How to set up a TIG welder for stainless steel with pro-level precision

Searching how to set up a TIG welder for stainless steel? Here’s the precise, repeatable setup pros use—distilled in TIG Welding Secrets, a field-tested guide trusted by instructors and code-shop fabricators. Expect cleaner beads, stable arcs, and consistent color control that stands up to inspection.

Run DCEN. Use 100% argon at 15–20 cfh through a gas lens (#8 cup). Choose 2% lanthanated tungsten, 1/16–3/32 in., ground to a sharp point. Match filler: ER308L for 304, ER316L for 316. Clean with acetone and a dedicated stainless brush. Start near 1 amp per 0.001 in. thickness; for thin sheet, add 1–1.5 Hz pulse at 25–35% background. Hold a 10–15° torch angle and keep arc length at or below tungsten diameter. Backpurge tubing and root passes (10–25 cfh) to prevent sugaring. Sequence, clamp, and chill to minimize distortion and keep weld color tight.

• Thickness-to-settings charts for plate, tube, and sheet
• Gas flow, cup, and tungsten selection by joint and position
• Fast fixes for gray welds, porosity, and arc wander