TIG Welding Consumables: Tungsten, Collets And Gas Lenses Explained

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.

A gas lens sits in place of the standard collet body and uses a fine mesh to straighten the shielding gas flow into a smoother, more laminar stream around the arc. This generally allows a longer stick-out from the cup without turbulence pulling in surrounding air, which is particularly useful when working in tighter joints or awkward positions where the torch needs to sit further back from the work.

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.

Every workshop is different, so rather than relying on general advice, it's worth getting your own set-up properly assessed. A system that works well for one shop can be quite wrong for another with different ventilation, floor space or process mix, and an on-torch extraction option, such as those available for Fronius torches, suits a different layout to a fixed overhead hood.

Getting the right disc for the material and finish you're after saves both abrasives and time, and it's worth checking your current selection against the job list with a supplier who stocks a full abrasives range, such as Tec Products.

Portability and durability matter depending on how the table gets used. A shop building large frames or vehicle chassis needs a solid, well-supported table that won't flex under load, while a mobile fabricator or someone working across multiple sites benefits more from a lighter, foldable design. Material and construction quality affect long-term flatness too, since a table that warps under heat from repeated welding stops being reliable exactly where it matters most.