TIG Welding Rod

The TIG welding rod is a filler material that is manually dipped into the weld pool. It is not made of tungsten but of a similar or matching material to the base metal. Its job is to fill the joint and achieve the desired mechanical properties such as strength and toughness. The rod must be clean and dry, otherwise you get porosity in the weld. You feed it from the front into the welding zone, where the shielding gas protects it from oxidation. The amount you add depends on the joint geometry and welding speed – too much gives an over-reinforced weld, too little gives a lack of fusion.