Abstract: A method (50) of installing a tip cap (42) onto a turbine blade (20). An open tip is prepared (52) by removing a tip cap from a used blade or during original blade manufacture. A tip cap base sheet (24) is formed (54) to cover at least most of the blade tip surface except for a margin (22). A root pass weld (28) is performed (58) around the periphery of the base sheet, thus welding the base sheet onto the blade tip surface. Cladding (34) is applied (60) to the base sheet and the blade tip surface, thus building and fusing the tip cap onto the blade tip, the tip cap formed of cladding and the base sheet. A squealer ridge (44) may then be formed on the tip cap by additive welding.