Posted by Here’s a question that a great deal of individuals ask: What’s the distinction in between MIG and TIG welding?
A little confusion is perfectly normal. After all, both procedures use electrical arcs to produce heat and join metal objects. Also, both processes utilise an inert gas mixture to prevent corrosion of welding electrode.
However, there are some key distinctions in between these two electrical arc welding processes:
How Each Process Works
MIG, or metal inert gas, welding is a procedure that involves constantly feeding a metal wire into the weld being made. The wire acts as a filler product to help join the two metal things.
TIG, or tungsten inert gas, welding uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to run a current through the metals being signed up with and may or may not use a filler metal.
Suitability for Welding Thicker Metal Objects
Because MIG welding employs a consumable filler material to make welds, it can typically complete welds of thicker metal things in less time than a TIG weld.
Without a filler product, TIG welding has to get the pieces of metal being bonded hot enough to form a bond with each other. Typically, this is much easier with thinner pieces of metal than with thicker ones.
Overall, for truly thick, heavy-duty welds, MIG welding is the go-to alternative. For thinner pieces of metal, TIG welding has the tendency to be the more reliable option.
Ease of Control
Generally speaking, MIG welding is more often suggested for ease of use. The process has the tendency to be a bit more forgiving of mistakes than TIG welding is– so it’s frequently suggested for novice operators and non-professionals.
TIG welding, on the other hand, needs extremely stringent control over the timing, pressure, and electric present utilised in the weld. In most cases, TIG welding is best done utilising an automated, computer system numerically-controlled (CNC) welding maker. Makers can reliably carry out identical welds over and over far more easily than a manual welder could.
When using an automated welder (whether it’s MIG or TIG), it is necessary to obtain the weld settings and controls perfect– otherwise, you risk repeating the same mistake over and over.
Which One is Better?
The response depends upon the task in question. As noted earlier, MIG welding is generally much better for sturdy welding work where larger, thicker pieces of metal are being signed up with due to the fact that it utilises filler material.
However, TIG welding can work wonders for joining smaller pieces of metal, such as the wires for a custom-made steel wire basket. Due to the fact that the TIG procedure directly joins 2 pieces of metal, there’s no filler product to stop working.
With robotic welding devices, TIG welding can be a bit lower-maintenance, because the welding electrode isn’t being constantly taken in by the welding process. However, the welding electrode still needs to be effectively cleaned and polished in between usages especially when welding stainless steel.
Simply put, selecting one welding solution as the best need to be done on a case-by-case basis, which is why Marlin Steel is dedicated to having a series of tools and technologies for finishing welds.