MIG or Stick on mild steel

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HiThis is my first post !!!I’m wondering what the difference is between using MIG and StICK on mild steelI know that it’s easier to use MIG on thin plate or pipe,But if the plate or pipe is at least about 1/8 “ thick, what would be the reason to use each one? I understand that in the field it’s easier to use STICK if the machine is not near the work,But in a shop that won’t be a problemWould it have to do something with the strength?Wouldn’t multiple passes help with the strength with MIG?Just wonderingMike
Reply:Either will work just fine.  Most welders who used to use stick for everything, now find that mig is simply quicker and easier.  At least that is my reason.  For many years I was stick ( even with metal much thinner than 1/8") but now the mig is just so easy to grab and use, that I almost always choose the mig gun.  I tig things that are REALLY thin, but mig will do almost anything thicker than 16 gauge.  Mig will also do aluminum if you buy a spoolgun.  It's much harder to weld aluminum with a stick machine, but it can be done, if you're good enough.Miller Syncrowave 350Millermatic 252/ 30A spoolgunMiller Bobcat 225g w/ 3545 spoolgunLincoln PowerArc4000Lincoln 175 Mig  Lincoln 135 Mig Everlast 250EX TigCentury ac/dc 230 amp stickVictor O/AHypertherm 1000 plasma
Reply:Pulled out my mig today to do a quick part. Tacked it and then the wire feeder rat nested. Pulled out the stick welder and finished without incident. I guess I better quit goofing on the net and I better go fix the wire feeder.
Reply:I have made welds that a stick rod was difficult getting in there , wouldn't even think of mig. Try mig welding on some old rusted dirty farm equipment ; 6010 5p no problem. Sitting inside a shop, on a stool , at a bench mig is nice with clean new metal. Each procedure has its place. Mig is great for light gauge material for sure.
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1I have made welds that a stick rod was difficult getting in there , wouldn't even think of mig. Try mig welding on some old rusted dirty farm equipment ; 6010 5p no problem. Sitting inside a shop, on a stool , at a bench mig is nice with clean new metal. Each procedure has its place. Mig is great for light gauge material for sure.
Reply:Depends on what your welding. Of its windy or of what im welding is getting the shiznits beat of of it ill use a good Lincoln jet-lh 7018. Tacking with Mig is nice cause it doesn't draw as much as tig or stick. And if you play your cards right Mig is more affordable to run then stick. all depends on condition and situation
Reply:My only concern with MIG is that it is easy to make a good looking weld that is actually cold and lacks fusion. Especially if you are a hack like me. With stick, what looks like a good weld generally is. At least that has been my experience.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:What type of equipment do you have?
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1I have made welds that a stick rod was difficult getting in there , wouldn't even think of mig. Try mig welding on some old rusted dirty farm equipment ; 6010 5p no problem. Sitting inside a shop, on a stool , at a bench mig is nice with clean new metal. Each procedure has its place. Mig is great for light gauge material for sure.
Reply:Thanks for the quick repliesI bought a Thermal Arc Fabricator 181i  3 in-one      MIG/STICK/TIG  240 volt I used the 1/8" thick mild steel plate as an exampleI've seen where MIG is used on the root when welding pipe then either 6010 or 7018 for fill and coverI was wondering why MIG was not used to fill and cover insteadMike
Reply:Are you sure you don't mean TIG in the root?Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveYou mean my current "clean" project wouldn't be good for mig?
Reply:I've seen tig for chrome pipe and when the specs call for no slag insideI've seen mig for pipe-- first pass only -- and brackets made in shops Mike
Reply:Originally Posted by 12V71Then I have been doing it all wrong for many any years. .035, .045 ERS70-6, and a bit of grinding work really well for me. Im not up to my ears in slag, smoke, and rod stubs. I must change my ways.
Reply:It all depends on what your working on,where your at,and skill level. I like both but I know each has there place for example I prefer thin metals to be migged and stick weld thicker stuff. In the shop mig is nice and in the field stick is better since it requires no shielding gas. I recommend getting a mig/stick machine and playing with each process.Lincoln pro core 125 14''chop saw7 inch grinder,2-4.5 inch grinders,electric die grinder.Half inch drillAnd alot of hand tools
Reply:As far as Mig and cold passes or lacking fusion.On a 3.4 megawatt natural gas powered genset, the engine shutdown unexpectedly under full load. It blew the seams apart in the square exhaust chase. Maintenance came in with a guy whose basic job is to Mig weld square tanks together all day, every day. Which means he should be good at getting 2 flat plates welded properly on the seams. They built a new chaise on the floor(perfect conditions), craned it up, installed. Engine shutdown unexpectedly after this and split a few seams. Point is, I am not sure if it was stick welded, the seams may or may not have lacked fusion. I would guess that they would NOT as he would have had to weld slower allowing better penetration on both plates.Do I Mig? Yes, because alot of the repairs I have been doing are 3/16" or less. The Mig allows for convienance.Do I Stick? Yes, the dozer track frame project is done in stick because I can use a wider variety of rod/materials for build up, toughness.
Reply:I read somewhere here, that stick is dead! I'm going to beat everybody to the punch, and sell all my machines, and buy a 120-volt Mig machine! Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPI read somewhere here, that stick is dead! I'm going to beat everybody to the punch, and sell all my machines, and buy a 120-volt Mig machine!
Reply:Cep, I'll buy a mig and trade for your stick machines. You know.. To save you some time looking at options Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:If it's not windy and i have a bunch to weld it's wire timeQuick crack fix or its blowing like heck it's stick timeIt also depends on what you got for a machine ...one reason we say buy as much power as you can afford ...you can always turn a powerful machine down but you can only turn up an underpowered machine so farSame is true for plasma cutters as well as welding machinesWith my set-up i can mig everything from 1/2" to 18 ga body panels...( 1/2" is as thick as i have done so far running the 12RC in MIG mode )single pass..and brother is that ever brite and hotBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:Originally Posted by drujininAs far as Mig and cold passes or lacking fusion.On a 3.4 megawatt natural gas powered genset, the engine shutdown unexpectedly under full load. It blew the seams apart in the square exhaust chase. Maintenance came in with a guy whose basic job is to Mig weld square tanks together all day, every day. Which means he should be good at getting 2 flat plates welded properly on the seams. They built a new chaise on the floor(perfect conditions), craned it up, installed. Engine shutdown unexpectedly after this and split a few seams. Point is, I am not sure if it was stick welded, the seams may or may not have lacked fusion. I would guess that they would NOT as he would have had to weld slower allowing better penetration on both plates.Do I Mig? Yes, because alot of the repairs I have been doing are 3/16" or less. The Mig allows for convienance.Do I Stick? Yes, the dozer track frame project is done in stick because I can use a wider variety of rod/materials for build up, toughness.