TIG Welding Consumables: Tungsten, Collets And Gas Lenses Explained

Most domestic UK properties are supplied with single-phase power, typically 230V, which is more than adequate for light-duty inverter welders used for hobby work, repairs and general fabrication. Three-phase supply, commonly 400V to 415V across three live conductors, is standard in industrial premises and delivers power more efficiently to heavier equipment, which is why higher-output welders and plasma cutters, including some Fronius and ESAB machines, are often offered in a three-phase version.

Plasma cutting uses a jet of ionised gas, usually compressed air, forced through a nozzle at high speed and heated by an electric arc to a temperature hot enough to melt through electrically conductive metal. The molten material is then blown clear by the same jet, leaving a narrow, clean cut. Unlike oxy-fuel cutting, plasma works on any conductive metal, including stainless steel and aluminium, not just carbon steel. Hypertherm is the plasma cutting brand we get asked about most, and it's worth understanding the basics before comparing specific units.

TIG welding relies on a handful of small consumable parts inside the torch that have an outsized effect on how the arc behaves. The tungsten electrode itself doesn't melt into the weld; it simply carries the arc, and different tungsten types, distinguished by their alloying elements, suit different current types and materials. Getting the wrong tungsten for the job typically shows up as arc wander or poor arc starts long before it shows up anywhere else.

Our own TP Weld Tables range is designed and manufactured in-house in Yorkshire, cut on a fibre laser for tight tolerances, which is the kind of detail worth asking about wherever you're sourcing a table, and you can see the full range via www.tecproducts.co.uk.

Cutting capacity is usually described in terms of clean cut and maximum cut thickness, and the two are worth distinguishing. Clean cut is the thickness a machine handles with a good edge finish and reasonable speed, while maximum cut is the thickest material the machine will get through at all, usually slower and with a rougher edge. Buying with your typical material thickness in mind, rather than the thickest job you might occasionally face, generally gives a better day-to-day result.

The abrasive material itself matters as much as the shape. Discs formulated for steel typically contain aluminium oxide, while stainless steel usually calls for an inox-rated disc that's free from iron, sulphur and chlorine contaminants that could otherwise cause surface corrosion on the stainless. Aluminium and other soft, non-ferrous metals need their own dedicated abrasives too, since standard steel discs tend to clog quickly and produce a poor finish on softer materials.