What is the difference between tig and mig welding?
MIG And TIG Welding: A Guide
We know it’s important to make sure we’re using the right equipment for the right tasks, and the same can be said for welding.
When it comes down to it, the process you choose is every bit as important as the equipment itself, and using the wrong process for a particular task can lead to a series of issues if not planned out carefully.
So with this in mind, the team at KNS Metals has put together a simple outline of the differences between two of the most common processes today – MIG and TIG. Since both methods come with their own purposes, advantages, and boundaries, understanding both processes is sure to save you a whole lot of time, research, and disappointment.
First Things First – What Does MIG and TIG Stand For?
MIG stands for Metal Inert Gas, whilst TIG stands for Tungsten Inert Gas, and although both MIG and TIG welds produce an electric arc between the material and the electrode during the process. Unfortunately, there is a limited amount of interchangeability between the two processes, and the need for MIG or TIG depends on the task at hand and the desired outcome.
What Is MIG Welding?
MIG welding is a consumable electrode method and works through the expenditure of an electrode wire. The electrode wire is then fed to the arc zone, which is the empty space between the electrode and the workpiece, where immense heat is generated through electricity. This electricity is called the electric arc, which is a luminous discharge that occurs between the electrode and the workpiece and is protected by an ionized gas as a pool of melted metal (known as the weld pool or weld puddle) forms.
Which Gasses Are Used In MIG Welding?
Also known as shielding gasses, MIG typically uses Argon, Helium, or CO2 exclusively, although gas mixtures such as Argon + Oxygen are also commonly used and recommended as safe practice.
What Is TIG Welding?
TIG welding is a non-consumable electrode method and is a manual process. It utilises a non-consumable electrode made from tungsten, a filler material to support the weld, and an inert or semi-inert gas mixture. Since TIG is extremely useful for fusing thin or precise materials, this method is
often heralded as the cream of the crop when it comes to this technique.
Requiring significant skill from the operator, this type of process can only be accomplished at relatively low speeds in comparison to MIG welding, and often used when quality is extremely important, such as in aircraft, road vehicle, and furniture applications.
Which Gasses Are Used In TIG Welding?
The normally recommended shielding gas used in TIG is Argon. To form a mixture of gasses, an Argon + Helium mix can be formed, since Helium can be added to increase penetration and fluidity of the weld pool.
Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all process. There are some situations that purely mandate the clean, intricate work of TIG for an enhanced, aesthetically pleasing look. At other times, the scope of the job may be larger and less complex than a TIG weld, such as in largescale manufacturing and engineering, and therefore using MIG is the clear winner. For more information about our Melbourne welding services, be sure to be in touch.