LIMITATIONS OF GAS TUNGSTEN ARC WELDING (GTAW)
- It Produces lower deposition rates than consumable electrode arc welding processes.
- It Requires slightly more skill as compared to MIG or Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW).
- Less economical for very thick sections more than 9.5 mm.
- Problematic in drafty environments as difficulty in shielding the weld zone properly.
Additional problems with the process may include following points:
- Tungsten inclusions if the electrode is allowed to contact with the weld pool.
- Contamination of weld metal, if proper shielding of the filler metal by the gas stream is not maintained.
- Low tolerance of contaminants on filler or base metals.
- Arc blow or arc deflection like with other processes.