TIG and Aerospace Welding Jobs

Aviation welding is a subset of welding jobs in general. Aerospace welding usually requires TIG welding and the training focuses on the special conditions that may be faced by welders when working on aeroplanes and helicopters.

This article has some helpful advice for TIG welding, should you want to learn a bit more about it before signing up to a course in order to gain a qualification for aviation welding jobs.

Sometimes people choose to transfer to aero welding from other sectors or welding jobs where they may have worked on stainless or carbon steel pipes and sheet metal. Either way, below are a few tips that might help you getting ready:

With TIG welding, everything is thinner and/or smaller. The TIG torch, electrode, filler wire, and even the TIG welding machine will be smaller than the ones you usually use for arc welding.Coming from a pipe welding background, a 1/8 inch welding rod is classed as a big TIG welding rod. When TIG welding, a 1/16 inch rod is thought of as big.

Preparation is very important, as everything needs to be sparkling clean. Joins are often given an x-ray in aerospace TIG welding certificate tests. Metal used in aviation, such as titanium, aluminium, and magnesium are prone to porosity. In TIG welding, cleanliness is next to Godliness. Filing the edge to be welded is also necessary. Even though the edge may seem clean, it is a trap for oil and corrosive material particles. More filing is better when preparing for TIG welding.

The filler rod’s hot tip will mess oxides in your puddle. Although you can get away with that in pipe welding stainless or mild steel, it won’t fly when welding .020″ 15-7 precipitation hardening stainless or .032″ inconel 718. You need to keep the end of the rod perfectly shielded by using a TIG cup that is at least 3/4 inch in diameter.

In a TIG welding certification test, the little things are important. Prepare yourself in the following areas:

• sizing your tack welds
• the purge gas’ flow rate
• angling your torch correctly and the angle of your filler rod
• what kind of abrasive you’re using to clean the metal prior to welding
• argon purity or purity of other shielding gas you’re using

There are a range of welding jobs available in aviation. If you think you would like to work on planes it is worth widening the scope of your welding skills and getting certified as a TIG welder.