Exactly What’s The Distinction In Between Mig And Tig Welding?

Here’s a question that a great deal of individuals ask: Exactly what’s the distinction between MIG and TIG welding?

A little confusion is completely typical. After all, both processes use electrical arcs to produce heat and sign up with metallic items. Both processes use an inert gas mix to prevent corrosion of welding electrode.

There are some essential distinctions between these 2 electrical arc welding procedures:

How Each Process Functions

MIG, or metal inert gas, welding is a process that includes continuously feeding a metal wire into the weld being made. The wire serves as a filler material to assist sign up with the two metal items.

TIG, or tungsten inert gas, welding uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to run a current through the metals being signed up with and might or might not use a filler metal.

Suitability for Welding Thicker Metal Items

Since MIG welding employs a consumable filler material to make welds, it can typically finish welds of thicker metal objects in less time than a TIG weld.

Without a filler product, TIG welding needs to get the pieces of metal being welded hot enough to form a bond with each other. Typically, this is easier with thinner pieces of metal than with thicker ones.

Overall, for actually thick, sturdy welds, MIG welding is the go-to choice. For thinner pieces of metal, TIG welding tends to be the more efficient solution.

Ease of Control

Normally speaking, MIG welding is regularly suggested for ease of use. The process has the tendency to be a bit more flexible of errors than TIG welding is– so it’s often advised for first-time operators and non-professionals.

TIG welding, on the other hand, requires really rigorous control over the timing, pressure, and electric existing utilised in the weld. Most of the times, TIG welding is best done using an automated, computer numerically-controlled (CNC) welding maker. Makers can dependably carry out identical welds over and over much more easily than a manual welder could.

When utilising an automated welder (whether it’s MIG or TIG), it is very important to get the weld settings and controls ideal– otherwise, you risk duplicating the very same error over and over.

Which One is Better?

The answer depends on the task in question. As noted earlier, MIG welding is normally better for heavy-duty welding work where bigger, thicker pieces of metal are being joined since it utilises filler material.

TIG welding can work marvels for signing up with smaller pieces of metal, such as the wires for a custom-made steel wire basket. Likewise, since the TIG process straight joins 2 pieces of metal, there’s no filler material to fail.

With robotic welding devices, TIG welding can be a bit lower-maintenance, since the welding electrode isn’t being constantly consumed by the welding procedure. The welding electrode still requires to be correctly cleaned up and polished in between uses– particularly when welding stainless steel.

Simply put, selecting one welding option as the very best need to be done on a case-by-case basis, which is why Marlin Steel is committed to having a series of tools and innovations for finishing welds.