What action should be avoided during TIG welding?

• A. Touch tungsten to the puddle or filler metal
• B. Keep tungsten away from the puddle
• C. Hold the torch at a right angle
• D. Increase travel speed

Answer: (A)

Touching the tungsten to the puddle or filler metal should be avoided because the tungsten electrode is non‑consumable and must stay clean of weld metal. When the tip contacts molten metal, elements from the puddle or filler stick to the tungsten, contaminating it. This alters the tip, often dulling or balling it, which destabilizes the arc and makes control harder. Contamination can also pull tungsten into the weld as an inclusion, creating defects and weak spots.

To keep the arc stable and the weld clean, keep the tungsten away from the puddle and maintain proper arc length with a suitable torch angle—slightly tilted rather than perfectly perpendicular. Travel speed isn’t inherently wrong or right on its own; it should be adjusted to produce the desired bead and penetration.