Abstract: A welding electrode for a TIG welding torch has a short disposable electrode tip attached to a holder. The holder, which is solid and made of a highly conductive material such as copper, carbon, steel, or graphite, is mounted in the chuck or collet of a conventional torch. The tip is made from a standard electrode material, such as tungsten, and is preground to a precise point angle. In the preferred form of the invention, the holder includes a collet assembly in which the electrode tip is removably held. In other forms of the invention, the tip may be permanently attached to the holder by mechanical engagement of the tip in an end of the holder or by cementing, welding or brazing the tip to the end of the solid conductive holder. In this form, tips may be attached on both ends of the holder. The holder with the attached prepoint tip reduces unnecessary wastage of the electrode material, eliminates the grinding of points in the electrode and the resulting electrode contamination, and redcuces I.sup.