shall I switch from welding rod to tig or mig

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dear guys I been welding with old rod welding do you recommend me toswitch to tig or mig welding???what is the difference between mig and tigthank you
Reply:Originally Posted by great adventurewhat is the difference between mig and tigthank you
Reply:That was a good break down of the processes Skippii.  Great Adv,  I think before you you buy anything I would highly recommend learning as much as you can about the different welding methods.  Read the old posts here, buy a couple of books and just keep practicing w/the stick welder.  I have an old AC stick welder that can do quite a good job on most jobs involving regular steel.
Reply:If you're welding outdoors, flux cored wire welding (mig without the gas, using a self shielding wire) is the best alternative to stick welding (rod welding as you called it).Inside a shop, mig and tig are best, as both are clean and smokeless and no slag chipping needed.  Short circuit mig leaves a few spatter berries to knock off but no big deal.  Spray mig is very clean and tig is cleaner still.  Mig is fastest for getting things done.  Tig is slower and more precise and can weld just about any weldable metal with the same argon shielding gas and tungsten electrode, just by switching to the appropriate filler wire and current (DC for steels, AC for aluminum).MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Skipii - I agree, all in all, a very decent explanation.I'm just going to touch up the terminology:SMAW = Shielded Metal Arc Welding = Stick welding.GMAW = Gas-shielded Metal Arc Welding = Old Term Mig (Metal Inert Gas) or wire feed welding.FCAW = Flux Core Arc Welding *Note* Can be gas shielded FCAW-DS, OR self shielded FCAW-SSGTAW = Gas Tungsten Arc Welding = Old Name Tig (Tungsten Inert Gas) or HeliArc.As to the applications I agree with what has been recommended but I will add to it:SMAW - Works well indoor, outdoors, in windy conditions and on less than clean metal.GMAW - Very High Deposition Rate - works best indoors, or in still air, so gas coverage is not interrupted.  Likes CLEAN metal.  FCAW -  Highest Deposition Rates - All the attributes of SMAW (Including flux cover to be chipped off)  Works well for Hard Facing, and High Strength applications.  Works well on less than clean metals or contaminated metals.GTAW - Slowest Deposition Rate in manual form.  Similiar to GMAW - works best indoors, or in still air, so gas coverage is not affected.  Unlike other processes, the metal is heated, and filler metal added independantly of each other.  Welding can be performed without the addition of filler metal.... called welding Autogenously.  This process when learned correctly is not only one of the most precise welds, it is also sought after for being highly decorative and pleasing to the eye.  Even the "Hobby Level" machines do a very adequate job on Aluminum using AC Hi Frequency.I also agree with the others that you will find a lot of information on these if you do a little searching on the forum.  I would recommend that you do some research into Tungsten also know as "Wolfram" to learn about it's characteristics.... It is a really fascinating material.As you set out on your next "Great Adventure" in welding, I can only suggest that you read up on all the processes, and come back to us to answer some questions for you to fill in the blanks....What you buy next though, is ultimately up to you and your intended application.Long winded, but hope it helped.Later,Jason
Reply:Once you learn to weld it is all over, you will never forget and always want to learn more , thats what I regret at my age 71  the advances that are in the future that I will not will not see. Have to be happy that I have my DX   welding and having fun,     Jim ,
Reply:sorry skippii one small issue...you dont stick the filler into the arc...the arc causes the base or parent metal to melt, creating The Puddle...the filler is then touch/dipped into the puddle, where it melts...then move and repeat. welding is about watching seeing being the puddle, of all processes tig is  the best view of the puddle and the greatest ability to control it...
Reply:Originally Posted by weldbead The Puddle...the filler is then touch/dipped into the puddle, where it melts...then move and repeat. welding is about watching seeing being the puddle...
Reply:as one of the head guys on this site once wrote in response to a guy who was dissing stick welding, "Whether you like it or not, most of the world was put together with a stinger."
Reply:see the puddle be the puddle.make sure the hood has good  unscratched coverplates..you gotta see very well..
Reply:Go with MIG if you intrested in getting things done. Not that I'm any dam good at any of it, I find stick involves alittle to much poking the pony for me, Burn some, chip, brush, burn some more, get new rod, chip......With Tig I have been praticing to get the hand/eye motor skills to do it successfully (a long way to go) but in the end, I think it may be alittle to Hoy Paloy for me, like fly fisher man why go through the tedious task of tying a fly when a worm on a hook will do.
Reply:Maybe switch, maybe not.  Its hard to beat stick welding for using economical equipment to get a lot done, especially when its heavy work that would require a much more costly mig unit.  Its hard to mig weld out in the wind, and the line on the mig gun is usually a lot shorter than you can have on a stick welder that you can drag the cables out and about.  Stick you can just switch rods, and have a completely different kind of weld characteristic.  Its cheap and easy to have different rods on hand.  And as long as you have rods and power, you're welding.  No gases to run out.Nothing beats the mig though for laying down more weld metal in less time.  And being fed from a reel of spooled filler wire, you really only need to worry about duty cycle of the welder.  Not stopping to change rods, or chipping off flux.  Mig also has great flexibility for thin materials.  A good machine can weld thick and relatively thin, all with the same supplies, just change the machine's settings.Tig is the slowest process, but of benefit where the appearance of the weld, or fine control over the process is required.  Great for doing a variety of alloys, but you may need different gasses, tungstens, filler rods.  To me, its the cadillac of processes, but comes at the cadillac price.  Often needs the most money invested in equipment, training and preparation of the work.  If you did gas welding, and enjoyed it, tig is similar with the two hands working torch and rod.
Reply:OK GA, you got a slew of opinions. Now tell us what you plan on welding, and you'll get a bunch more."We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities. "   - Oscar WildeMaxstar STL150Eagle CPM30 Bender