; localized heating and cooling promotes distortion. Adding more heat doesn't...