TIG or MIG???

[LuxyBoy]

Hi Guys,

I really do want to have my own welder as long as my funds don't run out first
But i can't decide what to get. I was set on a Unimig 240 as it was good bang for buck.

However talking to my mate today and he said to get a TIG instead. I thought TIG was only for stainless and Ali but he reckons you can weld anything with it
I realise that a MIG doing stainless you really need argon anyway but the TIG machines need gas all the time don't they
Do they do good steel welds
Why do people buy MIGs if TIGs do it better

I want it do do steel like tray, shelvinh for garage and live well in the tinnie when i get it next year
So what should i be leaning towards

Are the ebay ones any good there are a lot of multi machines on there ARC, TIG Plasma cutter all in one; Good or Bad they are about $500 which is $700 cheaper than the Unimig which would be nice to save

I know this is a long read but it is alot of money for me and i like to research things thoroughly before purchasing

[4sum4]

For your type of work you want definatly a mig

[ludacris]

Go for the mig as the good quality tigs will set you back lots of dollars.

LudaCris

[numbnuts]

If one aready has a mig and does ali welding sometimes, could you use argon to weld mild steel as well instead of having a bottle for ali and a bottle for mild steel? this would save on the hire of two bottles

[V8Patrol]

Mig X 3

[Struth]

Straight Argon is good for mild steel. You can get away with cheaper gases though.

Tig will weld stainless, mild steel and aluminium. You will need a high frequency welder to weld aluminium. Tig is a little bit more of a craft compared to mig but will lay down welds that are far superior on thinner metals.

Mig is fantastic for all general 4B and handyman work as well as the best process for general fabrication and boilermaking. There are a few exceptions that still require Arc welding, but they are not very common.

Gasless MIGs have never appealed to me as they are a compromise and very much handyman equipment only.

My advice is to get a mig welder and use a gas like Argosheild for all mild steel work.

Cheers.

[v840]

Miggity

Heaps easier to learn and perfect. If you are gun with an arc welder, Tig will probably come easy however gun with an arc =god with a mig. Just made the switch from arc to mig myself and couldnt be happier. Procraft 240 rocks out. Good welds are heaps easier with a mig.

[awill4x4]

Tig, but then I'm biased.
Regards Andrew.

[4sum4]

If one aready has a mig and does ali welding sometimes, could you use argon to weld mild steel as well instead of having a bottle for ali and a bottle for mild steel? this would save on the hire of two bottles

Yep it will be a slightly hotter weld,It will have less spatter to and a cleaner weld

[PJ.zook]

Yeh i agree with everyone else, if you want a general all rounder, the MIG's are fantastic. You dont need to buy all these bloody fancy Argoshield n all that, they are 99% CO2 anyway with some additives to help in really cold climates.
I use CO2 and have never had a problem, a mate does too, when he gets thirsty he unplugs his welder and plugs the gas into his homebrew keg and pours himself a coldie. You dont need heaters unless youre using it with devices that require high flow and/or are in a very cold climate.
Anyway, if you want any welders, be it MIG, TIG (DC or AC/DC, both with or without pulse function), ARC, pilot arc Plasmas, etc... and if ure in melbourne you can go try em out at mates place in Frankston who sells em. Just PM me and ill tell him to take off a few hunge. Warranties too

[N*A*M]

what brands does he deal with?

[bastard]

Mig for you my son and ditch the guy who told you to buy the tig as a friend.

[PJ.zook]

Tokentools is the brand, my mate is only victorian agent.

[andrew e]

get a mig. if you want to weld stainless, and not hire pure argon, you can get flux core innershield 316 for which you dont need any gas. i used some the other day and it came up nicely with good penotration and no porosity. Perfect for that stainless exhaust.

3mm would be a minimum for ally mig as it is really hot, and even then its tricky stuff. For ally stuff, get your mate who knows so much about it to weld it for you on his ac tig

Andy

[Ice]

get a mig. if you want to weld stainless, and not hire pure argon, you can get flux core innershield 316 for which you dont need any gas. i used some the other day and it came up nicely with good penotration and no porosity. Perfect for that stainless exhaust.


Andy

cut it open and look at the other side maybe ?

welding staino with a mig is rather toxic too...

[andrew e]

cut it open and look at the other side maybe ?

welding staino with a mig is rather toxic too...

i did check out the other side, good peno all the way through.

Welding most stuff is toxic if you read the MSDS.

[Ice]

Staino is rather bad when it comes to mig though

one of the things you want to use a fume extractor on if your doing with a mig

ive used them as well when doing ally with mig

[ISUZUROVER]

Staino is rather bad when it comes to mig though

one of the things you want to use a fume extractor on if your doing with a mig

ive used them as well when doing ally with mig

Why is welding stainless with a MIG any more toxic than doing the same weld with a TIG??? Unless the flux core is toxic, you are releasing the same fumes/particles from the stainless...

[Ice]

comes down to the fumes comming off it and the amount of them

there are a couple of welding safety videos that demonstrate it well

[GQJacko]

Guys youve thrown too many variables in for the average Jo but ill try to briefly clear a couple up.
I own and operate a metal fab shop with up to 20 guys on the floor we weld mild steel, stainless steel and occasionaly Ali but all with a MIG. TIGS are great for thin stainless, mild steel and all Ali but you need an AC tig for Ali and DC for stainless/mild steel and a AC/DC TIG is dam expensive to have in the backyard shed.
Bottom line - Migs are much easier to use for the novice and lay metal down much faster, Tigs require more skill and practice and are slow.
As for fumes from stainless welding - all welding has toxic fumes but flux core wire is nasty due to the flux as that is where the bulk of fumes come from but being flux core you can also weld out in the open (in the breeze) so just do it in a well ventilated area and stand up wind or use a fan. We comfortably weld 1.2mm and 1.6mm stainless/mild steel with MIGs as well as 3mm Ali. As far as brands stick to the known brands ie: WIA or Cigweld etc. for what its worth we have about 15 yellow ones (WIA) that get used every day and rarely give any issues and one blue one that sits in the corner that no one wants to use - but Cigwelds technology and reliability has come a long way in recent times.
Flux core wires tend to be more agressive and therefore easier to burn a hole with, whereas solid wires fill gaps/holes (mild steel expecialy) very well. My production manager is restoring an old car and with .6mm wire welds car panels easily - just takes some practice.

Short answer as someone said earlier buy a MIG and ditch the dude that told you to get a TIG. Find a mate with a TIG and get him to do the fiddly bits or pay a pro then it should be right.

Cheers mate and have fun learning.

Jacko