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.