Mig AND Tig?

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I'm getting ready to move up to a new process. I currently have O/A and stick. I'm thinking Tig, but would like to know if there's something that the Mig process can do that Tig can't. I noticed that some of you have both. Only thing I can think of would be auto body work, which could be handled by a 115v Mig.
Reply:Mig is faster than tig for most things, and usually can be used on thicker materials. While it's possible to tig 1/2" steel, mig would be a better choice probably. Most dedicated tigs will however allow you to stick weld as well as tig ( Millers Diversions being one exception for example) You could use stick to do thicker sections instead of tig, but it's not as clean a process as gas mig. Stick has many uses over mig however when it comes to dirty metal or if you need to weld outside in a breeze. Using flux core "mig" wire will however give you most of those same benefits.Where tig shines is with thin materials or when you need a great deal of control or precision. It's also many times a better process for say alum or stainless. You get that nice "stack of dimes" look many want. Yorkiepap here uses both process frequently. He migs most of his production work where time is money, yet tigs all his high end nick nacks where people are paying good money for that "look".I grab my 230v mig for 90% of my general projects. It's fast, clean ( with gas), and I run it well. I grab my tig about 50% of the time when I need to do thin metal, usually when I need to control heat. Autobody work is all mig however. Almost all my stainless is Tig even though I have SS mig wire on hand. Again it's often the "look" that's required. Alum is now almost all tig. I bought my tig specifically because I needed more control with my alum projects than I was getting with a spoolgun and mig. The exception is 1/8" and thicker especially long welds, say fixing the alum dump body on a friends truck. If I could only have one, it would be a tough call. With steel, it would be mig hands down.  My stick skills aren't the greatest, and tig on heavy stuff just isn't the way to go. Tig wins with alum and stainless however, and thin steel I'd probably give the nod to tig unless it was autobody work. Both have a place in the shop. Some idea on just what sorts of projects you want to do would help..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Ask yourself what you really want to do with a new process. Do you want to spend the time to learn tig, and learn it well? Or do you just want to make as many projects as possible in the shortest amount of time possible?Tig is an exacting process, and mig is all about high speed production. They both demand countless hours to become proficient, although getting started is not that difficult.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Originally Posted by MoparfeverI'm getting ready to move up to a new process. I currently have O/A and stick. I'm thinking Tig, but would like to know if there's something that the Mig process can do that Tig can't. I noticed that some of you have both. Only thing I can think of would be auto body work, which could be handled by a 115v Mig.
Reply:look at the new thermal arc 181i and cigweld 175i machines, they are 180amp mig/dc-tig/stick/spoolgun.they also have a 300amp machine available.tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:I agree if just getting it done on mild steel is the goal then MIG all the way.  TIG is a fun and enjoyable process for thin and exotic metals.  If you are looking for something fun and rewarding that you have the time to practice with or plan to do Aluminum, then go with TIG...Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:You need to know what your plans are.  Fab shop trying to get jobs done and make money go MIG.Doing repairs for yourself and others might be better with TIG.I do mostly repair work with occasional fab projets for myself, rarely a paying job. So to step up from the AC stick I had I went with a large Stick/TIG machine. With the stick I can weld on almost any old rusty farm equipement, and the TIG allows me to repair aluminum and SS parts that are becoming more common, without switching spools, just flip a switch and turn on the gas.wouldn't mind a 115V for some sheet metal jobs.Last edited by countryraised; 12-14-2011 at 08:20 PM.VinceHobart CyberTig 300 stick/tig w/water cooler (my CL score)Victor 315/1060 on LP            mostly farm repairs/projects
Reply:I think I get the differences now. Thanks! I find my interest in Tig comes from my enjoyment of the filler control in O/A welding. I just like manual processes.
Reply:Originally Posted by MoparfeverI think I get the differences now. Thanks! I find my interest in Tig comes from my enjoyment of the filler control in O/A welding. I just like manual processes.
Reply:If you can OA weld good then you will definitely like TIG. The 2 processes are very similar but much more heat control with TIG.Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250