Pulse settings for TIG

...Introducing the New WeldMonger Challenger TIG kit that includes the most frequently used Cups. 

What do Pulse settings for TIG, cruise control, and intermittent wipers have in common?

We can get by ok without them, but they are really nice to have.

The pulse feature on TIG welders has become standard equipment just like cruise control and intermittent wipers on cars.

But is pulse ever really necessary?

Can Pulse settings really help?

I think the answer is "It depends."

For manual tig welding, pulse settings do not always help.

They definitely CAN help, but they don't always.

One of the reasons is that travel speed is not always consistent with manual welding and we as welders tend to compensate for what we see in the weld puddle.

But for certain automated applications like orbital TIG welding of small bore pipe and tubing, pulse settings are very necessary and make a huge difference.

What are good pulse settings for manual tig welding?

Personally, I dont like trying to focus my eyes on an arc with pulse rates of 3 to 30.

its just annoying and hard on the eyes.

So I like to use .7 to 2 pulses per second, or higher than 30.

in fact, if you have been following me for a while, you may have heard me mention the "rule of 33" where you use 33 pulses per second, 33%pulse time, and 33% background current.

The "rule of 33" is a great place to start for high speed pulse tig.

its great for filling in gaps, and 33 pulses per second is not that difficult to watch.

you may even want to use 50 pulses per second just to make it easier on the eyes.

the higher you go on the pulses per second, the more the arc focuses so it has all kinds of applications ...especially when welding on or near an edge.

But back to the settings used in the video...

I used 2 pulses per second for the outside corner joint because it seems to limit heat buildup and is not too hard to watch.