Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding and Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding are fabrication processes highly relied upon in various manufacturing industries.
To MIG or TIG
When deciding between MIG or TIG welding, the factors that need to be considered are material suitability, production speeds, cost, and profitability.
MIG Welding
MIG welding uses a continuous flow wire electrode, which is essentially a wire that is automatically fed through a handheld gun. This wire gets heated and automatically fed into a weld pool of molten metal. The joint is achieved by laying down melted material with a shielding gas to safeguard the integrity of the weld and protect it against airborne contaminants.
TIG Welding
TIG welding is an alternative arc welding process that uses electricity through a static electrode to melt and join metals together and also works with a shielding gas. For example, if you are working on a project involving aluminum or stainless steel, TIG welding may be the better option.
Production speeds with TIG are slower than when MIG is used but it offers certain advantages, such as its suitability for use with very thin materials. TIG can also offer greater flexibility and produce neater, cleaner, and more attractive welds with virtually zero splatter.
For additional strength during the process, the welding wire can be manually fed or the welder can opt to create a simple autogenous fuse weld, where no wire is used, fusing the materials together and achieving a weld that requires little or no cleaning.
The Benefits of MIG and TIG welding
Compared to other welding processes, MIG and TIG welding:
- MIG welding has faster production speeds compared to MMA and stick welding.
- Both MIG and TIG welding produce cleaner welds with minimal splatter compared to processes like stick welding.
- MIG and TIG welding can be used to weld a wide range of materials, including steel, stainless steel, aluminum and other alloys and this versatility makes these processes suited for use in various industries.
- You can read more about our welding capabilities on our service page.
If you’re interested in working with FSM on your next project, please contact us via our website contact form. Alternatively, if you would like to speak directly to a member of our team, telephone 01440 762561 or e-mail [email protected]