Tig vs Mig welding?

[WizeOne]

What's the difference and which is most universally usable and affordable for the hobbyist?

...and where does a 115v Lincoln wire welder fit into this scheme?

 

[Cofe]

Re: Tig vs Mig welding?

Tig is harder to master. I would suggest welding courses.

Mig is easy, but a cheap 115v welder is prone to problems.

Personally for cheap I like a AC/DC 220 cracker box hooked up to a Tig. This way I can stick weld or Tig weld.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Tig vs Mig welding?

Those smaller wire feed are fairly easy to use and if you use flux wire it will do quite a bit (and a bit messy).

Mig vs Tig as Cafe said Tig is harder to master and some of the lincoln wire feed can be retrofitted with a gas tank.

Really depends on what you intend on welding..... type of metal and thickness. The lincoln will do great work for body work.

Welding is just like racing ....... it all cost's money and how much do you want to do?

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Tig vs Mig welding?

What's the difference and which is most universally usable and affordable for the hobbyist?

...and where does a 115v Lincoln wire welder fit into this scheme?

Mig all the way for the hobbiest. 110V, just watch the duty rating on the welder- maxed out at 20% running 90A at 1/4 max steel.....(20% duty rating)
If smaller than that, no problems

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Tig vs Mig welding?

I haven't welded much in years, but always preferred TIG. You have to learn what size rod to use and get just the right heat and rhythm going as you dip the rod, but once you get the hang of it, its more precise IMO.

MIG is ok too and most commercial fabrication shops use it, especially for aluminum work, but you have to learn the techniques on it too. Heat and wire feed go along with wire selection. I don't like 110 MIG welders for anything other than very light work - they usually can't put out enough heat to get decent penetration on anything but that. I can't tell you how many heavy guage aluminum boats I've seen, with repair welds or added parts, that have cold beads resembling bird droppings all in a line.

If I were only welding once in awhile and felt the need to limit the expense to a 110 welder (unless I knew that all of the work would be light), I would rather just pay the local guy to do the work.



???

 

[Bondo]

Re: Tig vs Mig welding?

Ayuh,... I weld All the time,.... nearly everyday lately...
I've got a Lincoln AC/DC tombstone buzzbox for stick welding big, dirty stuff with...
Also a Lincoln 140amp/ 120V Mig.. It's set up with flux-core wire for welding things like sheetmetal on up to 1/4" or so...
And, I've got a couple of Redi-welder migs, set up for aluminum..

The Tig is great if you're doing things like bow rails or biminis that you want clean welds in very light weight materials...
Although I built my bimini out of aluminum conduit,+ my Mig,.. Just means alittle more clean up brushing...

I can sucessfully weld the .063" hull of my boat with the mig, just by being careful, going slowly,+ spot-welding,...
Or,.. It'll burn in at 3/4" stuff...

The Real advantage of Tig comes when welding Very Thin stuff...
A Mig will blow holes in a beer can,... A Tig will weld 'em together...
1 other thing,... Tig is Best done sitting at the bench,...
Mig is Much Better for off-stance/ out of position welding...

 

[mscher]

Re: Tig vs Mig welding?

What's the difference and which is most universally usable and affordable for the hobbyist?

...and where does a 115v Lincoln wire welder fit into this scheme?

TIG uses shielding gas and a non-consumbable electrode. It basically melts and uses the existing metal/alloy. MIG uses shielding gas and a consumable wire filler, which created the weld.

The 115v wire welders, use flux coated wire, instead of wire/gas or electrode/gas. Works good on metal that is not too thick or too thin, where MIG is probably the best there.

My bro runs a machine shop and does most of his welding with a flux/wire Lincoln. For the big stuff he uses an AC stick welder.

 

[Cofe]

Re: Tig vs Mig welding?

TIG uses shielding gas and a non-consumbable electrode. It basically melts and uses the existing metal/alloy.

Tig also uses filler metal. It is very rare that you can get away with using no filler metal......At least that is what I have learned professional welding for 35 yrs.

For a good Welding Forum look at http://weldingweb.com/

 

[mscher]

Re: Tig vs Mig welding?

TIG uses shielding gas and a non-consumbable electrode. It basically melts and uses the existing metal/alloy.

Tig also uses filler metal. It is very rare that you can get away with using no filler metal......At least that is what I have learned professional welding for 35 yrs.

For a good Welding Forum look at http://weldingweb.com/

You are correct about the filler metal. I am out there!

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Tig vs Mig welding?

.... I would suggest welding courses.....

I looked into that at the local community college. All they had were day courses and they were very intensive and time consuming. They had nothing for hobbyists, such as 'introduction to welding'. Something that could be done at a night class.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Tig vs Mig welding?

I took night classes at the junior college near me to learn welding. I learned how to gas weld to start but then went straight to MIG. I use both flux core or regular wire with a shielding gas. Use the flux core when I am outside building fences especially if its windy. I have also bought a 220V AC TIG welder so that I can weld aluminum. Each machine has its purposes but I would probably start like I did with MIG. My TIG welder was close to $2K and you can get a good Lincoln MIG for less than $600 so that is also a consideration.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Tig vs Mig welding?

What's the difference and which is most universally usable and affordable for the hobbyist?

...and where does a 115v Lincoln wire welder fit into this scheme?

Sorry, missed the question a bit. Mig ( MGAW) uses a wire (steel) feed gizmo to push metal into a zone where an arc has made a molten pool of metal from the fed wire back to ground/////. One has to know what those ratios are according to what one is dealing with in order to make it work... or blow a hole in it

Tig (Tungsten inert Gas) uses an arc to make a molten pool of metal, then fill it in by hand via whatever filler rod you are working with_ aluminum, steel, stainless steel, etc.

Both have their place, but the 110 V is clearly a starter unit! ----Always fun to start a new hobby

 

[Bondo]

Re: Tig vs Mig welding?

I looked into that at the local community college.

Ayuh,.. Call around to the Welding Vendors in your area,...
The Welding Supply Shop up the street from me does evening classes for beginners, up thru several levels...
I think they get $50. for a 10 lesson course.. Might be $100. by now, haven't looked lately...

 

[Cofe]

Re: Tig vs Mig welding?

I looked into that at the local community college. All they had were day courses and they were very intensive and time consuming. They had nothing for hobbyists, such as 'introduction to welding'. Something that could be done at a night class.

Something you could try is contacting the college course instructor, and explain what you are looking for. Instructors will sometimes offer night courses, or will be able to point you in the right direction. Depending on what process you want to weld with, some local weldors may help you also. Good Luck

 

[jonesg]

Re: Tig vs Mig welding?

What's the difference and which is most universally usable and affordable for the hobbyist?

...and where does a 115v Lincoln wire welder fit into this scheme?

I have a Lincoln weldpac 100, I run it with flux core wire for outside work and I like it a lot.

Indoors I have a chinese 4 in 1 , AC/DC tig , arc welder with built in plasma cutter and I like that unit a lot too, plasma cutting is a hoot.

but the best bang for your buck is the lincoln mig, got mine from craigslist for $200 with gas guage in case I want to weld with gas. I prefer to just flux core. I've seen mig welds that look exactly like they were done on a tig, not by me though.

For plain arc welding you can't go wrong with a lincoln tombstone, the AC/DC version is best, arc welding on DC is smooth.

For cheap tigging a lot of people are using the harbor freight tig, it can't do alum but seems to work alright for them welding steel.
Like most things chinese , first you have to tighten everything.

 

[Jhoppy]

Re: Tig vs Mig welding?

What's the difference and which is most universally usable and affordable for the hobbyist?

...and where does a 115v Lincoln wire welder fit into this scheme?

This really depends on what you plan on welding, there is a different answer for what would be best depending on what you need to or want to do, your skill level and where you plan on welding inside or outside.

Need more info

Hoppy

 

[dolluper]

Re: Tig vs Mig welding?

Ifin your nerves are good you go stick [pull awway shock] if not go wire it's easier

 

[jonesg]

Re: Tig vs Mig welding?

I've never had a shock using arc, wouldn't that be a ground problem?

I used stick to weld a handle on my HF welding cart, seems like they ought to come with something to move it around with.