The Basics of Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW/TIG)

Name: The Basics of Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW/TIG)
Rating: 4.4 (54 reviews)

An Introduction to the Tools, Terminology and Major Concepts of GTAW, also known as TIG Welding

Created byRay Harkins, The Manufacturing Academy, Garry Pace

Last updated 6/2026

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

The advantages and disadvantages of GTAW (aka TIG welding)
The equipment, materials and methods used in TIG welding
An overview of the welding-related defects - how they occur and what to do to prevent them
Pre-weld preparations to achieve a quality weld
Electrodes, gasses, filler materials and base materials
Primary and secondary welding variables
The Torch and gas shielding system
Welding terminology

Course content

1 section • 20 lectures • 2h 27m total length

Introduction to the Course5:08
Explore the basics of gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW/TIG), covering equipment, base and filler materials, welding variables, and common defects like porosity and undercut.
An Introduction to Your Instructor0:57
Meet your course instructor, a professional welding engineer and CWI with 20+ years of experience, as he introduces gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW/TIG) and its technical overview for welders.
Overview of GTAW10:39
Explore gas tungsten arc welding (tig) with a non-consumable tungsten electrode and argon shielding for precise, low-deposition welds and optional filler-metal hand-feeding.
Equipment8:05
Explore the essential equipment for gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW/TIG), including power supply, torch, tungsten electrode, grounding, and shielding gas with argon or helium, plus torch types and filler options.
Advantages and Disadvantages of GTAW7:17
Explore the advantages and limitations of gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW/TIG): high quality, precise, versatile welds with no flux or slag, but higher cost and slower deposition.
Advantages and Disadvantages of GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding)
Glossary of Welding Terminology1:39
Explore a downloadable glossary of welding terms, including welding-specific and general concepts, to reinforce terminology. Use this training tool to broaden your understanding of welding and GTAW basics.
Welding Current7:20
Learn gas tungsten arc welding current types—direct current, pulsed current, alternating current with high-frequency start—exploring electrode polarity, heat distribution, aluminum oxide cleaning, and arc initiation.
GTAW – Types of Welding Current
The Torch and Gas Shielding System7:04
Examine GTAW/TIG gas shielding, comparing air cooled and water cooled torches, and how shielding gas, cups, and flow meters control heat, flow, and weld quality.
Electrodes and Gas8:07
Explore tungsten inert gas welding, using a non-consumable tungsten electrode and inert shielding gas to protect the weld pool, while filler material is supplied separately via a wire.
Filler Materials6:28
In GTAW, filler metal comes from a separate wire. TIG and MIG use the same filler material, only in different product forms.
The Tungsten Electrode3:56
Learn tungsten electrode tip preparation for GTAW, including tip shapes, material compatibility, and current type (DC, AC) for different metals, plus safe grinding and torch setup.
Pre-weld Preparations9:49
Prepare the weld joint for GTAW by thorough cleaning, edge preparation, and correct electrode tip selection, then use fixturing, preheating, and controlled inner pass temperature with temperature checks.
Weldable Materials7:02
Explore the tig welding process and its weldable metals, including aluminum, stainless steel, and carbon steels, and learn how ac current cleans aluminum oxide and why tig stays versatile.
The Welding Procedure Specification (WPS)8:22
Explain tungsten electrode types and classifications for GTAW/TIG, including thoriated and lanthanum oxides, and cover current modes, shielding gases, and taper effects on weld penetration.
Primary and Secondary Welding Variables5:34
Explore GTAW variables—welding current, travel speed, and arc voltage—and how they control penetration and bead size. Understand electrode angle, extension, and arc length that affect weld quality.
Welding Defects and Discontinuities, Pt 18:28
Identify GTAW/TIG welding discontinuities such as tungsten and oxide inclusions, porosity and wormhole porosity, incomplete fusion, undercutting, and arc strikes, and learn their causes and preventions.
Welding Defects and Discontinuities, Pt 217:04
Identify and prevent TIG welding defects and discontinuities, from incomplete fusion and porosity to tungsten inclusions and arc strikes, through proper cleaning, shielding gas, technique, and welding parameters.
Welding Defects and Discontinuities 1
Welding Defects and Discontinuities, Pt 36:58
Identify crater cracks, longitudinal and transverse cracks, and arc blow in tig welding, and apply prevention methods such as back-off current and proper shielding gas.
Welding Discontinuities and Problems (GTAW)
Conclusion to the Course1:34
Celebrate completing the basics of gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW/TIG) and invite questions or feedback via Udemy direct messages to keep improving your skills and maintain your edge.
Bonus Lecture16:04
Explore a range of manufacturing and quality courses, from Lean Six Sigma and reliability engineering to Excel analytics, designed to boost your gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW/TIG) skills and career.

Requirements

Basic knowledge of manufacturing

Description

Welcome to the Udemy course titled, "The Basics of Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GMAW, TIG)" If you are new to the field of welding, this is the class you need to learn some of the over-arching concepts of welding and THE FULL RANGE OF BASICS associated with GMAW specifically.

GMAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) is commonly referred to as "TIG" welding, which stands for "Tungsten Insert Gas". TIG of GMAW refer to the process of using a non-consumable tungsten electrode to deliver electrical current to your work piece. Tungsten has a very high melting point relative to other metals, so it holds up well to the high temperatures of welding. GMAW also employs the use of a shielding gas like argon or helium. This gas prevents the oxygen and nitrogen found in our atmosphere from contaminated the weld pool.

TIG welding is very precise when compared with other welding processes. It deposits a low volumes of material in exactly locations. It is commonly used on metals such as aluminum and copper, or thin sections of steel sheet. And because of its versatility, TIG is often the first process new welders learn.

In the class, you will learn:

An Overview of GMAW
Advantages and Disadvantages as compared to other welding processes
Welding current
The TIG Torch and Gas Shielding System
Electrodes
Filler and Base Materials
Welding Terminology
Pre-weld Preparations
Primary and Secondary Welding Variables
Welding Defects and Discontinuities
And a Whole Lot More!!

So if you've been looking for an place to start learning the basics of welding, THIS IS THE CLASS FOR YOU!! Sign up today to gain the skills you need to advance your skills in fabrication.

Who this course is for:

Quality Engineers and Technicians
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineers
Manufacturing Supervisors and Managers
Those looking for a first step into the welding profession